Editor of Practical Wireless to Wythall Radio Club September 19th
About a year ago the club invited Rob Mannion, Editor of Practical Wireless to come and give us a talk on PW: Past,Present and Future. Rob readily agreed and we arranged the talk for when he was to be in the Midlands at the Leicester Show. Rob is a larger than life character and has a reputation for entertaining his listeners. We were not to be disappointed. Rob arrived with Tex G1TEX, the Technical Projects Sub-Editor, PW Photographer and official minder. He started off by telling us something about his extra-ordinary life. A life which encompassed working on the railways, the Royal Navy, an accident in the Royal Fleet Air arm where he indeed lost part of his arm! Training as a doctor, medical journalism and eventually editor of Practical Wireless. He seemed to have crammed more than one lifetime into his past history.
Rob talked about the origins of PW under the editorship of the famous FJ Camm when it was known as "Camms Comics" because of the many "how to illustrations" that his publications contained. Starting rather late in 1932, PW was published by George Newnes who had many advantages over their rivals. They had an enormous amount of relevant experience and they had the skilled staff including F.J.Camm of course and when added to their secret ingredient they had an instant success waiting for them. The secret ingredient that PW had was the "tried and tested" core of projects and ideas wrapped around as much editorial content that could be obtained, from any source!.
The tried and tested projects and kits were backed by famous names such as John Scott-Taggart, the almost god like designer who had many books published in the 1920's and 20's. Rob stated that radio in that period was like computers are today. Everyone and every thing seemed affected and influenced by the new medium. At its height in 1940 PW was publishing 250,000 copies per week with a staff of hundreds. Now it publishes some 20,000 with a staff of seven.
Rob brought many examples of early issues and books written about the magazine and its contributors. He also showed us a tool kit that was a free gift presented to readers on the magazine's first birthday in 1933. The tool kit was complete and had been donated by a kind reader some years ago. Apparently they still come up at auctions and the last one sold for £50!.
Rob entertained us til quite late then went off with Tex for a fish and chip supper before getting back to his digs for the Leicester show at around 2am. We had a raffle draw for his favourite charity the Radio Amateur Invalid and Blind Club and raised some £52 which we sent off on his behalf.
We look forward to inviting Rob back for more reminisces
Chris G0EYO
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