[ARC5] Re: [milsurplus] History of ham mods; opinioons?

[howard holden]

Dave et al,

Interesting thought. I have always felt the surplus angle was instrumental in getting many a ham on the air, myself included. Specifically, my dad bought a BC-348Q, probably in the late 40s or early 50s. My first memories of it are from about 1952 or so. He added an AC supply, made the requisite audio stage modification, and added an octal socket PTO on the front panel. While that did disfigure the radio some , going that route was the only way he, at the time a young man with a growing family, could afford to get into the hobby without having great building skills. His mods were pretty crude, a little dangerous even given his skills at the time, but effective, and that BC-348Q got him, myself, and my older brother started in the hobby. Copying W1AW code practice, and making my first Novice QSO are memories that are as fresh today as when they  happened. Dad has been gone about 5 years now, but about 7 years ago I restored that radio, keeping Dad's mods intact, as that radio with those mods are an integral part of MY radio history. The radio lives on today, proudly doing yeoman duty on 75/80 and 40 meters. I get a lump in my throat whenever I use it.

So YES, the ham mods are a part of the surplus story, IMHO.

Howie WB2AWQ