[Johnson] CW ONLY VALIANT

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Tue, Aug 7, 2012 at 12:46 PM, Ed Tanton <n4xy at comcast.net> wrote:

> Isn't that kind of like neutering your dog???
>

Yes, but what kind? A poodle? Beagle?  :D

I had a Johnson Viking KW 'Desk' amp that had been treated similarly. The
OT owner, an avid DXer, bought it new in the 50s and when SSB became more
widespread, converted it to linear service. Along with removing the 810s
and their associated grid and plate leads, he also remove the HV relay atop
the modulation transformer. Fortunately he left the harness intact and
simply taped up connections. Was able to track down all the needed bits to
restore it but ended up passing it on to W3GMS a couple years back due to
the age-old 'too many projects, not enough time' issue.

I'd guess the neutered Rangers, Valiants and other rigs, used as club
Novice loaners or whatever else, came about as these rigs were getting long
in the tooth and less desirable. They were clearly far more common then,
too. Even in the 70s-80s when I was hauling crap home, DX-100s, Rangers,
Valiants, 32Vs were everywhere for next to nothing. So, for someone to do a
major conversion on a rig that was as common as dirt would've been no big
deal at all and certainly not frowned on. If anything, they'd be
complimented for finding a new use for some old piece of junk.

Not so today.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4