[Boatanchors] What are they?

[John King]

Strange as it may sound, I acquired what appears to be
a homebrew receiver, transmitter and accompanying
matching "mystery box". The strange part is how I
acquired them.

My wife and I attended an informal picnic of Alaskan
Hams known as "The Motley Group" this weekend. This
was our third annual attendance at the "Motley Picnic"
at Byers Lake State Park, Alaska.

After the "Chinese Auction" there were items left on
the auction table. Upon returning to our MotorCoach, I
found a large box with the words "To John, from The
Motleys" on the steps of the Coach.

Upon opening the box, I found three units in identical
hammertone gray cabinets measuring 8 1/4 inches wide X
6 inches deep and 5 inches high. Appears to be a very
nice example of homebrewing. 

I could not find out who gave me the gear Everyone
just looked at me and said they had no idea who left
the radio gear for me. I didn't believe them!!!

What is it?  The transmitter is a 5763 (believed to be
oscillator/driver) and a 6146 final tube. Power supply
built in and appears to be for two bands, 80 and 40
meters. It has a Pi Network. Has crystal socket
labeled VFO and a CW key jack.  Looks like a
transmitter circuit I might have seen in an ARRL
Handbook in the past. I am in Alaska for the summer
and I don't have any of my "older" Arrl handbooks with
me. Does this xmtr sound familiar?

The receiver, identical in size to the xmtr, has three
6U8 tubes, a 455 khz IF transformer and a 455 khz
crystal. It has its' own built-in power supply. It has
a dial marked "preselector" which is attached to a two
gang 365 mmf variable cap., with ceramic trimmers
soldered across each gang. The main tuning vernier is
coupled to a low capacity variable cap. There is a
coil wound on a "pill bottle" form that appears to be
coupled to the preselector cap. It has an RF gain
control and the bandswitch is marked for 80 and 40
meters. Upon looking at the xmtr and receiver, they
appear to be "companions" built for a Novice CW
station and both probably had their inspiration from
the ARRL Handbook. What is it and where can the
diagram and article be found?

The third box, identical in shape, size and color  is
really a mystery box built to work with the
transmitter and receiver. It has a light duty power
supply built in and a speaker. I have not looked under
the chassis. There are RCA phono jacks on the rear of
the chassis marked "in" and others marked with just a
inked line. I don't know what this third box is. Due
to its' identical enclosures and workmanship, I
believe it is a companion piece to the receiver and
the transmitter and all three units could very well be
from the same series of articles for a low power CW
station.

Does any of the preceding information ring a bell with
anyone? I may find out someday which "Motley"
presented these interesting objects to me. Hopefully
some of you will recognize the tube line up of the
recvr and xmtr and I will find the articles from which
they were built.

I think that this is a very interesting story. I will
do my best to restore these cute little units and
preserve them. Who knows, the Ham who built them might
even recognize them and contact me. Any help
identifying this radio gear will be greatly
appreciated. Thanks and 73, John, K5PGW  


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