[R-390] depot dawg - demeaning ?!?!?! Humph!

[Roy Morgan]

At 02:45 PM 7/25/2005, Kenneth G. Gordon wrote:
>The term "depot dawg" is, to me, not a demeaning term: it is a "term of
>endearment".

Ken,

That's the way I took it.

How about another term: "Old Soldier".  I have one R-390A which has 
apparently done so much service in knob-twisting mode that the paint and 
aluminum at the tuning knob have been worn down into the panel. There's a 
half moon shaped ring around the knob you could almost hide a dime in.

How many SIGINT signals do you think that thing tuned in over the 
years?  This one did not sit on fleet common 24/7 for 15 years and haul in 
those loud broadcasts from Norfolk day in and day out.

I will not be filling and painting that panel. I feel that it deserves to 
be appreciated for what it has done.

>  It means that the receiver in question has been loved and
>abused, worked on by someone who cared and brought back to life,
>possibly more than once.

About once a year, the only still-flying B-29 flies into this area 
(Suburban DC) for an air show or two.  There is nothing in the air that 
sounds like a B-29.  There is no other flying B-29. None. The thing was 
"born" just after I was, and is still flying. I wonder how many engines 
it's gone through?  How many tires?
See: http://www.cafb29b24.org/fifi.shtml

One of these days, I'll have both my essentially-unused EAC-67 and my 
oldest Collins-made R-390A side by side for a happy comparison. There's no 
telling which one will work the best, but I am sure they will BOTH be 
working just fine.  that's the wonder of it for me.

73 all,
Roy


- Roy Morgan, K1LKY since 1959 - Keep 'em Glowing!
7130 Panorama Drive, Derwood MD 20855
Home: 301-330-8828 Cell 301-928-7794
Work: Voice: 301-975-3254,  Fax: 301-948-6213
roy.morgan at nist.gov --