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VK6BE > OLDSET 16.07.09 01:15l 33 Lines 1688 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 380052VK6BE
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: Interest in vintage radios
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<DB0RES<ON0AR<GB7YKS<VK2DOT<VK6ZRT
Sent: 090716/0002Z @:VK6ZRT.#BUN.#WA.AUS.OC #:41649 [Boyanup] $:380052VK6BE
From: VK6BE@VK6ZRT.#BUN.#WA.AUS.OC
To : OLDSET@WW
This discussion stirs memories for me.
In 1947 I bought a Hotpoint Bandmaster radio. Nice wooden cabinet, 2 volt
battery for the power with a vibrator for the 135 volt HT. Filaments of
the valves operated on 2 volts. It had several shortwave bands and radio
conditions were pretty good at that time. I remember hearing my first
amateur stations post war on it. VK6MU, Mal, who was using an AWA 101
military radio and other old timers.
I had heard amateur broadcasts in 1939 on a mantel model AWA Hotpoint in
the 200 metre band where they were permitted to transmit music, and some,
VK6WP Bill Phipps was one, broadcast regular Sunday morning programmes.
All that ended with the war, where I spent the next three years operating
AWA and STC equipment, 101s, 109s and then the new Number 11 and Number
19.
I had a number 19 after I got my amateur licence. They were easy to
convert for amateur use, only needing a power supply as the set had valves
with 6 volt filaments.
The 109 set had a higher powered transmitter than the others with an 807
in the final and another 807 as modulator. It had 20 amp draw on phone
transmit and so the batteries (lead acid of course) had to be robust. They
were! They were 155 AH batteries at 6 volts and it took all my strength to
carry one to the charger. In fact we usually took 2, one each side to
balance the weight.
There is a lot to be said for the modern solid state radios!!
Bob VK6BE.
> I remember one unit owned by a cousin that featured an AWA (Amalgamated
> Wireless Australia, later to become Amalgamated Wireless Australasia)
> tuner that boasted seven bands and two RF stages.
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