A Little Consumer Electronics History

Google’s ongoing project to post books and magazines to the Internet has uncovered a pot of gold for any consumer electronics enthusiast.

One can now read through the entire library of Popular Mechanics dating back to 1905. Even back then the magazine covered our industry, such as it existed, with stories on wireless telegraph, Feb. 1905; a light bulb burning for 20,000 hours, July 1905; or the Jan. 1915 issue with an advertisement from the Victor Talking Machine Co. of Camden, N.J., that uses Caruso to sell its Victrola.

To look back and read about how the last century progressed is remarkable and guaranteed to keep you busy during your lunch hour for weeks to come.