[NJARC] Amazing Talent

[NICHOLAS SENKER]

I want to acknowledge the amazing talent of many of the members of NJARC.  Last month Paul Rutkowski praised the high level of technical expertise regularly displayed at our monthly meetings.  Today I want to salute one of our great inventors and 'tinkerers', Walt Heskes. 
I am refering to Walt's article in this month's 'Braodcaster' in which he converted his 'Ultralite' Sony SRF-59 into a 'Heavyweight' performer he dubbed the 'Safari'.  Who would have thought of taking apart a perfectly good, brand new, great performing gadget just to see how it worked and if it could be made better? I guess this is how Walt thinks!  I also bought a SRF-59 and was perfectly happy just to use it as purchased.  Now I'm thinking about what I can do to make it even better.  I don't think I will follow Walts course, but I'm thinking!
If you're out there Walt, how did you determine the IF frequency was 57 KHz?  and why do you think that was used instead of the conventional 455 KHz?
This is just another of Walt's creations which he regularly displays at our homebrew contests.  Keep up the good work Walt and be assured you are inspiring many of us out there in the world of radio and electronics.
Nick Senker