The AM Forum

Hello All:

Does anyone know how to adjust the headband tension on old-style cans,
such as the military HA-16, or old Trimm crystal 'phones, for example?
I have a couple of pairs of HA-16s and would like to use them for cw,
but they are so tight that after just a few minutes I start to feel like
my head is in a vise (great for giving yourself, or someone else,
a headache in just a couple of minutes)!  The springy (steel?) wire in these feels like it
will break if I try to pry the headband apart to lessen the squeeze.
I'm sure someone out there has encountered the same problem!
73,
Ken
W5KFS

Hi Ken,

Wow that is a problem on anybodys ears. Looks like you changed calls cause I see reference to both.

I hate it when so many people on the Forum look at a post and nobody comes up with a solution and the post kind of fades away. So I thought I would at least offer one possible solution. Of course the age old question - once loosened - how does one tighten them up again?

Mike WU2D

Hi Mike! 

Well, even if nobody else posted a solution, I believe yours has to be the best;
so it's not so important that yours was the only response!  Now, the question is
where can I get a headphone stretcher like that in the picture? ;D
One must use care during the stretching process and closely monitor the amount
of stretching, carefully making any necessary adjustments along the way.  ;)
As for tightening the phones up again, you could turn the earpieces around 180 degrees,
push them together and insert in the cleavage of the headphone stretcher; over time the
phones will be tightened up, at least somewhat.  ;)

In all seriousness, however, I discovered the "secret," which is simply to bend the
band open a bit; I overcame my "fear" of breaking the thing and discovered that
the wires are very springy and will not break.  I feel slightly stupid having made this post,
but we all have our moments, I suppose!  And yes, I changed call signs about two years
ago but never changed my user name here.  Since I am lazy, I will probably leave it that
way until something forces me to change it!
73!

I have never seen a pair of old style phones, military or civilian, that didn't become torture devices after being worn for more than a few minutes, no matter how you adjusted the tension.

My goodness, Don....you sure made me laugh hard!  I guess it may not be that
funny to just anybody, but it struck me directly on the funnybone.   ;D
Thanks for the post OM!
73 from W5KFS