[R-390] The radio machine, getting bit by the bug

[Clemens Ostergaard]

Like a lot of us, I also caught the bug at a tender age, around 10-12 years
old. Coming home after school I used the 6-tube Philips 'Operette' BCR in
the living room. It turned out to have, what I later came to know as
bandspread, over a long edge-lit glass dial, and so was not bad on
short-wave. The second half of the 1950'es had very good sun-spot
conditions, and this must have helped. What a powerful feeling, to 'listen
to the world' in a literal sense. India, China, Canada, VOA from Tangier,
Vatican Radio, or Argentina and Alice Springs when the going was good. And
not forgetting the mesmerizing WWW.

Later I spent hard-earned five British Pounds in 1960 to buy a Marconi
R1155 from the local mil surplus peddler in South London. It was the one
used in British bombers like the Lancaster during WWII, and yes the firm
was founded by Marconi in 1897. A very good radio that I modded with a
BFO to get SSB, as well as installing a great slow-motion drive. Lots of
fun and crawling about on roof-tops to install antennas.

It got stolen, but I was lucky to find a Barlow-Wadley XCR-30
Mk.II portable to tide me over. Using Wadley loop technology -of Racal fame
- it is actually a very good SW-receiver (made in South Africa) and had
stood in the office of the Admiral of the Danish fleet :-) But inexorably I
was drawn to the ultimate RX, and I finally managed to find one in 1982,
made by Teledyne. At one point I had six of them, plus an R390 and R392 and
51J-4s, but I still have the first Teledyne, 62-contract, and an EAC of the
1960 contract. It has had the nearest equivalent to a Chuck
Rippel-treatment.

Through more years than I care to count, I have benefited from the list
here and its many fine discussions and initiatives. I think it is rare to
find such an assembly of deeply knowledgeable and helpful people, who are
at the same time (mostly) able to avoid quarreling and showing off. :-) A
number are not with us anymore, but shall not be forgotten.

And special congratulations to new old-timer Roger, who  I
think probably now has more people listening to him than he ever
simultaneously had before.

Best regards

Clemens S. Ostergaard
Copenhagen
DENMARK