Publisher: Lindsay Publications Inc.
Location: Bradley, Illinois
Publication: Lindsay's Electrical Books Catalog #505
Date: Winter 1990
Type: Vintage Mail-Order Book Catalog (Technical, DIY, & Historical Reprints)
Subject Matter: Antique Radio Circuits, Dynamos, Shortwave, Neon Signs, Tesla Coils, Metal Locators, Fortean Science
Up for sale is a fantastic piece of technical history and a dream reference guide for DIY hobbyists, engineers, and vintage technology enthusiasts: an original Lindsay Publications "Electrical Books" Catalog #505 from Winter 1990.
Lindsay Publications was legendary among tinkerer subcultures for tracking down, preserving, and reprinting rare, forgotten technical manuals, secret blueprints, and unusual fringe science texts from the 19th and early 20th centuries. This mail-order catalog acts as a wonderful reference guide to the rare information resources that were available to builders before the internet era.
Featured Book Reprints & Content Advertised Inside:
Antique Radio & Circuit Manuals: Highlights classic text reproductions including Henley's 222 Radio Circuit Designs (from 1924), the Official 1934 Shortwave Radio Manual (edited by Hugo Gernsback), and the Shortwave Beginner's Book (from 1940).
Electrical Engineering & Generator Building: Features guides on how to Build a Dynamo! (A.J. Weed's classic treatise on winding experimental dynamos), Autopower (the classic 1935 guide on converting automobile generators), and old-school Home Mechanics projects like building wind chargers.
Nostalgic Shop Crafts & Signs: Promotes rare handbooks on commercial arts, featuring a massive layout for Neon Signs (the 1935 classic by Miller & Fink covering glass blowing, vacuum systems, and high voltage bombarding).
Fringe Science, Fortean, & Oddities: Includes fascinating sections on The Strange Books of Charles Fort (the famous four-volume hardcover compilation of unexplained mysteries), Photographing the Spirit World, historical Witches & Witch Hunting texts, and palmistry guides.
Practical Electronics Projects: Features retro step-by-step project books such as Building Metal Locators: A Treasure Hunter's Project Book by Charles D. Rakes.
Overall State: Good / Complete Interior. An authentic, well-read copy of a classic Lindsay catalog that was stored in a workshop environment. It remains flat, tight, and completely readable throughout.
Front Cover: Features a striking purple layout with an eye-catching illustration of a technician in safety glasses working on an electrical arc. Shows light edge yellowing, minor corner creases, and general handling wear typical for a paper catalog of this vintage.
Interior Pages: The internal text and catalog listings remain remarkably clean, flat, and fully legible. The paper stock shows light age toning along the margins but features no writing, ink stamps, or clipped order forms.
Back Cover / Mailing Layout: Complete with the humorous text regarding Lindsay being "too busy tuning up his car" to work on the catalog. Note that the original paper shipping address label has been cleanly removed from the lower center designation area, leaving a smooth white rectangular section behind without ripping through the paper. There is a small dog-ear style corner fold on the lower-left edge of the back cover flap.
To ensure the catalog remains flat and protected against any rough handling during transit, it will be enclosed in a clear protective sleeve and shipped securely sandwiched between heavy, rigid cardboard flats.
Shipped quickly via USPS Ground Advantage with tracking provided.