Variable Capacitor

I shared this art by Haskell Coffin with a friend, and he replied, “She’s holding a variable capacitor. The coil (at her knees) and the variable capacitor (in her hand), when inside the console, are wired in parallel (making a ‘tank circuit’). The blades of the variable capacitor can be turned to change the frequency of the tank circuit — which acts like a filter. Radio operators/broadcast listeners locate signals by turning the frequency dial (shown behind her elbow, on the outside of the console), which is attached to the variable capacitor (on the inside of the console). I don’t want to be sexist, but she doesn’t look like she’s going to put that radio back together any time soon — especially with a hammer!”

On the Air

Tune In

Postcard for WFMU, with huge thanks to Walt Krug.

How Radio Really Works

Peter Bergman, R.I.P.

I mourn the passing of Peter Bergman, one quarter of the Firesign Theatre, whose art and imagination brightened my life. In 1974, I spent a wonderful afternoon and evening with Bergman; the piece I wrote about it is here.

Please Fill In

And thanks to Alan Stamm for adding his comment, and discovering these other examples of Applause Cards:

I love “Boy, you’re there with a Crosley.”