Another ~1960 computer kit

From: Max Eskin <kurtkilg_at_geocities.com>
Date: Sun Dec 20 11:30:58 1998

On Sun, 20 Dec 1998 ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk wrote:
> Are there really people who prefer video games and TV to making things?
> I've never met any, but that maybe because I grew up making things, and
> met people with similar interests.

You can't begin to imagine how lucky you are! Around here, I've met only a
dozen or so people who have any interest whatsoever in making things (not
including artists, there are plenty of those). I'm tempted to reduce the
number even further, considering how many of those people have never held
a soldering iron.

The other problem is that those books tony mentioned which started this
discussion are no longer easily available. What is are stupid little kits
like 'build your own radio' that come with some stencilled cardboard and a
PCB. All you have to do is to cut the cardboard, fold, glue, and stick in
the PCB. You've made a radio. And this way, people miss the point. I think
I missed the point, now that we're having this discussion.

I have one example of a 'do-it-yourself' book from 1935 called 'Making
Things for Fun' by Frederick Collins. There are lots of nice things in the
'Other Books by Fred..' list. Anyway, in this book, there is a chapter on
making a small radio receiver powered off an AC line. And the book says,
"for all ages". We don't have these things anymore, it's hard to learn.

----------------------------------------------------
Max Eskin | kurtkilgor_at_bigfoot.com | AOL: kurtkilgor
Received on Sun Dec 20 1998 - 11:30:58 GMT