“We Didn’t Need That in the Old Days”

HARD TO IMAGINE, but my grandfather was already 22 years old when the first portable radio was displayed in 1922.

"The Singing Valise," or "Talks-as-it-walks," was displayed to delegates attending the American Institute of Engineers meeting by F.W. Dunmore of the radio laboratory of the U.S. Bureau of Standards. 

The bits and pieces seen in this suitcase are exactly equivalent, if much larger, to the electronics inside a Deben Mark I “knocker box” locator, which is basically an old pocket radio.

I am told that when the portable radio first appeared, an Old Timer dismissed the new invention, saying back in their day they talked to God “the old-fashioned way,” by not eating anything for a week and then downing a stew made of orange mushrooms with white spots.

F.W. Dunmore asked how often they did this, as he was told a lot of people died eating forest mushrooms.

“Well, it worked, all the same,” said the Old Timer.  

“One way or another, you met and talked to God.”