Something Wicked Cool This Way Comes

[K1NSS]

Again, something's in and on the air.

Far back as I recall, I've associated fall and radio.  Scuffing through golden leaves and leafing through the 621.384 section at the good old public library, I was ever optimistic I'd find something newer than 1936 How To Become a Radio Amateur, yet I was always glad to take out the Boys' First Book of Radio and Electronics and read it one more time, that killer first edition featuring the breadboard regen with the National Velvet Vernier dial.

In those days, smoke from burning leaves was often in the air, mixed with the scent of DX and your Elmer's pipe tobacco.

And the tubes, by gee, they glowed like jack-o-lanterns.

After all the falls gone by, I now own a Hallicrafters S-19 Sky Buddy that I light up every so often.  But no set evokes quite the memories as this season itself, and I'm curious if others feel the same?

Expanded on this theme a bit, some new text and pix www.dashtoons.com

[Steve - K4HX]

So, will we hear you on the air?

[K1NSS]

You will, I hope, Murphy willing.

I scuttle out my lair into the K1NSS Kripplebush Supershack of Solitude at times, more often during contest season. While I have no real AM gear of my own, my pal and sometimes contest cohort Paul W1GUH occasionally comes up from NYC with this or that from his collection, which includes a Multi-Elmac transmitter which we have run here before on 40.

My own main radio is a mighty IC-718, supplemented by a Knight T-50 and a MFJ 40 meter Cub 5 watter.  Very casual SSB contesting aside, I'm wont to stick with CW, bit here, bit there.