Valve/Transistor Breadboard Circuits from "Understanding Science" - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Chris55000 · 28th May 2018, 11:54 pm

Hi!

About three months short of 11 years ago (!!!!) I posed the question, shortly after joining the Forum, "Did anyone recognise an encyclopaedia/part work that had coloured pictures of Valved/Transistor Breadboard circuits, explained and annotated, and I don't recall any reply!

I'm pleased to update that thread to say I came across them again purely by chance when looking in Bookbarn International, in Somerset, about two years ago!

They were in the "Electronics" section of a very early weekly part work called "Understanding Science", published from 1962–1965 by Purcell and Sons, in twelve binders, and after much eBay hunting I eventually managed to get a full set of this!

This course even included an article on tunnel–diode operation, something I wouldn't have expected to find out in a course written primarily for young people, which was it's aim!

If anyone would like me to scan and post the course, I'll see what I can do!

Chris Williams

Synchrodyne · 29th May 2018, 10:05 am

I recall the “Understanding Science” series – quite good on many fronts. I think it devoted a few issues to a breadboarded valved superhet radio receiver that had separate oscillator and mixer valves including a “hexode” for the mixer. At the time I wondered wherefrom that hexode came, as there did not seem to be any unaccompanied hexodes in the then-known valve inventory – heptodes yes but hexodes no.

Cheers,

Radio Wrangler · 29th May 2018, 10:28 am

I can remember a bound partwork magazine thingy in the library at school in maybe 1965-1966 with electronic stuff built on breadboards and photographed inside it. Quite interesting to me at the time, but I can't remember the title. It seemed good.

David

joebog1 · 29th May 2018, 10:55 am

I would download a copy Chris55000
Cheers
Joe

G8HQP Dave · 29th May 2018, 12:13 pm

I remember collecting the second edition of that, maybe around 1968-1970. A physics teacher at school organised it. I kept them for many years, but I think they eventually had to go in preparation for a house move.

I remember a VHF transmitter, based on a 6C4/EC90 power oscillator. I wonder if anyone ever built that, and annoyed the Post Office inspectors?

Chris55000 · 29th May 2018, 12:48 pm

Hi!

I'm pleased I've got some interest in this - it makes the time and money spent trying to round up all the missing volumes worthwhile!

I'll make a start on scanning the "Electronics" Section over the next few days/weeks - there was also an "Electricity" section of this as well!

Me thinks the diagrams will appeal as well - full colour printing certainly wasn't common in those days!

Chris Williams

PS!

I doubt very much this would be in copyright now!

dominicbeesley · 29th May 2018, 1:58 pm

That sounds interesting, please do scan it!

Biggles · 29th May 2018, 5:05 pm

They sound a bit like a set of large green? books/folders I had when I was a kid. I distinctly remember a valve superhet all laid out on a board and a circuit diagram which pretty much followed the physical layout. I seem to remember the sleeved wire interconnections were colour coded too. I was fascinated by the circuits, but I was a bit too young to build or even afford the bits and make a power supply. I wonder if they are still in the loft at my parents house? Another favourite book at that time was Richard Scarry's Storybook Dictionary, although that didn't have any electronics in it!
Alan.

Al (astral highway) · 29th May 2018, 5:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris55000

I'm pleased I've got some interest in this - it makes the time and money spent trying to round up all the missing volumes worthwhile!

That sounds like a great project, Chris - can't wait to see some of these, and I love the production qualities of that era.

Quote:

I doubt very much this would be in copyright now!

Haha! Not so sure. The 'fair use/usage' caveat applies. That means you can reproduce the material in a critical context, to a reasonable extent, so long as it's not for commercial gain. So you could say, alongside a circuit diagram or an extract of 250 words...'Interesting how the author suggests blah blah...' much as we do very often on this forum.

Copyright in the typographical layout, only, of the article/magazine lasts for 25 years after publication. Otherwise the rights in the underlying content stay with the author or his/her estate for 70 years after their death.

Of course, that can be pretty difficult to ascertain, if not impossible. In practice, there aren't lawsuits over sensible use that isn't for commercial gain.

avocollector · 30th May 2018, 10:15 am

There were some marvellous mags like this for kids around in the early 60's - I recall the series knowledge and others as well. Plus the small electronics labs that enabled you to build all sorts of things. Mind you some of the info was a bit iffy - recall trying to build a morse transmitter at the age of 7 or so using a circuit I'd got from somewhere with a spark gap!! I had the right idea (using a car coil) but fortunately never got the gap right!!!

28th May 2018, 11:54 pm	#1
Chris55000 Nonode Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walsall Wood, Aldridge, Walsall, UK. Posts: 2,870	Valve/Transistor Breadboard Circuits from "Understanding Science" Hi! About three months short of 11 years ago (!!!!) I posed the question, shortly after joining the Forum, "Did anyone recognise an encyclopaedia/part work that had coloured pictures of Valved/Transistor Breadboard circuits, explained and annotated, and I don't recall any reply! I'm pleased to update that thread to say I came across them again purely by chance when looking in Bookbarn International, in Somerset, about two years ago! They were in the "Electronics" section of a very early weekly part work called "Understanding Science", published from 1962–1965 by Purcell and Sons, in twelve binders, and after much eBay hunting I eventually managed to get a full set of this! This course even included an article on tunnel–diode operation, something I wouldn't have expected to find out in a course written primarily for young people, which was it's aim! If anyone would like me to scan and post the course, I'll see what I can do! Chris Williams __________________ It's an enigma, that's what it is! This thing's not fixed because it doesn't want to be fixed!

29th May 2018, 10:05 am	#2
Synchrodyne Nonode Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Papamoa Beach, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand Posts: 2,944	Re: Valve/Transistor Breadboard Circuits from "Understanding Science" I recall the “Understanding Science” series – quite good on many fronts. I think it devoted a few issues to a breadboarded valved superhet radio receiver that had separate oscillator and mixer valves including a “hexode” for the mixer. At the time I wondered wherefrom that hexode came, as there did not seem to be any unaccompanied hexodes in the then-known valve inventory – heptodes yes but hexodes no. Cheers,

29th May 2018, 10:28 am	#3
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,876	Re: Valve/Transistor Breadboard Circuits from "Understanding Science" I can remember a bound partwork magazine thingy in the library at school in maybe 1965-1966 with electronic stuff built on breadboards and photographed inside it. Quite interesting to me at the time, but I can't remember the title. It seemed good. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

29th May 2018, 10:55 am	#4
joebog1 Banned Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Mareeba, North Queensland, Australia Posts: 2,704	Re: Valve/Transistor Breadboard Circuits from "Understanding Science" I would download a copy Chris55000 Cheers Joe

29th May 2018, 12:13 pm	#5
G8HQP Dave Rest in Peace Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Solihull, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 4,872	Re: Valve/Transistor Breadboard Circuits from "Understanding Science" I remember collecting the second edition of that, maybe around 1968-1970. A physics teacher at school organised it. I kept them for many years, but I think they eventually had to go in preparation for a house move. I remember a VHF transmitter, based on a 6C4/EC90 power oscillator. I wonder if anyone ever built that, and annoyed the Post Office inspectors?

29th May 2018, 12:48 pm	#6
Chris55000 Nonode Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walsall Wood, Aldridge, Walsall, UK. Posts: 2,870	Re: Valve/Transistor Breadboard Circuits from "Understanding Science" Hi! I'm pleased I've got some interest in this - it makes the time and money spent trying to round up all the missing volumes worthwhile! I'll make a start on scanning the "Electronics" Section over the next few days/weeks - there was also an "Electricity" section of this as well! Me thinks the diagrams will appeal as well - full colour printing certainly wasn't common in those days! Chris Williams PS! I doubt very much this would be in copyright now! __________________ It's an enigma, that's what it is! This thing's not fixed because it doesn't want to be fixed!

29th May 2018, 1:58 pm	#7
dominicbeesley Octode Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,885	Re: Valve/Transistor Breadboard Circuits from "Understanding Science" That sounds interesting, please do scan it!

29th May 2018, 5:05 pm	#8
Biggles Rest in Peace Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hexham, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 2,234	Re: Valve/Transistor Breadboard Circuits from "Understanding Science" They sound a bit like a set of large green? books/folders I had when I was a kid. I distinctly remember a valve superhet all laid out on a board and a circuit diagram which pretty much followed the physical layout. I seem to remember the sleeved wire interconnections were colour coded too. I was fascinated by the circuits, but I was a bit too young to build or even afford the bits and make a power supply. I wonder if they are still in the loft at my parents house? Another favourite book at that time was Richard Scarry's Storybook Dictionary, although that didn't have any electronics in it! Alan.

30th May 2018, 10:15 am	#10
avocollector Heptode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wellington, New Zealand. Posts: 653	Re: Valve/Transistor Breadboard Circuits from "Understanding Science" There were some marvellous mags like this for kids around in the early 60's - I recall the series knowledge and others as well. Plus the small electronics labs that enabled you to build all sorts of things. Mind you some of the info was a bit iffy - recall trying to build a morse transmitter at the age of 7 or so using a circuit I'd got from somewhere with a spark gap!! I had the right idea (using a car coil) but fortunately never got the gap right!!!