[Hallicrafters] Re: My "Great Find" Story

[Kevin J Ward]

Many years ago a dear friend of the family, widow of one of my Elmers
from forty years ago, called and asked me to clean out the basement. 
When I first became interested in Ham Radio this man set me up with a
stash of hardware, terminal strips, tube sockets, etc.  I still have some
of that hardware today!  

Buried among the parts and pieces was an SX-28A, in original paint and
cabinet, complete with all knobs,the manual, and lots of dust and
cobwebs.  At the time I didn't appreciate my find, and it languished in
my basement, waiting its turn on the work bench.  I signed up on this
list and have learned a great deal about this great old radio.  I
purchased the capacitor kit offered by Lloyd Godsey and am ready to
restore another fine old Hallicrafters.

Another great find came my way via a church bazaar.  A friend of the
family called one day to say he was working at his church bazaar and that
there was some ham radio equipment there.  I asked him what the model
numbers were; he went away and came back a few minutes later to tell me
they had a Heathkit HX-11 and a National HRO-60T.  The next question was,
how much?  $5.00 for the Heathkit and $10.00 for the National.  I asked
him to put a sold sign on them and I would pay him later.  He replied
that he couldn't do that; it was first come, first served.  I was at work
so I called my father-in-law, also a ham.

I asked him to go to the bazaar and buy the ham gear, no questions asked.
 He said OK.  I rushed home after work, expecting to find some neat old
gear in my kitchen, but no.  I asked my wife if Dad had been by.  No.  I
called him on the phone and asked him if it was at his house.  He
replied, "Oh, I drove over there, but there was no place to park, so I
went home."   Arrrrggh!    Fortunately for him he was five miles away at
the end of a telephone line.  I jumped in the car and raced to the
church, knowing all the time that I was too late.  

There was one car in the parking lot, and it was my friend, just closing
up.  When I asked about the ham equipment he said he thought it was sold,
but he let me in to check.  Well, the Heathkit was gone, but the HRO was
still there.  Not only that, there was a manual and A,B, C, and D coil
sets.  I paid my $5.00 and he put the old gal in my car.  There is some
rust on the chassis, but externally the radio is clean, although not
pristine.  It works, and someday it will get an overhaul, along with some
of my other treasures.  

Kevin  N2IE


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