We've seen our share of retro toys here at NeoTeo, some with the potential to send the little ones to the hospital, and others directly banned for the risk they posed. But this time we're going to explore something… safer, with a good dose of electronics and a pinch of science fiction. In the '60s, everything was "space" across the pond, and after the Roswell Incident in '47, the idea of detecting aliens wasn't so far-fetched. Best part? There was a product for that! For just $18 and an AA battery, anyone could have their own UFO detector…
It was the 1960s: Cold War, Missile Crisis, Space Race, missions to the Moon. In essence, we were trying to reach the stars while risking blowing half the planet to bits with nuclear fire. And amidst all that… aliens! Cinema, television, and comics were filled with them, but they also found a place among "toys." In fact, detecting them became a sort of hobby for some people, but where did they begin? The UFO Detector was the answer.
A Magnetic-Field Detector
The UFO Detector was actually a magnetic field detector, with an integrated alarm system, built of steel and aluminum, active 24 hours a day, and powered by a single AA battery. Moreover, it came fully wired and ready to use for the modest sum of $17.95, or about $130 adjusted for inflation.
The Circuit and Its Origins
Unfortunately, we're not sure how long its commercial life lasted, but it was in the September-October 1968 issue of the British magazine Flying Saucer Review that its diagram appeared, courtesy of Colin McCarthy. Apparently, the detector was immune to vehicle traffic, airplanes, orbiting satellites, and natural changes in pressure and heat, but a sudden jump in temperature could destroy its transistors.
You can try to replicate that circuit… or cut to the chase and buy a modern version, though much less interesting...
Source: Vintage Everyday
