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Aeronautical Radio, Myron Eddy, 1939, 514 pages - Courtesy of anonymous donor
I'm surprised to see such a lengthy text from 1939 on aeronautical radio! As you might guess this is a very comprehensive treatment of the state of the art circa 1939. Starts with the basics - electricity, radio, tubes - then delves into radiotelephone and telegraph transmitters and receivers, direction finding, navigation beacons, even VHF instrument landing systems.
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Amplifier Builders Guide, Hugo Gernsback, 1964, 33 (double) pages
From the editors of Radiocraft, this practical guide concentrates on the design and construction of audio amplifiers. Two parts: the first on amplifier theory and design, the second giving six practical designs to build. Talks about phase splitters, feedback, and tone controls, things not addressed in most textbooks.
Download full text with index, 32MB PDF file
Amplifiers, H. Lewis York, 1964, 254 pages - Thanks to Keith Carlsen!
This UK book is one of a series on "The Technique of Sound Reproduction". It's a good practical guide to the design of amplifiers, with many example schematics using the GEC and Mullard valves of the time. Great book for a reasonably short introduction to tube amp design for the non-engineer.
Download full text with index, 3.3MB PDF file
Amplifiers (The Why and How of Good Amplification), G. A. Briggs, 1952, 216 pages
A very cool book from England on tube amplifiers. Covers theory, and concentrates on amplifier quality - distortion, noise, etc. and how to prevent them. Practical, not too theoretical. Covers amplifier circuits as well as tone controls, mic and pickup preamps, and power supplies. Also includes schematics and parts list for the "Garner Amplifier", an amplifier, as well as a preamp and a couple of tuner circuits.
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An Approach to Audio Frequency Amplifier Design, G. E. C. Valve and Electronics Department, 1957, 126 pages - Thanks to Keith Carlsen!
We've all seen the classic GEC amp schematics, but here's the whole book! Seventeen amplifier designs ranging from 3 to 1,100 watts are presented, along with tube data and design considerations.
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Audels Radiomans Guide, Edwin P. Anderson, 1945, 880 pages
An odd book, about 4-1/2" x 6-1/2" and a whopping 880 pages, "covering theory, construction, and servicing including television electronics". It covers everything from sounds waves through basic electronics, PA systems (including a little info on a WE theatre amp), transmitters, car and aircraft radio, troubleshooting - you name it, it's in here. Not a college text, this looks like it could be a handbook for the radio technician or advanced hobbyist of the 1940's. Lots of good vintage info!
Download full text with index, CAUTION LARGE 41MB PDF file
Basic Audio, Norman Crowhurst, 1959 - Thanks to Keith Carlsen!
This is a 3-volume set on, as the title implies, basic audio. The best introduction to tube hi-fi I've seen, the first volume starts with the nature of sound, and covers the basics of speakers and microphones. Volume 2 continues with amplification, covering the basics of amplifier design. Volume 3 covers a little more advanced topics like feedback, power supplies, and recording. If you're a beginner, READ THESE BOOKS!
Volume 1 (114 pages) Download full text with index, 4.2MB PDF file
Volume 2 (122 pages) Download full text with index, 4.1MB PDF file
Volume 3 (113 pages) Download full text with index, 3.2MB PDF file
Basic Radio - The Essentials of Electron tubes and their Circuits, J. Barton Hoag, 1942, 379 pages
Another college-level electronics text, this one is "designed for the student with only a limited background in physics and mathematics". Covers the basics of AC and DC circuits and radio propagation, then vacuum tubes and circuits that use them. Has some information not found on other texts, like high-frequency and microwave radio, transmission line theory, and DC amplifiers. Another good text!
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Basic Theory and Applications of Electron Tubes, Departments of the Army and Air Force, 1952, 215 pages
This is an excellent, relatively modern (1952) text on vacuum tubes. Very practical, not too much math, and it has some very nice illustrations. Very specific to tubes, discusses how they work, how they're built, and circuits.
Download full text with index, 17MB PDF file
Capacitors, Magnetic Circuits, and Transformers, Leander Matsch, 1964, 350 pages
A detailed text on capacitors, inductors, and transformers. Great info for those wanting a deep understanding of these passive components. Good theory and practical applications, especially on transformers and inductors.
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Cathode-Ray Oscilloscopes, Charles Sicuranza, 1938, 68 pages - Courtesy of Walter Welch, AI4SP!
An interesting older book on the theory and application of the oscilloscope.
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The Cathode-ray tube at Work, John F. Rider, 1935, 336 pages
Not obvious until you realize this book pre-dates television, this is really a book about the oscilloscope (called an "oscillograph" back then). Talks about how CRT's work, how an oscilloscope works, and how to use an oscilloscope to troubleshoot circuits like amplifiers, and to adjust radio transmitters and receivers.
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Conductance Curve Design, Dr. Keats A. Pullen, 1958, 127 pages
This book presents a method to design tube amplifier stages using curves of constant (grid-to-plate) transconductance and plate conductance. Equations and step-by-step instructions are provided to select the correct tube, calculate gain and distortion, and other relevant parameters. Full sets of curves are provided for 35 different tube types. This is reproduced with permission of the copyright owner, Phyllis K Pullen, MD. Many thanks to Robb Legg, who did all the digitization work, including OCR and reproducing the graphs - a tremendous amount of work!
Download full text with index, 11MB PDF file
Coyne Electrical and Radio Trouble Shooting Manual, Coyne Electrical School, 1946, 612 pages
This funky old book is far from an engineering text - rather, it's a bible for the Mr. Fixit of the 1940's. Light on theory with lots of diagrams, covers electrical wiring, AC and DC motors and generators, refrigeration, automotive electricity, and radio troubleshooting and repair. Not particularly well formatted or printed, it's a lot of thrown-together info. This is not a great book for tube design, but could be useful for the old radio diagrams, or if you have a 1940's Ford V8 with ignition problems.... The best part to me is the electrical dictionary at the end (available to download by itself).
Download full text with index, CAUTION LARGE 41MB PDF file
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Designing and Building Hi-Fi Furniture, Jeff Markell, 1959, 225 pages Courtesy of John Atwood
Hi-Fi Furniture? Yes! This book is about how to design and build the wooden cabinets used for stereo equipment and speakers. Also includes info on room, layout and acoustics.
Download full text with index, 19.1MB PDF file
Die Rohr im UKW-Emfänger, Afred Nowak, Rudolf Cantz, & Wilhelm Engbert, 1959 - Thanks to Joe Sousa!
This German-language book is a very thorough treatment of FM receiver design. Split into three volumes, the first covers FM detection, the second mixers for FM receivers, and the third IF amplifier stages for FM receivers.
Volume 1 (129 pages) Download full text, CAUTION LARGE 49MB PDF file
Volume 2 (110 pages) Download full text, CAUTION LARGE 66MB PDF file
Volume 3 (146 pages) Download full text, CAUTION LARGE 47MB PDF file
D/F Handbook for Wireless Operators W. E. Crook, 1942, 85 pages - Courtesy of Peter O'Connel VK2EMU
Written for marine and aeronautical radio men, this is a handbook on radio direction finding. Discusses different types pf DF antennae and how they work, as well as circuitry.
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Dynamical Analogies, Harry F. Olson, 1943, 107 pages - Courtesy of John Atwood
This interesting book draws technically accurate analogies between electrical, acoustical, and mechanical systems.
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Electrical Communication, Arthur Albert, 1950, 598 pages - Courtesy of anonymous donor
Most of this book is dedicated to telephony. Sections on acoustics and transducers, fundamental electronics, and details on telephone systems. The latter half of the book discusses radio communications, mostly as they relate to the telephone system.
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Electrical Engineering, E. E. Kimberly, 1951, 394 pages - Thanks to Keith Carlsen!
A different college EE text, this one is target at non-EE majors. Less theory than most EE texts, and lots of information about motors. I think this was targeted largely at Civil, Industrial, and Mechanical engineers. Only one chapter on "electronic" devices (tubes and tube circuits).
Download full text with index, 5.8MB PDF file
Electron-Tube Circuits, Samuel Seely, 1950, 530 pages
Another college-level textbook on vacuum tubes. Covers tube theory, tuned and un-tuned amplifiers, oscillators, and power supplies. Some nice details about tube-based voltage regulator circuits, and sections on electronic computing circuits, relaxation oscillators and sweep circuits you won't find in the other texts.
Download full text with index, 22MB PDF file
Electron Tube Design, RCA, 1963, 943 (!!) pages - Courtesy of John Atwood
This is essentially an updated version of "Vacuum Tube Design" below. Intended for internal use only, this book contains 53 "articles" on different aspects of vacuum tube design and manufacture. I think this book has nearly everything you need to know to design and build tubes. Beware, the PDF file is over 150 megabytes! Don't even try it on dialup...
Download full text, CAUTION LARGE 86MB PDF file
Electron Tubes (Volume I), RCA, 1949, 483 pages - Courtesy of Walter Welch, AI4SP!
A collection of technical papers from RCA, covering the period from 1935 through 1941. Nearly 500 pages of technical papers, covering such topics as "Thin-film emission" and the famous O.H. Shade "Beam Power Tubes".
Download full text, CAUTION LARGE 56MB PDF file
Electron Tubes (Volume II), RCA, 1949, 462 pages - Courtesy of Walter Welch, AI4SP!
A continuation of above, a collection of technical papers from RCA, covering the period from 1941 through 1949.
Download full text, CAUTION LARGE 71MB PDF file
Electronic Amplifier Circuits, Joseph Petit and Malcolm McWhorter, 1961, 325 pages
As you might guess from the title, this textbook is all about the theory and design of amplifiers. While mostly containing tube circuits it does include some information on those new-fangled transistor things. Plenty if math in this one, it concentrates on wide band (e.g., video) amplifiers.
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Electronic Circuits and Tubes, Cruft Laboratory at Harvard University, 1947, 994 pages - Courtesy of Jim McConville
This is one of the most comprehensive texts in the collection. According to the forward, the book was developed from the lecture notes of a special wartime electronics training course. A reasonably mathematical treatment of basic circuit theory, vacuum tubes, and practical circuits.
Download full text with index, 12MB PDF file
The Electronic Experimenter's Manual, David Findlay, 1959, 169 pages
This reminds me of when I was a kid... a true "hobbyist manual". Includes discussions on tools, parts, and setting up a workshop. Also details on how to lay out and fabricate a chassis (even one from a foil-covered cigar box!), male simple PCB's, and wire circuits together. Also has sections on some tools and test equipment you can build yourself, as well as some simple projects. Great beginners book.
Download full text with index, 2.3MB PDF file
Electronic Transformers and Circuits, Reuben Lee, 1955, 349 pages - Courtesy of John Atwood
This book is a "reference on the design of transformers and electronic apparatus". It covers the design of power transformers, chokes, and signal (audio) transformers. It also talks a bit about circuitry, as it relates to transformers. Enough theory to understand what's going on, as well as practical info on how to construct transformers.
Download full text, 24MB PDF file-
Electronics and Electron Tubes, E. D. McArthur, 1936, 180 pages - Courtesy of anonymous donor
A fairly early, concise treatment of the theory of vacuum tubes. Not a lot of math, basic info on circuits.
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Elements of Tape Recorder Circuits, Herman Burstein & Henty Pollack, 1957, 223 pages
As you might guess from the title, this is a book on tape recorders. Excellent practical treatment, describing how tape recording works, and provides detailed circuit discussions for recording, bias, equalization, and playback.
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Engineering Electronics, George Happell and Wilfred Hesselberth, 1953, 508 pages - Courtesy of Earles McCaul
This is a newer college text, covering vacuum tubes, circuit analysis, and some practical amplifier design considerations. More practical than some texts, it even includes some tube curves for popular tubes of the day.
Download full text with index, 7MB PDF file
Engineering Electronics, Donald Fink, 1938, 361 pages - Courtesy of anonymous donor
Same name, different book. An engineering text written for engineers familiar with electricity but not "electronics". Covers physical electronics, tubes, and tube applications.
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FM Transmission and Reception, John Rider & Seymour Uslan, 1950, 460 pages Courtesy of John Atwood
A comprehensive treatment of FM transmission and reception, including FM broadcast and television sound. Includes design info and servicing help.
Download full text with index, 22MB PDF file
Fundamentals of Transistors, Leonard Krugman, 1954, 140 pages - Thanks to Keith Carlsen!
Yet another introduction to transistors targeted at "the technician and amateur". Shows basic transistor circuits.
Download full text, 2.1MB PDF file
NEW 8/16/09 -Das Funkbastlers Ratgeber, Anschutz & Co., 1926, 104 pages - Thanks to Peter Gerber!
An interesting, very old German-language book on IF transformers and their design. Includes typical tube circuits for radio use.
Download full text, 7.6MB PDF file
Getting the Most Out of Vacuum Tubes, Robert Tomer, 1960, 164 pages - Courtesy of John Atwood
This book addresses the "Types and causes of failures, what to expect from tubes, testing methods, and all about tube maintenance programs". Quite interesting, this book covers material I've not seen comprehensively discussed elsewhere, like failure mechanisms, what makes a "premium" tube special, etc.
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Graphical Constructions for Vacuum Tube Circuits, Albert Preisman, 1943, 245 pages - Courtesy of Walter Welch, AI4SP!
Describes graphical design methods for tube circuits (as opposed to equation-based design). Sections on reactive loads and balanced amplifiers that discuss topics not seen in many other texts.
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Harmonic Distortion and Negative Feedback in Audio-Frequency Amplifiers, BBC Engineering Training Dept., 1950, 105 pages - Thanks to Morgan Jones
A very nice practical discussion of distortion and feedback in audio amplifiers. The first section describes harmonic distortion and how it gets created in a tube amplifier stage. The remainder of the book describes various feedback methods and their implementation around one or more stages. Appendices show how to calculate stage gain with feedback.
Download full text with index, 1.1MB PDF file
Grondslagen van de Radiobuizentechniek, Philips' Gloeilampenfabrieken te Einhioven, 1943, 505 pages - Courtesy of John Atwood
Wow... I wish I could read Dutch. This book by Philips appears to be a nice thorough treatment of how vacuum tubes work, how they are built, and how they are applied in radio circuits. Some very nice photos of tubes in various states of disassembly.
Download full text, CAUTION LARGE 37MB PDF file
High-Fidelity Circuit Design, Norman Crowhurst and George Cooper, 1957, 296 pages - Courtesy of John Atwood
The title pretty much says it all here.. this is a practical guide to the design of audio circuits.
Download full text, 12MB PDF file
High Fidelity Techniques, James Langham, 1950, 114 pages - Courtesy of John Atwood
Discusses distortion, speakers, and amplifier design. Good, practical, easy-to-read advice and explanation of deign techniques like feedback.
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Hipersil® Core Design Engineer's Handbook, Westinghouse , 1965, 108 pages
This is a design guide and materials databook for Westinghouse Hipersil transformer cores. A good design guide for transformers and cokes, and has detailed material data (curves and data tables) for Hipersil steel.
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How To Service Tape Recorders, C. A. Tuthill, 1954, 154 pages - Thanks to Keith Carlsen!
This is a good book on how to work on late fifties-vintage tape recorders. Includes schematics of several models as well as supporting theory.
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Inside the Vacuum Tube, John F, Rider, 1945, 407 pages- Courtesy of Earles McCaul
One of my new favorites - this is a fabulous book on how tubes work and how to design tube circuits. this is NOT a college text; rather this is written more at the level of an advanced technician, with not so much math and lots of diagrams that make visualizing what's going on easy. It even has some 3-D drawings - you'll need anaglyph (red/blue) 3-D glasses to view them.
Download full text with index, 9MB PDF file
Know Your Oscilloscope, Paul C. Smith, 1958, 151 pages - Thanks to Tom Bavis!
A good description of how a 'scope works and how to use it. Includes some info on how to service and adjust the instrument. Also covers how to make measurements, and use of the 'scope for amplifier testing and radio/TV alignment.
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Magnetic Amplifiers, Paul Mali, 1960, 101 pages - Thanks to Keith Carlsen!
Vacuum tubes aren't the only way to make an amplifier? This book is about magnetic amplifiers, which use the nonlinear saturation characteristics of a core to create an amplifier.
Download full text with index, 1.4MB PDF file
Magnetic Recording - Wire and Tape, M. L. Quartermaine, 1952, 72 pages
An interesting book about the construction of tape and wire recorders. Includes theory and construction details, schematics of record/playback electronics, even info on how to make your own tape heads! Thanks to Paul Reid for the contributed scan!
Download full text with index, 11MB PDF file
Materials and Techniques for Electron Tubes, Walter Kohl, 1960, 657 pages Courtesy of John Atwood
An updated version of the above text from 1960.
Download full text with index, 10.7MB PDF file
Materials Technology for Vacuum Tubes, Walter Kohl, 1951, 504 pages - Courtesy of Walter Welch, AI4SP!
A detailed technical discussion on the materials used to make vacuum tubes, including glass, metals, and ceramics, as well as the interfaces between them..
Download full text, CAUTION LARGE 35MB PDF file
Oscilloscope Techniques, Alfred Haas, 1958, 224 pages - Thanks to Keith Carlsen!
Talks a little bit about how oscilloscopes work, but this is mostly a guide on how to make measurements with a 'scope. Practical examples of measurements made on audio, radio, and TV circuits. Even includes info on how to use a 'scope as a curve tracer for vacuum tubes and semiconductors, and to make swept measurements.
Download full text with index, 3.2MB PDF file
The Oxide-Coated Cathode G. Herrmann & S. Wagener, 1951 - Thanks to anonymous donor
This 2-volume set is a very comprehensive treatment of the theory and manufacture of oxide-coated cathodes for tubes. Strangely enough, volume I covers more practical aspects, and volume II is mostly physics...
Volume 1 (155 pages) Download full text, 12MB PDF file
Volume 2 (322 pages) Download full text, 16MB PDF file
Practical Amplifier Diagrams, Jack Robin & Chester Lipman, 1947, 104 pages Courtesy of John Atwood
45 proven circuits for the technician and experimenter! Schematics of a variety of audio circuits, mostly amplifiers from 1W to 75 watts.
Download full text with index, 5.1MB PDF file
Principles of Electricity Applied to Telephone and Telegraph Work, A T &T, 1953, 354 pages
This book is "A Training Course Text Prepared for Employees of the Long Lines Department American Telephone and Telegraph Company". "Principles" is a bit of a misnomer - though this book does start out with fundamentals, it quickly dives off into AC circuits, vacuum tubes and amplifiers, and details of telephony. It includes lots of details about telephone and carrier systems, the way they were in the 1950's. Good details about things like how audio transformers work, and the correct way to string telephone wires on a pole!
Download full text with index, CAUTION LARGE 38MB PDF file
Principles of Electron Tubes, Herbert Reich, 1941, 398 pages
Essentially an abridged version of Reich's "Theory and Applications of Electron Tubes" (below), this is a college-level text on vacuum tubes. It doesn't have so much math in it to be hard to understand; though it presents plenty of equations, it also shows graphical solutions that the DIY'er could use. One of the best books I know of to learn enough about how tubes really work to be able to design with them.
Download full text with index, 18MB PDF file
Probes, Bruno Zucconi, 1955, 224 pages - Courtesy of Walter Welch, AI4SP!
Hard to believe you can write 224 pages about probes, but here we are... an in-depth discussion of measurement probes for instruments like VTVM's and oscilloscopes.
Download full text, CAUTION LARGE 42MB PDF file
Radio Amateur's Handbook, American Radio relay League, 1936, 536 pages
The venerable ARRL handbook, 1936 edition. Many of us learned all about tubes from this book (OK, in my case, one about 30 years later than this one). Practical information on electronic fundamentals and tube circuits, and lots of ham projects - transmitters, receivers, antennas. Cool catalog section at the end.
Download full text with index, CAUTION *VERY* LARGE 55MB PDF file
Radio Amateur's Handbook, American Radio relay League, 1941, 552 pages
Here's another edition a few years later, full-color catalog at the end.
Download full text with index, CAUTION *VERY* LARGE 79MB PDF file
Radio and TV Test Instruments, Hugo Gernsback, 1953, 128 pages - Thanks to Tom Bavis!
This cool little book describes how to build your own test equipment. Apparently targeted towards the TV repairman on a budget, it includes everything from VOM and VTVM meters to a DIY Oscilloscope. Fun!
Download full text, 2.6MB PDF file
The Radio Handbook, William Orr (editor), 15th edition 1959, 810 (!) pages
This is sort of an ARRL handbook on steroids. Very complete, covering basic theory though practical construction of mostly ham radio equipment, though much applies to any vintage electronic project. Has some transistor and semiconductor info but 90% vacuum tube, even a circuit for a tube-based VHF walke-talkie! There are even sections on "high-fidelity techniques" and "electronic computers"! Even includes a math section and info on how to set up your workshop (I like the "workshop-in-a-closet"!)
Download full text with index, CAUTION *VERY* LARGE 61MB PDF file
The Radio Handbook, Editors and Engineers, 7th edition 1940, 608 pages
An earlier edition of the above Radio Handbook, this has more of the feel of the ARRL handbook of 1940. As you would expect the circuits in this older book use some older tubes, and no mention of semiconductors. There is a section on "radio therapy", if you want to build your own diathermy machine!
Download full text with index, 18MB PDF file
Radio Engineering Principles, Henri Lauer and Harry Brown, 2nd edition 1928, 310 pages
Here's a book that pre-dates the invention of the pentode... talks about radio theory and propagation, antennas, and telegraphy, then has chapters on the use of the "three-electrode vacuum tube". Talks about how a triode works, and how to use it in amplifier and oscillator circuits and in a radio receiver.
Download full text with index, 13MB PDF file
Radio Receivers (AF Manual 100-5), Department of the Air Force, 1958, 175 pages - Courtesy of Chuck McGregor, N7RHU
A "training text and guide for repairmen and technicians" by the US air force about radio receivers. A good practical description of receiver design.
Download full text, CAUTION *VERY* LARGE 95MB PDF file
Radio Receiver Design (Part 1), K. R. Sturley, 1945, 435 pages - Courtesy of John Atwood
This UK publication gives a thorough treatment of the design of valve-based radio receivers. Part 1 covers valve basics, and the RF side of a receiver: from the antenna through the detector.
Download full text, CAUTION LARGE 17.7MB PDF file
Radio Receiver Design (Part 2), K. R. Sturley, 1945, 435 pages - Courtesy of John Atwood
A continuation of the above, this volume covers audio-frequency amplifiers, frequency modulation, and television.
Download full text, CAUTION LARGE 22.4MB PDF file
Radio Receiving and Television Tubes, James Moyer, 1936, 645 pages - Courtesy of Walter Welch, AI4SP!
A comprehensive text on tubes, how they're made, how they work, and applications circuits. Covers tube testers in some detail, as well as early television circuits.
Download full text, CAUTION LARGE 35MB PDF file
Radiotron Designer's Handbook, Third Edition, P. Langford Smith, 1941, 352 pages
The quintessential vacuum tube design handbook,. This is the older, and smaller, third edition... at least I didn't have to pay $150 for a book to cut up and scan! Covers all the essential of tube electronics design, including the basics, tube theory, load lines, amplifier design, etc.
Download full text with index, 16MB PDF file
Radiotron Designer's Handbook, Fourth Edition, P. Langford Smith, 1953, 1,498 pages! - MANY thanks to Keith Carlsen!
The later and much more comprehensive version of the RDH3 above, this is probably the best book out there for the casual vacuum tube circuit designer. Coveted by the audio guys, it also has plenty of info on the design of radio receivers. This version is one I have scanned myself, in one file, with added nested PDF bookmarks so it's easy to find things. There are PDF versions already floating around the web... but I never figured out who scanned what, and there are a couple of versions that people are trying to sell, so I've not posted any of them here.
Download full text with index, CAUTION LARGE 25MB PDF file
The Recording and Reproduction of Sound, Oliver Read, 1952, 790 pages - Courtesy of David Stork
Unique in this collection (so far), this book concentrates on the recording process, and to some extent the reproduction process, as opposed to just amplifiers or radios. A fantastic book if you are looking for info on how records were (are?) cut, and how magnetic tape machines work. A very practical book, it includes schematics of many pieces of professional audio of the 1950's. Also contains info about acoustics, loudspeakers and cabinets, and PA system design.
Download full text with index, 16MB PDF file
Reference Data For Radio Engineers, Federal Telephone and Radio, 1946, 335 pages
This great book is, well, a reference book for engineers! It contains tons of useful data on vacuum-tube circuits, components, power supplies, acoustics, waveforms, radio propagation, and lots of other things. Also includes a lot of mathematical info and tables - even a graphical way to do an FFT! The way we did it before the days of PSpice and silicon...
Download full text with index, 9.4MB PDF file
Reference Data For Radio Engineers, International Telephone and Telegraph Corp., 1956, 1121 pages - Thanks to Ed Stewart, WA4MZS!
A later and greatly expanded version of the book above. A wonderful reference for anybody designing equipment with vacuum tubes. Sections on digital computers, nuclear physics, wire transmission... all kinds of cool things. Plus practical guides for things like power supply design, including how to design and wind the transformers and chokes,
Download full text, 13.5MB PDF file
Reliability Factors for Ground Electronic Equipment, Keith Henny, 1956, 266 pages Courtesy of John Atwood
Discusses reliability factors in military electronics in the 50's.
Download full text with index, 20.5MB PDF file
Storage Tubes and Their Basic Principles, M. Knoll and B. Kazan, 1952, 153 pages - Courtesy of Walter Welch, AI4SP!
Remember the pre-digital storage 'scopes? This book will explain how they work, as well as other charge-controlled storage tubes used as cameras and computing elements.
Download full text, 6.2MB PDF file
The Story of Stereo, John Sunier, 1960, 161 pages Courtesy of John Atwood
A history of the development of stereophonic sound. Discusses film, tape, and disc storage, and recording and reproduction.
Download full text with index, 8MB PDF file
The Technique of Radio Design, E. E. Zepler, 1944, 322 pages Courtesy of John Atwood
Sort of an engineer's practical guide to radio receiver design.
Download full text with index, 13.9MB PDF file
Theory and Applications of Electron tubes, Herbert Reich, 2nd edition 1941, 716 pages
If there's one book that will bust my website's bandwidth limits, this may be it. 716 pages of vacuum tube theory, this may be THE best book about vacuum tubes. Detailed, complete with plenty of math and drawings. Covers how tubes work and how to design circuits around them, with chapters on class A/AB1 and AB2/B amplifier design, power supplies, and more!
