The Boy Electrician is a free eBook originally published in 1914. It was written by a beloved author of technical books aimed at boys of that time.
Alfred Powell Morgan was an electrical engineer, inventor, and author who brought all things electrical and mechanical down to earth for young people.
According to a brief autobiographical sketch, the young Morgan struggled to find publications appropriate for his age. As an adult, he vowed to create those publications, which he had lacked as an adolescent. In this endeavor, unlike his first attempt to fly, Morgan was supremely effective.
His first book was How to Build a 20-foot Bi-Plane Glider. But it was The Boys’ First Book of Radio and Electronics that grabbed the attention of the (mostly) boys of America. Young people everywhere were rushing out to get parts to build their first crystal radio using the book as a guide. Also covered were vacuum tube radios.
Morgan dedicated The Boy Electrician to future scientists and engineers. (And we can update the language to include girls, too!)
The wireless outfit is not a symbol, but something that you can both hear and see in operation even though you may not understand the whispering of the dots and dashes. And as soon as the mystery of this modern wonder more firmly grips your imagination, you perhaps may come to realize that we are living more and more in the age of electricity and mechanism. Electricity propels our trains, lights our houses and streets, makes our clothes, cures our ills, warms us, cooks for us and performs an innumerable number of other tasks at the turning of a little switch. A mere list is impossible.
This little gem covers the following:
- Magnets and magnetism.
- Static electricity.
- Units of electricity.
- Bells and alarms.
- Electric telegraphs.
- Microphones and telephones.
- Induction coils.
- Wireless telegraphy.
- Electric motors.
And lots more!
When our son was quite young, he ended up with a used copy of Alfred Morgan’s Third Book of Radio and Electronics. He used the principles in the book to begin a career of building radios, amplifiers, and dozens of assorted other devices. Let’s just say Morgan’s enthusiasm is contagious.
One look at this picture should adequately convince you that some oversight is warranted:
Live electricity, folks. So be duly warned!
Nevertheless, Morgan’s books are an incredible foundation to those with an electronic interest! And this one is free!
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