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I’ve got a copy of the book! – “Better Shortwave Reception” by William Orr, W6SAI. My “First Edition” is dated 1957. It has both cartoons as you mentioned. It was probably the earliest SWBC book I had, that’s why I remembered it.
Bob also scanned some of the pages and images to share with John and the SWLing Post community. Bob notes:
I scanned the well-worn front cover, three of the cartoons inside and another page that readers may find interesting – the Auroral Zones from the East and West Coasts.
I probably got this book in 1959 or 60 and kept it all these years, along with my early vintage WRTV Handbooks. (The rest of the Handbooks from about 1970 on were given to Ray Robinson of KVOH for reference purposes).
I always liked the Auroral Zone map because when I first started DXing on the East Coast in 1959 at the height of the Solar Cycle there were frequent solar storms that totally disrupted reception of the many European stations that transmitted to North America at that time. The map clearly shows why the VOA picked Tangier and Manila for relay stations!
Select images from “Better Shortwave Reception” by William Orr, W6SAI
Thank you so much, Bob! The moment I saw these images–especially the cover–I, too, remembered this book! I love the cartoons!
Post readers: Does anyone else remember this book? What are your favorite shortwave books? Please comment!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John (KC8RZM), who writes:
I wonder if anyone at SWLing can help me identify this book on shortwave listening from my childhood.
It was an older book when I checked it out from the local library mid-1970s but what I remember specifically is that it had a cartoon of a truck driver delivering, and by delivering I mean dropping on the ground, a new shortwave receiver plus the horrified look on the new owners face. The caption read (from memory) “here’s your new radio buddy (or pal).”
I checked that book out of my local library and pestered my parents to buy me a short wave radio kit.
Assembled the kit (probably inhaling a decent amount of lead vapor from the soldering) and started listening.
VOA was one of the first stations I heard and thought…what an interesting place the US sounds like compared to the small isolated Scottish village I grew up in (21-mile journey to school each way on narrow twisting roads that sheep could freely roam on, and did, all the time), what with all that NASA stuff going on there. I can still hear in my head the VOA host that presented a show on jazz.
So that book, SW listening, and VOA started me on the road to becoming an American citizen!
What a fantastic story behind that book, John! I hope one of our amazing readers can help you identify it! Please comment with any helpful info!
