I grew up in the time when semiconductors were more novelty than anything. In electronics school in the mid sixties we had to build a tube superhet receiver from scratch and make it work properly. The only thing that was premade was a metal plate with holes punched for tube sockets. I wish I still had the one my dad gave me to investigate when I was quite young. Filament and plate batteries were often in need of replacement though. That's exactly what started my interest in electronics both as a hobby and as a career. I've been retired for quite a while and still build things. Still a licensed ham operator and still have my commercial license. I never did actually use my commercial license, but it still served as a recognized credential.
My Gramps had left MANY of all kinds of these mags in the house Mom and Dad bought, when I was 6. These, Popular Mechanics, Science and Mechanics, I can not name all the variables. They just MIGHT be what sparked my interest in electronics. I am 76, first licensed in high school in 65, and spent 6 years in the Navy as an ET. Spent 4 years at NAS Miramar maintaining GCA RADAR and TACAN, all of it TUBE gear, 70-74
