[ARC5] Inspired Hack Job

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

My KN2GKK Novice license was issued on 30 Nov 1953. 
 
I was earning between $3.50 and $4.00 a week on a 
small paper route. 
 
My first equipment was the Walter Ashe Novice Station 
which ran just under $50 plus shipping. 
 
The WAR-25 regen receiver kit (one 6SN7GT) came first. 
Built it over several days heating a small soldering "copper" 
on a burner of kitchen gas stove. I think I bought it in mid-
December. I think it cost about $14 plus shipping. 
 
Tips from my customers on New Year's Day 1954 brought 
in around the $18 or so for the WAP-25 power supply. 
 
I think I got the WAT-25 transmitter in mid-February when 
I scraped another $17 together. 
 
After filling many pages of logbook with "CQ" entries, I 
finally made an actual QSO somewhere around my 16th 
birthday in mid-April. I'm not sure I've had as big a thrill 
in ham radio since that QSO! 
 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
* 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 * 
* (Since 30 Nov 53) * 
* k2gkk at hotmail.com * 
* Oklahoma City, OK * 
* USAF & FAA (Ret.) * 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
 
 

But how many were within the typical budget of a typical ham of that period?
 
Bob Macklin
K5MYJ
Seattle, Wa.
"Real Radios Glow In The Dark"
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Glen Zook 
To: Bob Macklin ; Geoff ; Arc5 at mailman.qth.net ; hwhall at compuserve.com 
Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2013 12:40 PM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Inspired Hack Job
 
 
There were a fair number of commercial SSB transmitters or transmitting adapters out in the 1950s:
 
 
B&W SSB adapter 1957
Central Electronics 10A transmitter 1953
Central Electronics 10B transmitter 1954
Central Electronics 20A transmitter 1954
Central Electronics 100V transmitter 1957
Collins 32S-1 transmitter 1957
Collins KWM-1 transceiver 1957
Cosmophone 35 transceiver 1958
Eldico SSB transmitter 1950
Eldico SSB-50 transmitter 1953
Eldico SSB-50 (updated) transmitter 1954
Eldico SSB-100 transmitter 1955
Eldico SSB-100A transmitter 1956
Eldico SSB-100F transmitter 1957
Eldico SSB-100M mobile transmitter 1958
Elenco X-4 transmitter 1954
Elenco SS-75 transmitter 1954
Elenco Model 77 transmitter 1955
Globe (WRL) DSB-100 (DSB) transmitter 1958
Hallicrafters HT-30 transmitter 1954
Hallicrafters HT-32 transmitter 1957
Heath SB-10 adapter 1959
Johnson Pacemaker transmitter 1956
Lakeshore Phasemaster JR transmitter 1954
Lakeshore Phasemaster II transmitter 1956
Lakeshore Phasemaster II-A transmitter 1957
Lakeshore Phasemaster II-B transmitter 1958
 
 
Starting in late 1960 and then into 1961, there were all sorts of both SSB transmitters and transceivers coming off the production lines.
 
Glen, K9STH
 
 
Website: http://k9sth.com
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Bob Macklin <macklinbob at msn.com>
To: Geoff <geoffrey at jeremy.mv.com>; Arc5 at mailman.qth.net; hwhall at compuserve.com 
Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 10:31 AM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Inspired Hack Job
 
 
I have a copy of the ARRL SSB Handbook of around 1960. Many nice looking projects.
 
I remember that in 1957 SSB was the New Kid On The Block.
 
How many commercial SSB rigs were available pre 1960? And in those days transceivers (SSB) were not common.