[Boatanchors] 1930's era cw transmitter

[Richard Knoppow]

     Have a look at the ARRL Radio Amateur's Handbooks for 
the period. They had many low power transmitters.  Another 
source is the _Radio Handbook_ published on the West coast 
by Radio magazine, the predecessor to CQ. While it covers 
similar material to the ARRL handbook the approach is 
different and one can find many interesting projects in it. 
I think at least some ARRL handbooks may be available on the 
web.  I would look at somewhat later ones too, at least to 
the early 1950s because the tubes and other components may 
be easier to find.
     It was quite common to have separate amplifiers and 
modulators as a matter of economy; that is a lot of hams 
could not afford to build a complete transmitter at once so 
built the amplifier for CW and later added a modulator.
     There are many tubes capable of 50 watts either singly 
or by using two in parallel or push-pull.  Despite what has 
been said in other posts to this thread there are many plans 
for push-pull amplifiers shown.
     The RCA Transmitting Tube Handbook, published in many 
editions over the years also has circuits for both 
amplifiers and modulators but does not give the mechanical 
plans as the handbooks do.  The RCA books have a very good 
tutorial on tubes and design and are worth reading.  At 
least a couple of the TT manuals are on the web.
     I think this is an interesting project and should be 
fun.  The HRO is a good receiver and even the old ones 
perform quite well.

     See http://www.tubebooks.org for a wonderful collection 
of scanned books on tube electronics.  Also, if you are an 
ARRL member you can get copies of articles from all issued 
of QST ever published except for some of the most recent 
ones from the ARRL web site.
     Good luck with this.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "w5sum" <w5sum at comcast.net>
To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 01, 2013 12:54 PM
Subject: [Boatanchors] 1930's era cw transmitter


> howdy y'all
> I'm awaiting the arrival of my HRO Senior.  I want to 
> build up a 1930's era CW transmitter.  This could be a 
> cool thread.
>
> How many of you have built one and what did you use? What 
> tubes would you suggest?  I would like to have 50 watts 
> minimum output, but higher power is great.
>
> Yes, eventually I will modulate it.
>
> Suggestions?
>
> Ronnie W5SUM