[ARC5] The not-so humble BC-221/LM-xx frequency meters.

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Les,

Sorry.  That wasn't a very well constructed sentence.  I meant measure the 
frequency of the 1 MC oscillator.  Of course, to be able to say that the 
typical oscillator will be "x" CPS low would require doing the same thing with 
at least several dozen 221's from different sources selected at random.  My 
collection of around 60 of them would probably suffice. :-)

Geoff sounds like an interesting person to know.  I wish that I had 
"de-briefed" my father-in-law more carefully.  I did learn that in B-24's flying 
out of Guadalcanal it wasn't unusual to have a mix of painted and unpainted 
SCR-274-N units with a few ARA/ATA units mixed in from time to time.  And that 
the loss of the P-61 on Mt Cyclops near Hollandia (which was recovered 
maybe 20-30 years ago) was the result of a bar bet in the O-club one afternoon.

Robert Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480

In a message dated 12/24/2016 15:39:29 PM Central Standard Time, 
vk2bcu at operamail.com writes: 
> Hello Robert,
> 
>   Measure "it".  Do you mean measure the frequency of the crystal or the 
> capacitance of the trimmer?
> 
>   I suspect the trimmer has NOT been touched.  Almost certain the trimmer 
> has not been touched.
> 
>   I have two LM's and two BC-221s.  I had a beautiful BC-221-AK and gave 
> it away to a friend, Geoff Linthorne, VK2GL.
> 
>   Geoff built a close replica paraset, and he went to a lot of trouble to 
> duplicate the original style.  (He even bought 250g of bees-wax to coat the 
> tank coil.)  He even spoke with the fellow who designed the Paraset.  
> How's that for an experience!!  
> 
> I figured he would like a "matching" BC-221 to calibrate his paraset, and 
> gave him my 'best' one - the AK.
> 
> I was shocked recently to discover he gave away my "prize".  HA!  But I 
> think it went to a collection so I don't mind so much.   Geoff has seen a lot 
> of interesting things in his life.  He can remember the British troops 
> returning from Dunkirk.  He was in charge of the deep space radar unit (at 
> Carnarvon) during the moon landings.  The positioning mechanism consisted of 
> 360 gold lines engraved on glass, with a optical "mark" counter.  Very 
> impressive.
> 
> Geoff has held an authentic enigma machine in his hands (and threw out 
> many dozens of the same on orders shortly after the war).  He regrets being 
> very honest, and not "stealing" one when they were dumped.  Had a very 
> interesting life, our Geoff.  I'll bet he's one of the few fellows still alive 
> that trained as a radio-operator/top turret gunner in a Lancaster.  
> 
> Geoff lives about ... about 25 km from here.   Very interesting fellow if 
> you can get him to talk.
> 
>    73 de Les Smith
>    vk2bcu at operamail.com
> 
> On Sun, Dec 25, 2016, at 05:45, WA5CAB--- via ARC5 wrote:
> 
> >> If the trimmer appears not to have been touched since it left the 
>> factory, measure it.
>> 
>> Robert Downs - Houston
>> wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
>> MVPA 9480
>> 
>> In a message dated 12/24/2016 08:22:39 AM Central Standard Time, 
>> vk2bcu at operamail.com writes: 
>> 
>> >>> The frequency of the 1000kHz crystals were specified to a close
>>> tolerance.  Now they are 70 years old (at a minimum).  How much have
>>> they drifted?  If I want to KNOW the REAL long-term drift I must
>>> calibrate my Fluke frequency count against some primary stanard - and
>>> I've never done that before.
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
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