[JMS] Silent Key - Ralph Jannini, KA1FAA

[Don Buska - The Radio Lab Works]

I forward this on to the group from Ralph's son Ralph H Jannini IV.


-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	Re: [JMS] Silent Key - Ralph Jannini, KA1FAA
Date: 	Mon, 16 Nov 2020 21:33:00 -0500
From: 	_windstream - rhjiv <rhjiv at windstream.net>
To: 	Don B <don at radiolabworks.com>, The James Millen Society Members 
Email Reflector <james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net>



Don et al -

Appreciate the remembrance of my father.

I remember him telling me about the group and the interest so many 
members had.
He really had a deep appreciation of those early days of radio and the 
technology of its time, the smell of heavy duty rigs with glowing tubes, 
and old school electronics. He did enjoy talking about it, I remember 
discussing the art of wet ceramic insulators used in the Millen line, or 
how the delay line was manufactured.  Like so many things in life, we 
feel never truly prepared when they happen.

Just a couple short months later, my mother passed away, so as you can 
imagine, there are a number of things that needed to be wrapped up and 
one of them happens to be James Millen Electronics.  Right now I am 
looking at moving the entire inventory to my building and undertaking 
the obvious stuff like some much needed cataloguing.  Having an updated 
and organized inventory available in this internet age would help a 
number of vintage electronic enthusiasts that always seem to be looking 
for those factory fresh parts.

While I can't speak to exactly what will happen with James Millen 
Electronics and the entire inventory of parts, knobs, chassis, and 
assemblies; my goal is to make sure none of it is stored away to decay 
or worse forgotten.  Even though my father always pitched me on the idea 
of taking over the inventory, I feel it would thrive in the hands of a 
vintage enthusiast looking to breathe some life in an iconic line.  I 
believe if properly done, it could provide some nice passive income for 
me (at my age) but I am concerned over the aspect of having too many 
'projects'.

Either case, I am glad you wrote, it comes at a time when I am looking 
for options.
If anyone out there has any ideas on the parts/products that might be 
the best to roll out first, it would be appreciated.
Thanks again for the remembrance.

Sincerely

Ralph H Jannini IV

PS: if there is any documentation you would like me to look out for, let 
me know.



On Mon, Nov 16, 2020 at 10:37 AM Don Buska - The Radio Lab Works 
<don at radiolabworks.com <mailto:don at radiolabworks.com>> wrote:

    It is with deep regret I report the passing of JMS Charter member Ralph
    Jannini, KA1FAA of Andover, MA. Those of you who have followed our
    society activities through the years will know Ralph as the owner of
    the
    James Millen Manufacturing Co. I have a brief write up under the title
    ‘Millen after Millen’ on our JMS website of this Millen spin-off
    company. Ralph was the person you went to when seeking any old NOS
    Millen components.

    He passed on January 1st, 2019. I would not have know this except I was
    perusing the QRZ site (link below) the other day and found a post
    relating to his passing. Perhaps one of our members located in the
    Andover area can provide more details as to what the status is on
    Millen
    Manufacturing and Ralph’s other business ‘Unadilla’, makers of antenna
    related hardware. The last activity on the company Facebook page was
    from 2016 and mentioned the following, “Recently, we uncovered that
    last
    remaining five (5) 90831 Modulator chassis complete with core
    electronics installed - these chassis are part of the in-process
    production line assembly before it was packed up years ago. Members of
    the JMS may remember these from an old 2003 thread discussing their
    availability.”

    I sure hope that all the old stock from James Millen Manufacturing was
    retained. At the time of his passing there was an indication that
    Unadilla would carry on with new owners, but no activity on that
    website
    has appeared since the new ownership was announced in August of 2019.

    Ralph will be greatly missed and I am personally indebted to him for
    all
    he did to keep the Millen spirit alive and to his support of our
    society
    since its founding.

    Don N9OO
    Posting link on QRZ:
    https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/unadilla-on-hold.669127/#post-5159518

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