[ARC5] Surplus "conversion" articles

[Mike Everette]

Thinking back over the surplus "conversion" literature, some of the best thought-out and best-executed conversions were those by Roy Pafenberg (sp?), W4WKM, who wrote mostly for 73 Magazine.

Roy also authored a booklet called "Index to Surplus" which first appeared around 1962-63, and then again in 1966 with an update/supplement.  This booklet is a definitive list of the surplus articles up to the time of its publication.

If I had a decent scanner, I would upload my copy to BAMA... that is, if Wayne Green or his ghost wouldn't hunt me down and take me out, for doing it.

The articles in CQ (and there were several) that began with something like "Sneak up on the equipment --- and REMOVE ALL WIRING!" were pretty generally useless, but they are also listed in Roy's book.

Did you know, the term "Boatanchor" stems from an article in CQ concerning the No. 19 Mk. 2 Wireless Set?

One thing I noticed about the literature... QST, and the ARRL, seemed to ignore surplus as much as they could.  There were a flurry of articles in 1946-48 QST issues, then only a very few afterward.  I suppose this may have been a concession to advertisers?  Yet, CQ and other publications seemed not to suffer from advertiser boycotting on account of surplus.

73

Mike
W4DSE