The smell of old books

[Colossal]

My father in law is an EE and a helluva guy. He is downsizing a bit at the homestead and sent me a bunch of electronics books.

I got:
IC Op-Amp Cookbook, 3rd Edition (1974, 1988), Water G. Jung
Transistor Manual, General Electric, 1964 ($2!)
How To Make Printed Circuit Boards, Joel Goldberg (1980)
CMOS Cookbook, Don Lancaster (1977, 1982)
TTL Cookbook, Don Lancaster (1974, 1983)
RCA Receiving Tube Manual, RC-20 , RCA (1960)

Really cool books and will be a good read. The GE Transistor Manual has theory and clearly worked examples. The RC-20 is killer for nostalgia and vintage value as well as the practical utility of it.

Nice to grow the amp building book collection.

[LeftyStrat]

My father in law is an EE and a helluva guy. He is downsizing a bit at the homestead and sent me a bunch of electronics books.

I got:
IC Op-Amp Cookbook, 3rd Edition (1974, 1988), Water G. Jung
Transistor Manual, General Electric, 1964 ($2!)
How To Make Printed Circuit Boards, Joel Goldberg (1980)
CMOS Cookbook, Don Lancaster (1977, 1982)
TTL Cookbook, Don Lancaster (1974, 1983)
RCA Receiving Tube Manual, RC-20 , RCA (1960)

Really cool books and will be a good read. The GE Transistor Manual has theory and clearly worked examples. The RC-20 is killer for nostalgia and vintage value as well as the practical utility of it.

Nice to grow the amp building book collection.

There are a few of those books that might bring much more on eBay:

CMOS Cookbook, Don Lancaster (1977, 1982)
IC Op-Amp Cookbook, 3rd Edition (1974, 1988), Water G. Jung
TTL Cookbook, Don Lancaster (1974, 1983)

Those three are great books. Check eBay prices.

[Colossal]

Interesting, hadn't considered selling them but will check out The 'Bay and see what gives.

[Cliff Schecht]

Eh, they're not worth that much monetarily. I see them often at used book stores for a few bucks. They are classic books however and I hope Colossal gets a lot out of them. The GE transistor manual is an amazing resource (once you learn to decipher it!) and the IC Op amp cookbook I think was one of the first general purpose op amp books and has all of the classic op amp circuits. I can also highly recommend anything by Burr Brown, I snag up their old books whenever I can find them. Clearly written, easy to follow and very clever yet practical circuits.


I'm a second generation EE and have amassed a stupid collection of books. My dad buys books like they are candy and I pick through them whenever I'm visiting. Lately I've been avoiding this because I have to move soon and I learned too many times that moving book boxes will FUCK up your back!
I've been getting rid a lot of my solid state books lately, they all have the same info for the most part, but I keep the tube stuff neatly put on its own shelf. Some of them are becoming collectable and they are a great resource for anything tube related. I think Spangenberg's book sells for $50-100 and the Radiotron Designers Handbook can sell for $100-150.

[Colossal]

Eh, they're not worth that much monetarily. I see them often at used book stores for a few bucks. They are classic books however and I hope Colossal gets a lot out of them. The GE transistor manual is an amazing resource (once you learn to decipher it!) and the IC Op amp cookbook I think was one of the first general purpose op amp books and has all of the classic op amp circuits. I can also highly recommend anything by Burr Brown, I snag up their old books whenever I can find them. Clearly written, easy to follow and very clever yet practical circuits.

Yeah, I did a quick query of the titles Lefty mentioned and they weren't worth much. But to me they are worth more because they came from my FIL and these are the real deal, written in a time where material was taught with basic and solid examples to let one build a strong foundation. Cliff, I agree with you on the GE Transistor manual; it is a fantastic resource and just thumbing through it is fun. Some really cool things in there, great drawings and tables. I'm not letting them go and it's nice to fatten up the amp book shelf with books of quality. Lots of hours of reading and pondering into the nights ahead

Dave