The loss of most of the traditional electronics hobbyist publications has left a void in the information available to beginners and experts alike. Your humble editor spent some time at the library to recover some of the lost knowledge from the Golden Era of Electronics Magazines. Presented below are some of my favorite short articles along with links to articles and publications still available from these popular authors.

Basic Electronics

While integrated circuits have replaced the old discrete-component based approach to building devices, some basic introductory information can be helpful. Below are a handful of one and two-page readings about basic circuits and components.

• Milli, Micro, Nano, Pico - Scientific Notation for Electronics
• A short article about Capacitors, with some code info
• Basic Circuits - Components in Series and Parallel
• Basic information about inductance and coils
• Symbols used in schematic drawings
• Using Transformers in Electronics  
• How to wind coils on Toriod Cores
• Basic information about Resistors
• Brief Article about Transistors
• Oscillators and basic circuits
• Short article about Diodes

William Sheets and Rudolph Graf

Two of the most prolific authors in the Gernsback era were William Sheets and Rudolph Graf. Articles by Sheets and Graf covered all manner of transmitters and a good variety of other electronics topics. 

• Build Simple Integrated Ciruit Audio Amplifiers
• Build This Carrier Current Audio Transmitter
• CW and AM Modulation methods
• Crystal oscillators and circuits
• Audio System Integration
• Basic Regulator Circuits
• Microphone Splitters
• Power Supplies

 If you enjoyed these articles be sure to check out the authors' other publications on Amazon.com

* Copyright Notice and Disclaimer:

The title Popular Electronics was sold to Gernsback Publications and their Hands-on Electronics magazine was renamed to Popular Electronics in February 1989. This version was published until it was merged with Electronics Now to become Poptronics in January 2000. In late 2002 Gernsback Publications went out of business and the January 2003 Poptronics was the last issue.

These great publications will surely be missed. Because the copyright holder has gone out of business, these articles are offered here for those who might never have seen these remarkable hobbyist publications.

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