Bernard Babani

Lore & Background

Bernard Babani was the eldest of four children born to Haim Babani, a dealer in Oriental carpets from Constantinople, and Rebecca Levy, also a native of Constantinople. Poor eyesight prevented him from serving in the Second World War; instead, he worked as an inspector at D. Napier & Son, a company that had shifted from luxury motor cars to aero engines by the mid-twentieth century. During the war, he began publishing technical books, starting with *Amalgated Engineering Reference Tables and Data Charts* in 1942, which arose from demand by other engineers for his conversion tables during a period of incompatible measurement systems. After the war, he founded Bernard's (Publishers) Ltd., issuing inexpensive, practical booklets for amateur radio and electronics enthusiasts. By August 1958, the company, renamed Babani Books, had 150 titles on its list. It published many of Sir Clive Sinclair's books in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and Babani also acted as an agent for technical writer F.G. Rayer.

Reader's Guide

Bernard Babani's significance lies in his role as a publisher who made technical knowledge accessible to amateur radio and electronics hobbyists during a formative period for the field. His company, Babani Books, filled a niche for inexpensive, practical booklets at a time when measurement systems were inconsistent and engineering reference materials were scarce. By publishing works by figures such as Sir Clive Sinclair, Babani helped disseminate emerging technical ideas to a broader audience. The company's longevity, continuing under his son Michael Babani from The Grampians in Shepherd's Bush until its dissolution in January 2025, underscores the enduring demand for such practical guides. Babani's legacy is that of a publisher who supported the growth of amateur radio and electronics communities through affordable, focused literature.

Did You Know?

• Bernard Babani's first publication was *Amalgated Engineering Reference Tables and Data Charts* in 1942.
• He was an agent for the technical writer F.G. Rayer.
• His father Haim was a dealer in Oriental carpets born in Constantinople.