[Boatanchors] AWA Museum - East Bloomfield, N.Y.

[AI2Q]

Thanks for a FB memoir Fred.

Vy 73, AI2Q, Alex
ARRL, FOC 1861, QRP-L 687, AWA
http://users.adelphia.net/~alexmm/ai2q.htm


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ka2hlw at netzero.net>
To: <Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 12:40 AM
Subject: [Boatanchors] AWA Museum - East Bloomfield, N.Y.


Scott and Group,
   I worked with the late Bruce Kelley (W2ICE) and the members to renovate 
the Museum in the late 70's and early 80's. As we worked, Bruce would stop 
by and tell some of the stories associated with the equipment, and the 
memorabilia associated with it. The whole experience was fascinating, and 
primarily responsible for the path in life that I took.
   We literally gutted the building after the members carefully removed the 
exhibits, and stored them away. Horsehair plaster and lathe, old concrete, 
bricks and cloth covered wiring were hauled off to the dump. Then we framed 
in several rooms upstairs and downstairs, replaced the old bullet glassed 
windows with new ones, re-insulated and rewired the place, then sheet rocked 
the interior walls. The floors were sanded down, as they had curled up in 
some places, a new stairway was built, and all were sealed with gym-seal 
(sorta like spar varnish, but lots thicker). Some of the old windows were 
reconditioned, and reinstalled to retain the antique look the building had 
when it was the Bloomfield Academy (the town's school). Then after the floor 
had cured, we installed shelving, and replaced the display cases for the 
different exhibits. Then the AWA members began to bring back in the old bits 
and pieces of radio history. Receivers, transmitters, and all the associated 
gear, broadcast mics, and old TV cameras, lovingly cared for, were arranged, 
and rearranged. Back then, there was only one spark gap transmitter, and if 
Bruce was in the mood he would fire that sparking monster up. The air would 
fill with the odor of hot oil, hot electrics, and ozone. The FM radio that 
we played downstairs would be completely wiped out by the ac note that the 
transmitter gave off. I guess that spark gap transmitters really defined the 
word "wideband".
   Bruce came over to my house in Fishers, N.Y. one day to visit with me and 
my Dad. Dad was having a problem with the doghouse power supply for his 
HRO-5TA1. After a trip to the old barn the museum used to store the parts 
and sets donated by many people, we had the parts to fix the old beauty. 
Bruce walked us both through what he was doing as he repaired the power 
supply. That was the day I was determined to become a ham operator. It took 
two months to find an Elmer (Burt Johns WA2IYA), but six months later, and 
one trip to the FCC Buffalo Field Office, I was a General class. Without the 
help and inspiration of Bruce, and Burt, and a funny tall man (James Taylor, 
head of the Field Office at that time), I probably wouldn't be a ham today. 
I owe a lot to the AWA Museum, and three men who cared to help a teenager 
get his ticket. They are all SK's now, but I miss them, as they were my best 
friends. I called them the Three Wise Men, as they cared to help a kid win 
his dream. I owe my Dad (KA2HRC, SK in 1994) a lot, too. His radio started 
it all, and even though he never got past Novice class, for an old Navy 
Radio operator he could send CW with an excellent hand, and never set pencil 
to paper except to log the contact, he enjoyed every minute.
   I still have the HRO, complete with the original speaker, power supply, 
coil set boxes, all the coil sets, and the owner's manual. Everytime I 
listen to it, I remember the Museum, my Dad, and the Three Wise Men. I owe 
them all a debt of gratitude.
                     TNX FM FRED - W4FJF, 73.

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