[AMRadio] Old-Timer AMers?

[Geoff/W5OMR]

Phil LaMarche wrote:
>  
> I've enjoyed reading the ages and license length.  I also fit that profile.
> 69 on December the 3rd and licensed for 59 years.  My radio shaped my life
> and many things I did and I love it every day.  Currently using a Collins
> 75A-1 and 32V-1 that are mint.  Next to it is a Collins R-388 hot rodded by
> Chuck Felton and a restored CE 200V for vintage AM.  How much fun is that?
>
> Thanks to everyone for a fun reflector.

Well, I don't *quite* fit that profile.  I'll make the 49 year mark, on 
the 2nd of December.  However, I've been around radio all my life.  I 
remember the days when rigs such as the Benton Harbor Kilowatt (DX-100), 
a TC-7 (I think it was some sort of Collins rig) and a BC-610 were 
around here at various stages of my life, growing up.

I didn't get my first ticket until Feb of 1984.  Feb of 2008 will start 
my 24th year as a licensed ham.

I don't know why I waited so long to get a license.  I learned the code 
back when I was 8 years old, as a cub-scout.  Dad and I built an AM 
receiver out of a paper towel tube with copper wire wrapped around it, a 
long metal bar to tune across the coil, a (new at the time) galena diode 
and a pair of old cans, made out of hard plastic that hurt my ears to 
put 'em on.  The whole thing was built on a couple of 1x6's, about 12" 
long.  I couldn't get enough of WOAI from a radio set that didn't need 
external power (batteries or AC) to operate, now matter HOW much those 
ol' hard-plastic 'cans' hurt my ears!

I've been operating AM on the 250TH final since 1986, thanks to 
John/W5MEU, Dan/W5BU (both SK) and John/WA5BXO. 
Before the big-rig, there was a Ranger and an SX-28 and first off, on AM 
was a loaner Swan 350C with some mighty weak sweep-tubes.

My novice rig was a hand-me-down from Dad.. National NCX-3.  I coupled 
that with the Heathkit Cheyenne MR-1 as an external receiver because the 
NCX-3 didn't have a CW 'offset'.  Tuning in a station at around the 
800cycle area meant that I was zero-beat with the sender.  A T/R relay 
helped out tremendously.

Ahh.. the good ol' days
(I can hear the ol' pharts now; "whipper snapper")
LOL 

At least the tradition lives!

-- 
Driving your AM Rig without a scope, 
is like driving your car at night, without headlights. (K4KYV)

73 = Best Regards,
73's = Best Regardseses
-Geoff/W5OMR