EEVblog #874 - World's Oldest Electronics Hobbyist!

[EEVblog]

105yo Ted Wale still builds FM bugs in his lab, and carves his own PCB's (none of this etching rubbish!)
Dave caught up with him in his backyard workshop in Cabramatta in Sydney.

[M4trix]

This video kinda encourages me. I'm nearly 49 and I always had a feeling that I'm reaching my maximum in electronics. 

[pickle9000]

Well that literally brought a tear to my eye. Nice one Dave.

[rrinker]

I can only hope to make it to that age and still have a sharp mind. What an amazing life - the things he's seen.

[alexanderbrevig]

Faaaaaantastic! 

[SL4P]

I'm guessing no-one in his neighbourhood received VHF TV or FM radio...
But who cares - good on 'im !

[MK14]

WOW!
That is an amazing video.

The combination of living to 105 (almost 106+, by the sound of it, in August) AND knowing such accurate stuff about electronics, such as 555's, 386's, 741's, BC547's, etc etc. Is REALLY impressive, for such a long experienced person.

Almost 106, and he still climbs on his roof, and messes with Aerials on them!

So when he was born, even valves/tubes were in their infancy, and cars had not been around for that long.

He has an amazingly clear, recollection of electronics, at his age, wow!

I would LOVE to see the extended video, BUT ...

PROBLEM:
It seems to say "CLICK HERE for an extended video", towards the end of the video.
Time linked, here:
https://youtu.be/4cU7zCx_liM?t=1464

But the link, DOES NOT seem to be (currently) working. At least for me.

[calexanian]

We should all be so lucky to last that long and do what we love.

[Brumby]

Nice video.

I did like the "No such thing as a moving coil voltmeter" quip. 

[Porto]

Nice video with this old man, Dave!

Lives through WW1 and 2, has seen the evolution of automobiles, airplanes, television, analog to digital etc. and obviously as sharp as an 20 year old!

I wouldn't want to get to this age for the simple reason you experience all of your loved ones die and you keep surviving them... that would be too much for me.

GREAT RESPECT for this man! 

[AF6LJ]

That's very Cool. He has one of our local hams beat by three years.

[RobertoLG]

that is life refreshing   great video

[SNGLinks]

I hope I'm as good as that in 35 year's time!

[EEVblog]

I wouldn't want to get to this age for the simple reason you experience all of your loved ones die and you keep surviving them... that would be too much for me.

Sadly his son died the other week.

[minionkevin]

oh wow you found my grandpa's Australian twin. I remember i loved going and looking at all his stuff in the shed. thanx Dave you brought back good memories. i just wish i would have got all the stuff he made.

[Dave]

The man's mind is still incredibly sharp for that age. My grandma is 79 and she is nowhere near as sane as this guy. I think the old saying "use it or lose it" holds up pretty well here.

I would complain that you were interrupting him way too much, at least in the beginning of the video, but I know it wouldn't change anything, so I won't.

[mchamster]

I am totally impressed.

Anyone want to get in on a fund to get this man an Oscilloscope?

[RobertoLG]

oh wow you found my grandpa's Australian twin. I remember i loved going and looking at all his stuff in the shed. thanx Dave you brought back good memories. i just wish i would have got all the stuff he made.

he looks like my granpa a bit too, and showing his instruments like a pro, a true electronics person

[Dan Moos]

My favorite bit was him showing of his jars of "bits". Just yesterday my wife had said how funny it was that I collect all these "bits". I had to show her the video. She is pretty convinced she was seeing me in 50 years!

[ornea]

Plug packs, never have the right one.  He's got that right. (why i finally decided to order a DP831)

Great Video Dave. 

[engineer_in_shorts]

i hope when i am near that age i have the same taste in art work  O0

[Barny]

@mchamster:
I'm in.



Sad thing is that I found a old 20MHz oscilloscope in an dumster dive.
But the kid's didn't wanted it.
They didn't want i even for free.
This old man would put it in good use for sure.


The sad thing is that there is no link for the full version of this blog.

i hope when i am near that age i have the same taste in art work  O0

This reminds me in the old saying of my grand father:
God, you took my "being able too".
Please take my "waning to" too.  O0

[Fungus]

This video kinda encourages me. I'm nearly 49 and I always had a feeling that I'm reaching my maximum in electronics. 

I only started at 49, so... 

[StuUK]

I wouldn't want to get to this age for the simple reason you experience all of your loved ones die and you keep surviving them... that would be too much for me.

Sadly his son died the other week.

Yeah, not great outliving your kids. That's exactly what happened to my Grandad with my Dad dying at 65, my grandad was 98 and took it hard.

[Radio Tech]

Best video ever 
Simply amazing.