M3DVQ wrote:I have the Radioshack/Tandy Science Fair 75 in 1 where you (attempted to) trap wires in little springs, though that wasn't my first electronics set. Got that a few years later for very little in an auction.
Before that I had an "Electrics" set where you trapped wires under brass split pins stuffed through a board full of holes to connect bulbs and switches etc. then graduated onto "Electronics" with a set containing an amplifier of some sort where the wires fitted to several small pieces of solderless breadboard, just 1x6 or 5x6 etc. Lots of projects that made screechy howling noises in that one
The Thing that really got me started was at school making a relay from a bolt copper wire and a metal stip cut from a tin can and wire it up so the strip of tin would buzz away on the bolt as the electro magnet the bent tin strip to a nail the on switch it would turn on and off ..spring electro magnet idea ....lucky i didn't know at the time if i hooked it up to a transformer what it could do as i repeated the project at home .
The springs on those old kits were a good idea but the 75 science fair ones were a little tricky unique ...Wonder if Tandy is still going i think they shut the last stores here in Australia a few years ago like our dick smith they went from hobby electronics to consumer electronics very sad ...We just have one store Jaycar for parts now .
65 in one projects type thing with the easier springs for wiring that came after for me as i had to buy the thing my self so that cost more ..yes nice noise making circuits .i still have the schematic book,i got one similar for my boys if they get into it still a little young for this yet .