[Milsurplus] Meissner 150-B Parts needed

[Ray Fantini]

Pure speculation on my part but I always thought that was produced for use in control towers or for locations that were along the line of what Land Mobile Radio eventually did after the war in fixed channel local communications systems? Cannot understand what function it would serve otherwise looking at it. Maybe as a Marine radio base but it just does not appear to be something that would want to be able to easily change frequency.
Just curious on how far it tunes with the VFO? Would it cover 500 KHz?

Ray F/KA3EKH

-----Original Message-----
From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Todd, KA1KAQ
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2018 11:47 AM
To: Milsurplus <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Milsurplus] Meissner 150-B Parts needed

Last fall I picked up my final big transmitter project, a Meissner 150-B with its matching VFO/exciter, coil box, and all but one plug-in tank coil(which has since been located). I'd wanted one of these for many years and actually passed one up back around 2009-2010 when I was in NC. Kicked myself since. Then this one came available up in New England and the seller offered to deliver it free to NEAR-Fest in NH which I was attending. Twist my arm.

For those not familiar, the 150-B is a big (for a table top) unit, 40"
wide, 305 lbs, exciter adds another 11.5 inches and 39 lbs. It's one of the few (only one I can think of, actually) WWII transmitters that doesn't carry a BC- or other military designation. Speculation is that it was a design Meissner was building for the amateur market to compete with the Hallicrafters HT-9 but along came Hitler.

Some photos of this transmitter from AMfone.net:

http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=43283.0;attach=56811;image

http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=43283.0;attach=57159;image

It was badly mauled by a previous owner and for some reason, converted into a monoband transmitter. Manual calls out 1500-12,500 KC but they would go up to 20m as I understand it.

There are three separate decks inside bolted to a front panel assembly with a single plate across the back chassis aprons to hold them all in place inside the rather stout cabinet. Fortunately 99% of the hacking was confined to the RF deck in center.

So far I've been able to procure most of the missing parts, but to complete the project I still need the following (from the manual):


- Plate Blocking Condenser, Mica, 0.006 Mfd,  +/- 10%,  2500VDC working voltage,  Sangamo # A2LS-5260

- Plate Tuning Condenser, Variable,  245 Mmfd (pf), ....  E.F. Johnson # 250E45  *or*  154-16-1  (same numbers used later by Cardwell and
Viking)

- R.F. Plate Choke, 10.32 MH,  200 MA DC,  28.17 ohms (DC),  2-pie winding,  Meissner # 02441

There are also three plug-in padder caps made from Sangamo micas with banana plugs attached. I can build these if the caps can be located.
Their values are: 0.0003 Mfd, 0.0006 Mfd, 0.0012 Mfd, all +/- 5% at 2500VDC working volts (5000 Test).


I realize I can likely do some substituting for the blocking cap & RF choke, but wanted to see if originals could be found first. The air variable is the tough one as it needs to fit a narrow footprint to line up with the front panel shaft, so the original EFJ design is a must. The original is still on the deck but has had numerous plates removed and is now held together by a metal strap as a result. The antenna tuning variable, also made by EFJ, was missing entirely but I've located that one. The 154-16 plate tuning unit was used in many commercial amps like the Drake L4B and Collins 30L-1 if I recall correctly. Roughly 11 inches long, 55 plates, 18" spacing. Use to see them on ebay and elsewhere fairly often until I needed one, of course.

If anyone has a 150-B parts unit with the RF deck still in place, I'd love to hear from you as this one looks like Swiss cheese due to the modifications. Could also use a couple other sheet metal items from a donor.

TNX  -

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4
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