Nina KalininaMar 8

I'm sick (again!), and so I'm reading old magazines as a comfy way to spend time. I have procured scans of 1961's magazines (that's 65 years ago!), and will share some interesting findings in this thread.

The Workbench magazine features a DIY ukulele on the cover, that sounds... incredible? I wonder if the instrument itself sounded good. We'll find out, I guess?

Show threadNina KalininaMar 8
"Workbench" features a catalogue of patterns for sale, from "unusually cute designs" to "electroplating baby shoes" and a gun RACK (edit: it was a gun rack!). I wonder if baby shoes must be in a "never worn" condition for this to work.
Show threadNina KalininaMar 8
After all, who wouldn't want a DIY transformer, right?
Show threadNina KalininaMar 8
We're back to the ukulele-making article! Now I know why I'd want to have a bandsaw in our local hackspace, huh.
Show threadNina KalininaMar 8

Aha, they're using pre-made fretboard. I imagine making a decent fretboard is probably one of the biggest challenges in making an instrument like this?

Surprised that strings and pegs were considered "difficult to obtain"

Show threadNina KalininaMar 8
Darn, I take my words about "fretboard is the most difficult part to make" back. They're making the ukulele body by steaming the wood and forming it in a mold.
Show threadNina KalininaMar 8
At least one mold sandwich is needed to build this ukulele. The pattern is relatively simple.
Show threadNina KalininaMar 8
I don't know what I like more: a DIY Shoji lamp or a Custom TV Kit....
Show threadNina KalininaMar 8

A toy house presumably large enough to fit two kids for $1? What's the inflation-adjusted price.... $10? How did they make it work? There's no way in hell I could buy a mass-produced plastic thing like that for $10 today. What...

Oh, is it like, poles and cheap printed textile? I bet it was....

Or maybe it was $100? %) Not sure. It says it was $3.98 and now just $1...

Show threadNina KalininaMar 8
A "Quickee" or a hand-held two-way radio? Why not both?!
Show threadNina KalininaMar 8
I'm not sure if I should take advice from a 65-year-old magazine, but I feel like I might be inclined to, the messaging really resonates with me somehow.
Show threadNina KalininaMar 8
Breaking news: DID YOU KNOW, any young lady can be a queen?!
Show threadNina KalininaMar 8
Apparently "schober organs" are FUN to build. I wish I knew what that was.
Show threadNina Kalinina

Want to order a DIY Schober Organ (apparently it's an elecronic piano of sorts)?

Well, "Simply mail this coupon. No salesman will call". Wow, I wish more companies had this pledge even today. This, and "we promise we will never send you an email with an offer"

Also, I wonder if it is still legal to post dollars over mail?

Mar 8 at 12:20pmWeb
Show threadNina KalininaMar 8
I know what I want for the next December. I'll make sure to attach the Santa Star Door Decor upside down, though, for extra "fffuuuu" effect.
Show threadparamnesiacMar 8
@nina_kali_nina Needs a wreath around it. 😆
Show threadJohn MaxwellMar 8
@nina_kali_nina Yes it is. You take your chances on it getting there, though. Advice when I was a child was to wrap the bills in a blank sheet of paper.
Show threadNina KalininaMar 8
@jmax apparently it is legal inside the UK but might be illegal to send internationally. Huh.
Show threadJohn MaxwellMar 8
@nina_kali_nina Huh.
Show threadAndrew ZonenbergMar 8

@nina_kali_nina @jmax AFAIK there aren't outright prohibitions on sending cash overseas in most countries, but it does have to be declared on customs paperwork and may be taxed (in the US the limit before this kicks in is $10K and even applies to e.g. the contents of your wallet on a flight)

Domestically it's not done often with the local currency, because if it doesn't show up you're out of luck, but it's sometimes done for special reasons.

If i need foreign currency and my local bank branch doesn't have any on hand, i can order it through the website. The corresponding amount in USD is withdrawn from my account and they send me a FedEx envelope full of euros, CAD, or whatever I asked for.

Why fedex and not postal service? No idea. Possible there's regulatory issues around it, maybe FedEx has better delivery guarantees or offers a volume discount or something.

Show threadChipMar 8
@nina_kali_nina I remember snail mailing a dollar to SDF to validate my free account. That would have been like 1999 or 2000?