(109) Magic Island - Instruments Have Failed

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: (109) Magic Island - Instruments Have Failed
Date: June 14, 2026

This episode of "Magic Island" thrusts Captain Tex Bradford, Jerry Hall, and the Euclidean scientists Cheops and Thales into an aerial crisis. During a routine test flight of a rocket-propelled airship over the mysterious underwater city of Euclidia, the crew faces unexpected danger as their instruments fail, rendering them lost over the open Pacific. The group must work together to regain control—and survive—while uncovering vulnerabilities in the supposedly flawless Euclidean technology.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mysterious Aircraft Encounter and Instrument Failure

• [00:30–01:43] The group detects an unidentifiable presence on their flight course, creating unease.

  • Instruments fail to register any other aircraft, creating suspicion and fear.
  • Thales and Cheops are perplexed, as the Euclidean technology should prevent such anomalies.
  • Disagreement and nervous banter reveal cracks in the scientists’ confidence.

  Quote:

  • "There is the pleasant possibility of our doing that." — Thales, responding dryly to the idea of a collision ([01:21]).
  • "Oh boy. Did you hear that text? There's something that one of these Euclideans is not sure about." — Jerry Hall ([02:04]).

2. Navigational Crisis: Lost in the Skies

• [02:53–04:03] The group realizes they are disoriented and their instruments misread height and location.

  • Despite supposed proximity to Euclidia, they could be as much as 500 miles away due to faulty readings.
  • Attempts to reach command result in acknowledgment of their predicament.

  Quote:

  • "We are very definitely lost. Our instruments have all failed. Our altimeter shows 43,000ft. We are actually about 4,300ft above the water." — Thales ([03:08]).

3. Commander S1’s Authority and Subtle Tensions

• [04:04–05:15] Commander S1 enters the communication, briskly providing bearings and issuing orders.

  • She sharply rebukes Cheops and Thales for their dependence on broken instruments and suggests Captain Bradford’s conventional navigation skills might be needed.
  • This exchange stresses hierarchical and gender tensions, with Cheops particularly irked.

  Quote:

  • "If you do not know how to navigate a true course in broad daylight with the sun shining brightly. Perhaps Captain Bradford will assist you. That is all." — Commander S1 ([05:06]).

4. Blame, Science, and Material Flaws

• [07:03–08:33] The episode reveals the smug confidence—and blind spots—of the Euclidean scientists.

  • Captain Bradford diplomatically points out that their use of copper, especially with a steel core, can misbehave in electrical environments, potentially causing their instruments’ failure.
  • Thales and Cheops bicker about who is responsible for the choice of materials, exposing personal and professional rivalries.

  Quote:

  • "Nothing is unavoidable. G47 is the author of that remark. I think you'll find that your tempered copper is much too fine a conductor to be highly successful as a material used throughout the ship. Instruments will all react to magnetism under certain conditions." — Captain Tex Bradford ([07:36]).

5. Dire Descent: Rapidly Approaching Disaster

• [10:11–12:08] The airship runs out of fuel mid-flight and begins to plummet.

  • Desperate use of helium to inflate the outer shell gives a brief reprieve.
  • The prospect of crashing at 75 mph into the ocean looms, with little hope of a safe landing.

  Quote:

  • "We are gaining speed again. We are not being supported." — Thales ([11:28]).
  • "75 miles an hour? But hey, we... We can't land that fast. We're going pretty near straight down. Well, that's going to smash this ship to pieces." — Jerry Hall ([11:48]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Notable Quote / Moment | |-----------|---------|-----------------------| | 01:21 | Thales | "There is the pleasant possibility of our doing that." (about mid-air collision) | | 03:08 | Thales | "We are very definitely lost. Our instruments have all failed." | | 05:06 | Commander S1 | "Perhaps Captain Bradford will assist you." (stinging rebuke) | | 07:36 | Captain Tex Bradford | "Nothing is unavoidable. G47 is the author of that remark..." | | 11:48 | Jerry Hall | "75 miles an hour?...We're going pretty near straight down. Well, that's going to smash this ship to pieces." |

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:30–01:43] Introduction to the crisis: unidentified aircraft and instrument confusion
• [02:53–04:03] Realization that all instruments have failed and they're lost
• [04:04–05:15] Command intervention and navigation orders
• [07:03–08:33] Discussion of failed copper construction and scientific pride
• [10:11–12:08] The crisis peaks as the airship begins its uncontrolled descent

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Episode Tone & Flow

The episode balances technical intrigue—centered on mysterious mechanical failure and scientific egos—with a mounting sense of danger. Jerry Hall’s youthful nervousness adds levity and tension, while Captain Tex Bradford provides calm leadership. The Euclideans’ frustration illustrates the fallibility of arrogance and the importance of humility and cooperation under duress.

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Summary for New Listeners

If you haven’t heard this installment, expect a suspenseful, clever escapade where advanced technology goes awry, forcing heroes and antagonists alike to reckon with the limits of their knowledge. Mechanical flaws, human flaws, and impending disaster mix in this classic old-time radio adventure.

Transcript

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[Narrator]

Captain Tex Bradford and Jerry hall are certainly in an exciting spot now. Two of the Euclidean scientists, Cheops, the master builder and Thales, the chief electrician of the underwater city, have taken Jerry and Tex for a test run in one of the rocket propelled airships of the Euclideans. All has been going very smoothly with nothing worse than amazement happening to our friends. But now a new note has crept into the proceedings. There is a disturbance on the radiograph. Someone is on their course. The beam signal from Euclidia is not interrupted. Therefore, another aircraft of some type must be in the air ahead of them and above them. But that's impossible. Their delicate instruments don't register the presence of any other plane. Let's see what the scientists can do about this.

[Jerry Hall]

Oh gee, what are you going to do about it?

[Cheops]

There seems little to do at the moment.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

But if someone is on this course, isn't there danger of our running into them?

[Thales]

There is the pleasant possibility of our doing that.

[Jerry Hall]

Pleasant possibility? Running into another airship 40,000ft in the air and going 800 miles an hour.

[Thales]

Captain Bradford.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Yes?

[Thales]

Is there any type of aircraft in your world which might be cruising at an altitude of 40,000ft over this location in the South Pacific Ocean?

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Not a chance.

[Thales]

We will continue to climb steadily.

[Jerry Hall]

Don't forget G47's orders. He said not to go over 50,000ft and not to get more than 100 miles from the position of Euclidean.

[Cheops]

We do not require your assistance, Hall. The orders were clear to us.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Jerry was only thinking about making G47 angry. He's bad enough at any time.

[Thales]

Silence. The radio beam is fading out.

[Jerry Hall]

It's gone now. What does that mean?

[Cheops]

I am not sure.

[Jerry Hall]

Oh boy. Did you hear that text? There's something that one of these Euclideans is not sure about.

[Thales]

This is indeed most unusual.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Well, do we just sit here and comment on it while we race along towards danger at a thousand miles an hour?

[Thales]

You will be so good as to remember that our course lies in a circle over the undersea city Euclidia. If this obstacle remains on our course. It can mean but one thing. Another aircraft of some strange type is also on the same course. Describing the same circle.

[Jerry Hall]

You mean somebody's chasing us?

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Oh, we're chasing them.

[Cheops]

Something of that nature.

[Thales]

Thales, you will conserve your power. Prepare to stabilize this plane with the helium escape valves and check our position.

[Cheops]

Right.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Seems to be something going on here, Jerry.

[Jerry Hall]

It sure looks like it.

[Thales]

Every instrument on board this plane is distorted. Your proof looks downward.

[Jerry Hall]

Yeah. Look, Tex, there's the ocean.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Sure is, Jerry. We're only a few thousand feet above it.

[Thales]

I cannot understand this.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Well, how do we get home?

[Cheops]

I will attempt to communicate with Euclidia. Straightight A. Plane X1 to Euclidia. Requesting bearings. Straight up. Plane X1 to Euclia. Check our beam and give us our position.

[Jerry Hall]

Oh, boy, we're lost.

[Thales]

We are very definitely lost. Our instruments have all failed. Our altimeter shows 43,000ft. We are actually about 4,300ft above the water.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Well, this seems like a good time for a little simple navigation. With the sun.

[Cheops]

That would be the answer. Indeed. If it were not for the fact that we have no idea as to where Euclidia lies in relation to our present position.

[Jerry Hall]

But we can't be over 100 miles from it.

[Thales]

We should not be over 100 miles from Euclidia. We may be near 500.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Oh, I see what you're getting at. If our instruments are all wrong, we may not have been describing a circle at all.

[Jerry Hall]

But, Tex, we only had fuel enough for 500 miles. If we're going 400 miles in a straight line, how do we get home?

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Looks like we may have to walk.

[Cheops]

That will hardly be necessary. But we would have to ask for aid from the city.

[Jerry Hall]

Huh. I'll bet G47 would like that.

[Thales]

G47 would find a number of ways to make life most unpleasant for us if such were the case.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Yes, and he's good at that.

[Commander S1]

Commander S1 waiting your report. You will proceed. Thales.

[Jerry Hall]

Chief, the girl.

[Thales]

Commander, you will make the report. Thales.

[Cheops]

Straight A plane reporting to Commander S1. All instruments paralyzed. Request check beam and give our position.

[Commander S1]

Your beam is being checked. Your course is number one. West from Euclidea.

[Thales]

Due west of Euclidia.

[Cheops]

We have fuel for 100 miles.

[Commander S1]

What power are you using on Your voice transmitter?

[Cheops]

25 watts.

[Commander S1]

Your graph is being calibrated. Here is the result. Your Command lies approximately 125 miles from Euclidea.

[Cheops]

What are G47's instructions?

[Commander S1]

You will proceed at full speed toward Euclidia, maintain your present altitude. Report when fuel exhausted. When you complete that report, you will descend and submerge at once. Aid will be dispatched. At this time, lay your cost due east. That is all.

[Cheops]

One moment, Commander. We have no compass. Everything on the control panel is useless.

[Commander S1]

If you do not know how to navigate a true course in broad daylight with the sun shining brightly. Perhaps Captain Bradford will assist you. That is all.

[Jerry Hall]

Oh, boy, did that girl commander tell you that time?

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Careful, Jerry.

[Cheops]

You will learn to hold your tongue, young man. Cheops, full speed forward. Due east. Run to the exhaustion of our fuel.

[Thales]

Full speed due east. Very well.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

I'll be glad to help you navigate if you want me to.

[Cheops]

Thales, I could easily request a radio beam from Euclidia if it were necessary.

[Jerry Hall]

Well, if you can't tell which direction is east, I'd say it was kind of necessary.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Right now.

[Cheops]

Silence.

[Jerry Hall]

Sorry.

[Thales]

Our course is now due east. We are accelerating rapidly.

[Cheops]

Very well, continue.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

So, what happens when we run out of fuel?

[Thales]

We will take advantage of our altitude to progress as far as possible along our course, then settle to the surface and submerge.

[Jerry Hall]

Yeah, and wait there for G47 to come out and give us plenty of trouble.

[Cheops]

I think G47 will have other things to think about. That girl submarine commander will require his attention for her impertinence to me.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

G47 may not look at it that way. We have found that girl, Commander, most intelligent.

[Thales]

You have also found her most helpful on occasion, have you not?

[Cheops]

What?

[Jerry Hall]

Gee, do you suppose G47 suspects?

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Watch it, Jerry.

[Jerry Hall]

Oh, yeah. Oh, sorry.

[Thales]

Yes, my foolish young man. G47 not only suspects, he knows.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Knows what?

[Thales]

That the girl in question, the finest and most trusted submarine commander in our colony deliberately aided your party in your two escapes from the island.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

You mean G47.

[Jerry Hall]

Jenks, don't let these fellows kid you. That girl didn't help us a bit. That's just imagination.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Yes, yes, there's a mistake somewhere.

[Cheops]

There is indeed. But that mistake will be rectified upon our return to Euclidea.

[Jerry Hall]

Don't you do anything to get that girl in bad. She's a friend of ours.

[Thales]

Just as I thought.

[Jerry Hall]

Or. Oh, gee, I'm sorry, Text.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Never mind. Jerry, I don't think we could tell these men anything they don't know already.

[Cheops]

That is your most intelligent observation to date, Captain.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Well, I suggest you stop worrying us and give your attention to getting this crippled ship home.

[Thales]

While you are making suggestions, you might offer one as to the cause of this condition. You are here at the request of G47, who for some reason believed you might prove valuable in such a predicament as this.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

You want my advice? You can have it.

[Cheops]

We will listen.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Well, in the first place, are these ships comparatively new? By that I mean. Well, how many long cruises have you made in them?

[Thales]

Under various conditions, these planes have been out rarely. There is no necessity of running exhaustive tests on anything of Euclidean invention. Our machines are perfect.

[Jerry Hall]

Yeah, like the way this ship is acting today.

[Cheops]

This was unavoidable.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Nothing is unavoidable. G47 is the author of that remark. I think you'll find that your tempered copper is much too fine a conductor to be highly successful as a material used throughout the ship. Instruments will all react to magnetism under certain conditions. And even the cases containing these instruments are of copper.

[Thales]

That will substantiate a claim I made at the time. Thales insisted that my tempered copper was the material for this work. I disagreed with him.

[Cheops]

The copper has nothing to do with this condition related to it. In no possible. Oh, yes, that could be Those fins. They are copper with a steel core.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

And nearly anything wrapped around a steel core would make a fine magnet in a ship full of electricity.

[Jerry Hall]

Well, I'll bet that's it. The instruments were all right when we were on the water and those wings were folded back into the sides of the ship.

[Thales]

If that were the case, how do you account for the fact that numerous trips have been made in ships such as this one and the instruments worked perfectly?

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Well, I can't explain that yet. But give me time to take one of these things to pieces. When we get back to you, Clyde, and I'll find out what the weak points are.

[Commander S1]

Commander S1 to rocket plane. S1 calling Thales in. Straight up plane.

[Cheops]

Silence. Thales to Commander S1. Ready.

[Commander S1]

You will continue to transmit continuously. Your graph will be run and your position corrected.

[Cheops]

Position is correct as last given on course one east to Euclidia.

[Commander S1]

You are not on course one east. Directional prism reflectors fail to locate you. Continue transmitting.

[Cheops]

Very well. We are proceeding at full speed along a course believed to be due east to euclidia. Altitude about 4,000ft. Fuel for approximately 50 miles. Is there any further information I can give you?

[Commander S1]

You may cease transmission. Your graph has been calibrated. You are 7 degrees off your course.

[Cheops]

Impossible.

[Commander S1]

You are 7 degrees north of your course. You will make this correction immediately.

[Cheops]

Very well.

[Commander S1]

Proceed along course. Notify me immediately when fuel exhausted. I am leaving at once. That is all.

[Jerry Hall]

Hey, that girl is coming out after

[Thales]

us with her submarine Obviously so.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

This is getting to be a habit. It will make the third time she's dragged us to the island.

[Cheops]

It will be a comparatively simple task on this occasion. We should reach the surface of the water within 25 miles of Euclidea.

[Thales]

If that sound has any significance, your latest observation is faulty, Thales.

[Cheops]

Yes, that was bad. We are losing headway. We must take advantage of this altitude and glide down.

[Jerry Hall]

What was that noise?

[Thales]

The last of the gas leaving the fuel chambers. We are without fuel.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

And we're a lot more than 25 miles from Euclidia.

[Thales]

Only less than 75 miles.

[Jerry Hall]

Hey, we're going down mighty fast. How can you land this thing without power?

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Right, Jerry, we haven't enough wing surface for a glide. This thing's dropping like a bullet.

[Cheops]

I will now compensate for that.

[Jerry Hall]

Oh, boy, did we bounce that time. Hey, what did we hit?

[Thales]

That sudden jar was caused by the release of the helium cylinders. The outer shell of this plane is now expanding.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Expanding.

[Thales]

Precisely.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

You mean that you release compressed helium into the outer shell? And that it is pliable enough to expand and carry our weight as it lighteth an airship?

[Thales]

Precisely.

[Jerry Hall]

Well, it's a good trick if it works. But it looks to me like we're starting down again. And mighty fast too.

[Cheops]

What? Yes. We are falling again. I will release the reserve supply of.

[Jerry Hall]

Hey, you have to do that.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

So, Rolf, it's better to flatten out up here than it is to hit the water at the speed we were making.

[Thales]

We are gaining speed again. We are not being supported.

[Cheops]

Yes. Something. Something vital has failed.

[Jerry Hall]

You mean we're falling? You can't stop it.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Steady, Jerry. What's to be done, Thales?

[Cheops]

I have exhausted every means at my command.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

How about you, Cheops?

[Thales]

There is nothing more to be done.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

What will be our speed when we hit that water?

[Thales]

The least we may hope for is at a speed of 75 miles an hour.

[Jerry Hall]

75 miles an hour? But hey, we. We can't land that fast. We're going pretty near straight down. Well, that's going to smash this ship to pieces.

[Captain Tex Bradford]

Trade it will, Jerry. This is once the Euclidean perfection has failed. And failed plenty.

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