[Hallicrafters] SX-28 competitors in the 1940's

[edben]

Just received an off-the-net message from Ron Kolarik (K0IDT) with some
interesting links to information on those Scott Entertainment Receivers.
Because of all the interest shown here, thought I ought to include it.

Just how much did these receivers mean to us?  Well, my first voyage on the
SS Ignatius Donnelly, 6 months long, took us from Portland Oregon where the
ship was built (Kaiser) to San Pedro, California (for fueling) - to Hobart,
Tasmania for fueling and a rest break, to Perth in West Australia for
rebuilding the ship from the damages of a "Willy-Waw" (Typhoon in our
language) to Aden for refueling, through the Suez Canal to Alexandria for
discharge of our cargo.  Our return trip took us westbound through the
Mediterranean, the first convoy to follow that route as the fighting moved
north in Italy, Gibralter to put together a cross-Atlantic convoy (Yes, as
Radio Operator I had the privilege of setting foot on "The Rock" for our
Convoy Conference and finally west to New York, a full six months, beginning
to end -- and we had no entertainment receiver on board.  The radio room did
not even boast a short-wave receiver of any kind.  We had only our main
shipboard receiver, 10 Kc to about 800 Kc.  Between stops, that was our sole
source of contact with the rest of the world (Other than semaphore flags and
blinkers (morse) which were used ship to ship in convoy)

The Radio Operator had the chore of putting out a daily news sheet for the
crew and officers.  The news came from that small portion of the broadcast
band which our receiver covered with the addition of "press" coverage by the
Marine Morse stations on a regularly scheduled basis.  Believe me, after 6
months without the sound of music (other than a phonograph or two), that
Scott Receiver was like a gift from heaven when it was installed and put
into my care!

The entertainment receiver wasn't the only thing we did without on that
trip.  We sailed from the Pacific Coast all the way to Alexandria out of
convoy, with no escort of any sort -- and with no weapon of any sort on
board!  It wasn't until our second voyage that we got a three inch gun
mounted on the stern (later guns went to 3 and even 5 inches) and a number
of Oerlikon (I think that's the spelling.  It was Swedish) 20 mm
anti-aircraft guns, one of which was mounted directly over the Radio Room.
Ouch!!

And for Ron and any that will have checked out Ron's links, the Scott
Receivers that I "cared for" appear to have been like the SLR-12-B in your
photos.  Here in the Midwest, we're very unlikely to ever stumble on one at
a Garage or Estate Sale -- but I can dream, can't I?  Thanks, Ron, for all
the information you sent.  Ron's links are below for the rest of the gang.

                                    Ed Benjamin     "Sparks" or "Sparky" to
his shipboard friends.


----- Original Message -----
From: "edben" <edben at prodigy.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2003 4:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] SX-28 competitors in the 1940's


>         Ed Benjamin  ----      former Chief Radio Operator of the Liberty
> Ships,  SS Ignatius Donnelly (3 voyages including the London to Normandy
> "shuttle" in 1944), SS William Tyler Page (2 voyages to northern Russia,
SS
> Joseph T. Robinson (1 voyage) and the Victory Ship SS Attleboro ((3
> voyages).

> Original Message -----
From: "Ron Kolarik" <rkolarik at neb.rr.com>
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2003 12:56 AM

> Hi Ed,
>      Try these links and see if any of the pictures ring a bell.
> I just picked up an SLR-F ($100) 80kcs-24Mc, no broadcast
> band though.  Also have an SX-42 among the Halli's and it's
> probably my favorite....big, beautiful and sounds great.
>
> Have you ever thought about writing a book or at least a diary
> of some sort?  It would be a shame to lose all that history.
>
> Fair winds and following seas,
> Ron K0IDT  (USN '65-'68)
>
>
> http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~postr/bapix/SLRM.htm
>
> http://www.weirs.com/2002archive/03/07/rambling.htm
>
> http://webhome.idirect.com/~jproc/rrp/toc.html
>
> http://www.qsl.net/la5ki/org/sc/sc.htm
>
> http://www.schroeder-dieball.com/scottradiolabs/radios/slr.htm
>
> http://www.schroeder-dieball.com/scottradiolabs/rbo2_srl.htm
>
> http://www.schroeder-dieball.com/scottradiolabs/radios/rch.htm

>>
> > Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] SX-28 competitors in the 1940's  --Edben
> notes:   That's right!  This all started with the SX-28 -- and this old
> radio operator has never had his hands on one!
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF **for assistance**
> dfischer at usol.com
> ----
> Hallicrafters Collectors International: http://www.w9wze.org
> ----
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hallicrafters