In a crosspost to a large but apparently related set of newsgroups,
specifically:
sci.electronics.design,
rec.radio.amateur.homebrew,
sci.electronics.equipment,
sci.electronics.repair and
comp.robotics.misc;
I like many of you had my first experience with electronics through the
electronic kits that Radio Shack has had over the years. The versions
that spanned the 50, 100, 200 electronic experiments all come to mind.
My question is...how many versions and types of these kits have they
had over the years?
I would be interested in hearing which ones you recall.
I only recall that Radio Shack had them, probably over many
decades. I never owned one.
But I don't feel particularly deprived - when I was about five to
six years old I got a Heathkit version of these "N-in-1" kits. I have
no clue of the model number, but I think it had:
one transistor,
one diode,
one variable coil (magnetic material on the end of a small threaded
rod that went into the coil, you turn the end of the rod to 'tune' it
- common then, I don't see them nowadays)
several capacitors and resistors
small crystal earphone
I recall that it used small compression springs to accept the
wires, and Fahnestock clips to connect to things off-board: earphone,
antenna and ground. Or perhaps it used only springs, but Fahnestock
clips were common connectors for these projects.
There were two radio projects, one with the diode, and one with the
transistor. The one with the transistor was of course much more
sensitive and played louder through the earphone.
I later recall having another brand, a 'more advanced' model on an
actual printed circuit board (there were traces between each
component's leads and the clips or springs on the board), perhaps it
was a Knight-Kit. It had a relay, a silicon photocell, probably two
transistors, and the usual passive components.