It was always this way for me. My awareness as a consumer began when I was about 10 years old. I found some plans in a book at my local library for how to build a crystal radio set. It called for Fahnestock clips. I went all over town trying to source all the parts needed. When I asked for Fahnestock clips people looked at me as though I was from Mars. My Dad saved the day and found some. We built the crystal radio together.
Exactly, building a crystal radio from scratch, was such a fun and rewarding experience. For me the plans came from my older bothers cubs project book. I recall like it was yesterday #22 enamelled wire wound on a 1" wooden dowel, brass tuner and me telling my dad I needed a 250 micro micro farad capacitor and a 1n914 diode, I thought they must be really expensive and probably can't even get them. My dad told me to find an electronic store in the yellow pages and call. I had never called anyone on the phone except a friend or two, so I was really apprehensive my dad pushed me to make the call, so with my trembling little voice I called J&J electronics. The nice man on the other end obviously picked up on the situation and was extra friendly and when on to tell me that they had plenty in stock, so I enquired about the price, and it was something like 25c should cover it. That was my first experience with electronics and it left a very meaningful impression. I was truly amazed when it worked like a charm.
