[AMRadio] Useful info, humor, and prophesy

[CL in NC]

Was reviewing March 1963 QST, the older ones are so much more enjoyable to read.  The ARRL also printed letters from folks that were not happy with them in the correspondence section, compared to now where it is always a love fest.  The FCC and the ARRL were beginning the trail to the 'Incentive Licensing' program, so folks have a few things to tell the ARRL in their letters, while the ARRL extols the benefits of the plan.

With our crystal situation we will now have to deal with if you use them in older rigs, or in the repair of vintage, there is a great article on how to move hermetically sealed crystals up and down in frequency written by Bob Wilson, W5EIM.  I have a ton of those that are candidates.  This could be a source of a replacement rock if you lose one in a parts built crystal filter like a homebrew SSB rig or IF filter where there is no way to find a replacement.

The humor of John Troster, W6ISQ is prophetic in his article about "The Chartreuse Panel",  a homebrew versus 'appliance operator' (remember that one?).  Towards the end, the text goes,  "...Fellas these days take the ham exam then stop off at the store on the way home and buy up everything in sight.  Fred, I'd say the FCC oughta make these fellas stand right up there and solder ...err...hook up a receiver and transmitter before they let 'em take the exam even.  Why, in a couple years, there won't be nobody who can solder a thing...even wires...ahhh...coax fittings!

The character 'Fred' is actually the appliance operator in this story who thought "homebrew' was a brand of gear available for sale somewhere and thought he might build up a receiver some Sunday to be like ISQ.

Miss ol' 'Larsen E. Wrap' and his April fools articles, and wonder if the 'I Tappa Key' fraternity was ever established at a college somewhere.  I did submit an April fools article many years ago when internet over powerline was all the worry.   Got a nice letter back from the ARRL saying it was pretty funny, but they were afraid of liability due to people might attempt to build the device I described and actually try to use it.  Do you remember the old TV antenna that hooked to the back of your 300 twin lead input TV set, then you plugged the other end into AC outlet in  the wall?  This April Fool article was along those lines, except you could transmit with it.

Charlie, W4MEC in NC