[Boatanchors] WJ closes and completely exits

[Dave Brown]

History of WJ/CEI here-
http://watkins-johnson.terryo.org/

They made a very large number of specialist receivers and other gear.
Check out the catalogs on the above website.
I have a couple of their interesting pieces of hardware-acquired surplus 
after closedown of facilities.
Dave
ZL3FJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "rbethman" <rbethman at comcast.net>
To: <Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2015 7:14 AM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] WJ closes and completely exits


> On 9/28/2015 6:01 AM, Rob Atkinson wrote:
>> Word comes via the SWL column in the September CQ that Watkins-Johnson
>> has shut down.  I never owned a WJ receiver (too high end $$) but the
>> legendary spook rx company picked up in the years following the R390
>> series and some of their sets made it down to the ham market.
>>
>> Quoting from CQ:
>> "The Watkins-Johnson firm, which manufactured excellent (and
>> expensive!) communications receivers, has closed operations.  Not only
>> that, but all the remaining parts, chassis, partials, schematics,
>> manuals --everything-- were destroyed.  It's as if they were angry at
>> the world and closed down in a huff [probably had more to do with
>> proprietary and classified designs-Rob]  They certainly built great
>> units ... I used one once for a few hours, at a friend's QTH in
>> California."
>>
>> Rob
>> K5UJ
> That quote from CQ is missing a number of actual happenings.  W-J actually 
> was CEI, (Communications Electronics Incorporated.)  I obtained the Type 
> 28, Model 906-1A.
>
> Ran it like crazy while the entire world was in shock over the World Trade 
> Towers Sep 11, 2001.
>
> The radio noted above, received from 30Mc to a bit over 315Mc.  I used a 
> Military Surplus Discone that had also been languishing until I gave it a 
> home.  The particular office in Gaithersburg, MD, where this one was 
> produced received the same treatment when it changed hands from CEI to 
> BAE.
>
> It took several years before I could locate and obtain a complete Manual. 
> The interesting part to that endeavor was the fact that the manual with 
> classified markings on the covers, came from an Amateur Operator in 
> Europe.  Mine specifically noted on the rear apron, that is was used at an 
> FCC Monitoring Station, and even had an FAA barcode sticker for inventory 
> control.
>
> 1) March 2008: WJ Communications acquired by TriQuint Semiconductor 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TriQuint_Semiconductor>. 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watkins-Johnson_Company#cite_note-9>
>
> 2) August 2000: Initial Public Offering of WJ Communications, W-J 
> successor, by Fox-Paine
>
> It will take time, but these fine radios WILL turn up under a different 
> name.  It has been their history since the beginning in 1957.
>
> Regards,
> Bob NØDGN
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