[HBR] another HBR

[windy10605 at juno.com]

Hi Kees,

My HBR-11 came to me via an ordinary flea market in Denver.  It was
bought, along with several other pieces of "junque" from a seller, by
KGØHS (Carl) out here.  After a few weeks, Carl asked me to look at "this
thing", as it was missing a tube, and had no markings as to what it was. 
Finally, he just gave it to me, as he felt he'd never get around to
messing with it.

I kept it under the bench for about 6 months, until one day I noticed the
slipped Dymo label, under the lip of the cabinet, saying "HBR-11".  I had
figured out by this time, that HBR meant "Home Brew Receiver", but still
didn't know much about it.  

About that time, I received yet another complimentary copy of Ham Radio
Trader, which was still being printed back then.  In it, I found an ad by
Charlie Brenner (WB9GJW) for an "HBR-16".  Figuring it had to be a cousin
of the "11", I emailed him.  Charlie was WONDERFUL enough to send me: 
the ORIGINAL QST articles, a copy of "HBR Notes" (original version), A
Full schematic, and copies of the ORIGINAL cut-sheets of the tuning
capacitor, & the J.W. Miller I-F cans.  Armed with this info, I
determined the missing tube, and brought it up s-l-o-w-l-y with my
variac... Joila'... NOISE!  After repairing about 14 different problems,
mostly solder joints, 2 tubes, and loose hardware, I aligned it with an
HP-606 (one of the few that will do a 100 kc signal), and it was
terrific.  I should mention, that all I had was the 40m coil-set.

About a month later, I found another piece of Dymo tape under the wiring,
and it read "WAØLJO".  I looked the call up in an old callbook, and found
that it belonged to Everett Huizinga - listed in Denver, CO.  (HEY! 
That's where I LIVE!) I looked up the name in a Denver phone directory,
and sure enough, there was still a Huizinga at the old address.  After
attempting to explain why a total stranger was calling her about an old
radio, the lady ultimately informed me "Oh my, that's my son... I think
he was a teenager when he built that old radio!".  She gave my number to
Everett (who now lived in Golden, CO - about 10 miles from me), and we
spoke on the phone, finally promising to try to run into each other at
the next hamfest.

It gets better...

At the Jefferson County hamfest, I was walking up to the front door, and
I saw my friend Carl, with another guy.  Carl says "Hey, you wanna' meet
the guy who built that receiver?"... I said "Sure!".  We spoke, and it
came to light that Carl actually WORKED WITH EVERETT!  Imagine that...
you buy an old radio at a "civilian" flea market, and it turns out that a
guy you work with, is the guy who built it, back in 1965!.  Everett and I
spoke, and he said to come over to his house later... I did.

Arriving at the house, Everett came out of his old garage bearing a small
cardboard box... it still had the "ALLIED RADIO" label on it, postmarked
1965.  Inside was the treasure... the coil set for 20m, and 2 of the 3
coils for 80m, along with several BRAND NEW National 5-pin coil forms. 
I've just found some No. 26 wire, and cut down an old 100 mmfd APC
variable to 55 mmfd, so will be winding the last coil this weekend.

So, how's that for a story.  The amazing circular world of Ham Radio, and
how Ted Crosby lives on.

Tom Dailey
WAØEAJ