Color-coded user-serviceable radio, circa 1948

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

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September 27th, 2007 6

Boing Boing Gadgets points us to this fascinating piece from the January 1949 issue of PopSci for a consumer radio that sports color-coded components that can be easily swapped out by the user. A harbinger of the consumer electronics revolution to come. In fact, it was SO easy to repair that even “Mother Could Fix This Radio” (ouch).