[GreenKeys] Survey

[Larry Goodrich]

Hello,

After reading all the history of you kids and your membership in the ham 
radio hobby, I thought I'd send my 2 bits.  Please know I'm 71, and in 
good health.

I started getting interested in SWLing in about 1947, while in grade 
school in Westchester County, southern NY state.  I built the family's 
first TV antenna, put it in the 3rd floor window, and aimed it south. 
Gee whiz, pictures out of the air just like 'they' said.

After using the family's Motorola floor model broadcast radio with a 
shortwave band and getting saturated with the idea of DX listening, 
Europe, South Africa, and other places, I traded something I had for a 
Hallicrafters radio of some vintage.

I kept this up for many years until about 1951 when I got serious about 
getting a license.  I didn't want to listen to these countries, I wanted 
to talk to them.  My parents wouldn't show any interest or help, so I 
built my own code machine, using 'store bought' tapes that ran in a wood 
cigar box for a case.  My Dad, with an office in Rockefeller Center went 
to Radio Row, where the Twin Towers later stood, and brought me a 
Hallicrafters S-38.  I paid for it out of my allowance.

As time went on I've build CW transmitters, SSB transmitters, a couple 
of receivers, and a W2JAV RTTY converter, test equipment, all from 
scratch.....no kits.  Later I did buy commercial equipment....A Gonset 
converter, and a couple of mobile transmitters, and put them in my well 
worn 1949 Chevrolet.  With this I dated and finally married my favorite 
girl in 1957, and now she's WB9JHL.

In addition I've owned Eldico, EFJohnson, Hallicrafters, Drake, Collins, 
and the list goes on.

I just passed my 54th year of ham licensing as W9HTK, and 51 years of 
happy marriage to Joyce.

I say happy......I did have a RTTY metal station.  I had a 14, 15, and 
some version typing reperf.  Joyce didn't really like it what with 3 
kids and the RTTY station in a 850 square foot house.  I did sell the 
RTTY gear along about 1966.  I missed it, she didn't.

During this time I ran a test lab at P. R. Mallory in Indianapolis, and 
ran the military QPL tests on capacitors from 1960 through 1968.

In 1968 I started a business selling and servicing FM 2 way radio 
equipment, and rode that horse until retiring in 2000.

I didn't get into the service since I had too many kids and not enopugh 
fingers, but Joyce and I've had a son in the Air Force, and a son-in-law 
and daughter-in law in the Air Force, too.  I hope that counts for our 
family!

That's probably much more than you wanted to know, but that's my story 
and I'm sticking to it.

73  Larry W9HTK