[JMS] James_Millen_Society Digest, Vol 121, Issue 2

Tom Elmore tom at telmore.com
Tue Mar 17 16:57:23 EDT 2026 

I have 3 Variarm's, two still have working curtain burner cords but I keep them for display purposes only. My third Variarm had a bad ballast cord and I replaced it with a cap and resistor in series combination using a formula I found online. The resistor is a 10 watt I believe and I have it mounted on the rear of the VFO. It doesn't get as hot as running just a resistor without the capacitor. Make sure you use a polarize cord to keep the chassis as close to neutral as possile. Here is the formula:
https://www.northlandantiqueradioclub.com/article-linecord.shtml


Tom 
KA1NVZ
> On 03/17/2026 3:56 PM EDT Wilson Lamb via James_Millen_Society <james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> 
>  
> I need a coupling unit too.
> I had a good adventure with my Variarm.
> It came with a bad curtain burner cord and I didn't want to deal with a big, hot resistor, 
> so I converted it to use higher filament voltage tubes, 50L6, 50Y6, 12K8.
> With a three wire power cord, I'm happily using it in some vintage setups.
> I've also made 80 m contacts from NC to the Midwest, NY, and FL, with a screaming 2W of RF, to my 80m loop. Reports were 579 or so, even before they knew I was QRP.
> Changing the osc tube was messy and the shock mounts were toast, but I did it.
> Stability is excellent!
> Wilson
> W4BOH
> 
> 
> On Mon, 16 Mar, 2026 at 8:26 AM, james_millen_society-request at mailman.qth.net <james_millen_society-request at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>  
> 
> To: james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net
> 
> Send James_Millen_Society mailing list submissions to
> james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net>
> 
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/james_millen_society
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> james_millen_society-request at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society-request at mailman.qth.net>
> 
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> james_millen_society-owner at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society-owner at mailman.qth.net>
> 
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of James_Millen_Society digest..."
> 
> 
> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. Re: WTB: Millen 90700 Vari-Arm Coupling Unit (THOMAS SMITH)
>   2. Re: WTB: Millen 90700 Vari-Arm Coupling Unit (TOM SNEED)
>   3. Re: WTB: Millen 90700 Vari-Arm Coupling Unit (Brian Harris)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:00:44 -0500
> From: THOMAS SMITH <n5ama at att.net<mailto:n5ama at att.net>>
> To: james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [JMS] WTB: Millen 90700 Vari-Arm Coupling Unit
> Message-ID: <CB26A159-3835-4FA6-BA36-C39977A34715 at att.net<mailto:CB26A159-3835-4FA6-BA36-C39977A34715 at att.net>>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> 
> Gordon, I was unable to locate my Variarm VFO. There is one on epay right now. The price is currently very low so you may be able to snag one at a reasonable price.
> Good luck,
> Tom N5AMA
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
> > On Mar 14, 2026, at 5:35?PM, THOMAS SMITH via James_Millen_Society <james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net>> wrote:
> > 
> > ?Hi Gordon, I have the later VFO and had the Vari-arm VFO in the recent past. I packed up the Millen collection for a move to the new shack a few years ago and haven?t seen it recently so it may still be packed. I recently made the decision to sell off my Millen stuff because I?m probably never going to put together a Millen station which was my original intent. The rack mounted Millen equipment is in a rack cabinet but the non-rack mounted stuff is still in storage boxes. I?ll look around in the boxes but it will take me several days to make that happen.
> > Tom N5AMA
> > 
> > Sent from my iPad
> > 
> >> On Mar 14, 2026, at 4:20?PM, gfsmith via James_Millen_Society <james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net>> wrote:
> >> 
> >> ?Hi Everyone,I own a Millen Vari-Arm 90700 exciter/transmitter. Unfortunately, the coupling unit (the box on the end of the output coax) was removed from the transmitter by a prior owner. Would anyone have one of these units available for sale? Looking for the standard 80/40m unit. I know this is a "needle in the haystack" chase, but one never knows.
> >> Please reply directly to me off list: gfsmith at cox.net<mailto:gfsmith at cox.net>
> >> 73, Gordon KJ6IKT
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> James_Millen_Society mailing list
> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/james_millen_society
> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >> Post: mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net>
> >> 
> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > 
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > James_Millen_Society mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/james_millen_society
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net>
> > 
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:19:22 -0500 (CDT)
> From: TOM SNEED <twsneed at comcast.net<mailto:twsneed at comcast.net>>
> To: THOMAS SMITH <n5ama at att.net<mailto:n5ama at att.net>>,	The James Millen Society Members
> Email Reflector	<james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net>>
> Subject: Re: [JMS] WTB: Millen 90700 Vari-Arm Coupling Unit
> Message-ID: <100208911.110812.1773663562350 at connect.xfinity.com<mailto:100208911.110812.1773663562350 at connect.xfinity.com>>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> 
> The one on eBay is also missing the coupling unit that he wants.
> 
> Tom N0ZK
> 
> > On 03/16/2026 7:00 AM CDT THOMAS SMITH via James_Millen_Society <james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net>> wrote:
> > 
> >  
> > Gordon, I was unable to locate my Variarm VFO. There is one on epay right now. The price is currently very low so you may be able to snag one at a reasonable price.
> > Good luck,
> > Tom N5AMA
> > 
> > Sent from my iPad
> > 
> > > On Mar 14, 2026, at 5:35?PM, THOMAS SMITH via James_Millen_Society <james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net>> wrote:
> > > 
> > > ?Hi Gordon, I have the later VFO and had the Vari-arm VFO in the recent past. I packed up the Millen collection for a move to the new shack a few years ago and haven?t seen it recently so it may still be packed. I recently made the decision to sell off my Millen stuff because I?m probably never going to put together a Millen station which was my original intent. The rack mounted Millen equipment is in a rack cabinet but the non-rack mounted stuff is still in storage boxes. I?ll look around in the boxes but it will take me several days to make that happen.
> > > Tom N5AMA
> > > 
> > > Sent from my iPad
> > > 
> > >> On Mar 14, 2026, at 4:20?PM, gfsmith via James_Millen_Society <james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailmanqth.net>> wrote:
> > >> 
> > >> ?Hi Everyone,I own a Millen Vari-Arm 90700 exciter/transmitter. Unfortunately, the coupling unit (the box on the end of the output coax) was removed from the transmitter by a prior owner. Would anyone have one of these units available for sale? Looking for the standard 80/40m unit. I know this is a "needle in the haystack" chase, but one never knows.
> > >> Please reply directly to me off list: gfsmith at cox.net<mailto:gfsmith at cox.net>
> > >> 73, Gordon KJ6IKT
> > >> ______________________________________________________________
> > >> James_Millen_Society mailing list
> > >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/james_millen_society
> > >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > >> Post: mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net>
> > >> 
> > >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > > 
> > > ______________________________________________________________
> > > James_Millen_Society mailing list
> > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/james_millen_society
> > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > > Post: mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net>
> > > 
> > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > 
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > James_Millen_Society mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/james_millen_society
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net>
> > 
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:27:26 -0500
> From: Brian Harris <cosmophone at yahoo.com<mailto:cosmophone at yahoo.com>>
> To: TOM SNEED <twsneed at comcast.net<mailto:twsneed at comcast.net>>,
> james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [JMS] WTB: Millen 90700 Vari-Arm Coupling Unit
> Message-ID: <245C6112-1DAF-4980-AC3B-12C22CD2AB93 at yahoo.com<mailto:245C6112-1DAF-4980-AC3B-12C22CD2AB93 at yahoo.com>>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> 
> I looked at that one on eBay but didn?t see the coupler. I just asked the seller about it. 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> > On Mar 16, 2026, at 7:20?AM, TOM SNEED via James_Millen_Society <james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net>> wrote:
> > 
> > ?The one on eBay is also missing the coupling unit that he wants.
> > 
> > Tom N0ZK
> > 
> >> On 03/16/2026 7:00 AM CDT THOMAS SMITH via James_Millen_Society <james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailmanqth.net>> wrote:
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Gordon, I was unable to locate my Variarm VFO. There is one on epay right now. The price is currently very low so you may be able to snag one at a reasonable price.
> >> Good luck,
> >> Tom N5AMA
> >> 
> >> Sent from my iPad
> >> 
> >>>> On Mar 14, 2026, at 5:35?PM, THOMAS SMITH via James_Millen_Society <james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net>> wrote:
> >>> 
> >>> ?Hi Gordon, I have the later VFO and had the Vari-arm VFO in the recent past. I packed up the Millen collection for a move to the new shack a few years ago and haven?t seen it recently so it may still be packed. I recently made the decision to sell off my Millen stuff because I?m probably never going to put together a Millen station which was my original intent. The rack mounted Millen equipment is in a rack cabinet but the non-rack mounted stuff is still in storage boxes. I?ll look around in the boxes but it will take me several days to make that happen.
> >>> Tom N5AMA
> >>> 
> >>> Sent from my iPad
> >>> 
> >>>> On Mar 14, 2026, at 4:20?PM, gfsmith via James_Millen_Society <james_millen_society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:james_millen_society at mailmanqth.net>> wrote:
> >>>> 
> >>>> ?Hi Everyone,I own a Millen Vari-Arm 90700 exciter/transmitter. Unfortunately, the coupling unit (the box on the end of the output coax) was removed from the transmitter by a prior owner. Would anyone have one of these units available for sale? Looking for the standard 80/40m unit. I know this is a "needle in the haystack" chase, but one never knows.
> >>>> Please reply directly to me off list: gfsmith at cox.net<mailto:gfsmith at cox.net>
> >>>> 73, Gordon KJ6IKT
> >>>> ______________________________________________________________
> >>>> James_Millen_Society mailing list
> >>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/james_millen_society
> >>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >>>> Post: mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net>
> >>>> 
> >>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >>> 
> >>> ______________________________________________________________
> >>> James_Millen_Society mailing list
> >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/james_millen_society
> >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >>> Post: mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net>
> >>> 
> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >> 
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> James_Millen_Society mailing list
> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/james_millen_society
> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >> Post: mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net>
> >> 
> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > James_Millen_Society mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/james_millen_society
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net>
> > 
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> James_Millen_Society mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/james_millen_society
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/faq.htm
> Post: mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net<mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net>
> 
> 
> End of James_Millen_Society Digest, Vol 121, Issue 2
> ****************************************************
> .
> ______________________________________________________________
> James_Millen_Society mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/james_millen_society
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:James_Millen_Society at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

More information about the James_Millen_Society mailing list