The AM Forum

Friday it rained......

... but there was still people there and some action...

Dale, KW1I putting up the antenna for the military radio station.....

... antenna in the air.....

... and the first sale of the day, a happy buyer with a BC-939 tuner from Todd, KA1KAQ.

Even with the rain people were selling, in the buildings and under tents.

Three hardy souls with a 20's battery set....

.... Heathkit and Drake stuff.....

... and more stuff under a tent.

Some crazy people even stood out in the rain and talked! L-to-R: WA1HLR Mobile, Al - W1UX, Brent - W1IA, Gary - W1GHW, Paul - N2JTD


After we tired of the rain, some of us met for The AM Dinner.

Left (F-to-R): Larry - NE1S, Joe - WA2PJP, Brian - K1LYD, Todd - KA1KAQ, Steve - WB3HUZ, Maggie (W2JTD xyl)

Right (F-to-R): Joe - KA1BWO, KA1BWO xyl, Mark - KA2QFX, Tim - WA1HLR, Bill - KA8WTK, John - W3JN, Paul - W2JTD (not in view)

By Saturday, the rain had ceased and the sun came out. So did the people and the radios!

A rare 2NT, 2-C with 2CQ station.

Even some beautiful fall foliage was on display.

Was a great 'fester again, despite the rain Friday morning and late afternoon. There was a good lull from about 8-3PM or so with virtually no rain. Plenty of good deals were made and a lot of folks were there selling as soon as the gates opened. Had several folks thank me for my NEAR-Fest forecast as it helped them decide to go on Friday. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!

Having gotten home just after 7PM tonight, I haven't had time yet to process all the thoughts, experiences, and interesting events that took place. Will give a more coherent report tomorrow along with photos of the AM Dinner and goodies from the 'fest. For someone who went there to get nothing, a fair amount of tonnage followed me home.

Twas a great time despite the rain.  I spent all of $2 - some little 6BE6 converter subchassis for a buck and a homebrew 6502 computer complete with old buzzard dot matrix LED displays for a buck.  The stories, the rolling on the floor laughing, and camaraderie made the trip a winnah!

Thanks Steve for posting all the great pictures.  I knew Martah and I could not make Fall Near Fest but we are really looking forward to the spring event, rain or no rain!   For me its more about the social aspects and just having a good time.  I certainly don't need any more boat anchors!  Then again, as Todd indicated we usually come back with something. 
Sorry we could not make this one....
Joe, W3GMS   

I totally wimped out!

With horizontal rain and 40* temps I went as far as I-93 Exit 2 in Salem to reclaim my old CE 100V which I sold 18 years ago plus a pair of NCX-1000's.

Saturday AM the wind was gusting 50-60 mph so I again retreated to the basement and actually got some work done.

Hey, where is JJ?  ;D ::)

You missed out on some good deals, Carl. The wind wasn't as bad there, though there were a few good gusts throughout the day. Overall Saturday was the better wx day, Friday the better deal day.

You also missed out on a helluva fun AM Dinner, though it's probably just as well. That old ticker of yours might not have survived if JN's purple face was any indication!  ;D

We did miss you though, 'JJ as well. We figured he was with you and you just didn't know it.  ;)

Hi Todd, please feel free to merge the eariler thread, "NEARFest Reports and Photos", with this newer thread.
Tnx.  ;)

Yes indeed! Something was very wrong this time as it's usually the other way around: you go home with more goodies and I end up with a handful of trinkets. The planets were surely out of alignment!

I did get two small goodies just to keep the tradition alive, though. That metal octal tube cover you got for me and a 75A-4 filter clip for $1. And of course, the stomp-to-talk switch that you gifted to me. That will get set up in the radio room soon.  ;D

Tron Mobeel!

Not a site you want to be having a stare-down with!  ::)

Finally got some new batts in the cam, snapped a few shots of the booty gathered at NEAR-Fest

1.) RBO with the friend-of-radio discount(tnx KB1FQG), total $50

2.) R-42 Reproducer, being unloaded across from RBO as I exited restroom: $40

3.) Millen Scope, $20 (tnx 'JN)

More goodies!

4.) Trinkets consisting of a stomp-to-talk switch gifted from JN, five 201A tubes gleaned from an old 5 dialer that was later sold for what I paid, 75A-4 mechanical filter clip $1, metal octal tube cap, $1

5.) Bamboo portable fly rod, $5


6.) Like-new B&K shop scope, gift from WA2PJP who pointed out that I needed one but wouldn't buy one for myself. Kinda true since I have three in VT, none of which are as capable as this one. Even the big 32mhz Tek scope requires a cart to move it around. One of the first things out of JN's mouth when we got to the 'fest was "YOU need to get a scope, sonny." And now I have one, thanks to the generosity of WA2PJP.

And two wonderful pre-war items that arrived via the AM Pony Express.

7.) First, the RME69 from K1KW via WA2PJP who picked it up from Chuck at Boxboro for me. $200

And second...

8.) Grebe MU-1 Synchrophase 3 dial TRF Battery set circa 1923-24, $140 from a seller in Ohio via KA8WTK who snagged it for me on his way to NEAR-Fest.

A big, HUGE thank you to the folks who help others by hauling gear to the event from distances that could risk damage from shipping. I've had the opportunity to help others in past years, and truly appreciate the efforts of both Bill and Joe in getting these old girls to me.

Plenty of work ahead cleaning up all this stuff, some moreso than others. Other than a few small pieces for the RBO (dial cover and rack screws/plates), everything else is good to go. The RBO will be the garage radio in garage #3 for listening pleasure while sifting through tubes, parts, or working on the tractor. Scope will get used in the radio room as a mod monitor and other things, along with the stomp switch. Even got a new tool bag from Steve, so the tools will have a new place to live!

It's a good thing you weren't planning on getting anything!

Enjoy the new stuff. That Grebe is the bomb!

Yeah, no kidding! If you look back through the past events, my findings were small parts, an old hand mic, things like that. Johnny is usually the one who finds the stuff.

The RBO is playing through the R-42 out in the garage, tuned to AM 740 while awaiting Jen's arrival home. As concerned as I was about her reaction, she was okay with all of it and even had a message ready to send to Joe about a radio I wanted but probably wouldn't buy, telling him to make me get it. Didn't see that one coming!

Will post some shots of the Grebe MU-1 once it's cleaned up and working. Might shoot a video even, complete with thin audio.  ;D

Good AM Fellowship yes even on cold rainy Friday and a great Saturday!
Super to see some good friends! 73 Al UX

pics -the human digestive cycle, poetry in the rain
      -W1GHW and the arrival of Tron friday
      -Famous Amchur K1QRM err I mean K1QAR Ted with his incredible GIANT VACUUUUUUM CONDENSER that will be used to tune his MONSTER MAGNETIC LOOP when he fires up his Class E rig, which will cause all the screwdrivers in the neighborhood to fly through the air and stick to the loop! PS: The vacuuuuum was an extra option.(http://[img])[/img]

Velly good to see you there, fine sir. Enjoyed the stories, and was relieved to remember that 73 magazines is still being published, just not sent out.  ;D

Good to see that Gary, W1GHW made it! 
Regards,
Joe, W3GMS

Very Nice RBO, Todd!

It doesn't look like you'll have too much to do on the Synchrophase. I love the craftsmanship and detail of those early sets!

You clearly wimped out.
The wind Saturday barely reached 30, the excuses do not fly for Saturday.

Send us all some NIB 8122s and we will forget all about it....this time.

 As it is

Carl, what's that third one you posted?!? Are you sure?!? Kindly replace "DX" with "Enjoying the Rattle of the laminations of the mod transformer" and "the warm aroma of Amurrican-made toob gear in full heat" etc.etc. but I know it wouldn't fit in that little rectangle hi hi

I fixed it...

Thanks Ed. Much better!
Carl