WRL as OZ

[K1NSS]

As an early 60s youngster just beginning to make his way among the radio catalogs, I was attracted to the name and notion of World Radio Laboratories, imagining an OZ-like midwestern ham radio research center, masterminded by Leo Meyerson behind his Council Bluffs curtain. So much of ham radio is about the rigs we don't have, eh mates? WRL catalogs and rigs sported the sort of retro/offbrand style to which this odd kid cottoned, at least in certain moments when none of my usual fantasies would do, from upmarket S-Line and TMC on down.

WRL stuff was its own exotic thing to this northeastern suburbanoid, mysterious as Goo-Goos, Whoopie Pies and RC Cola.I really wondered if becoming a white-coated WRL research fellow was a viable career option, or at least I liked to think it might be.

About that time WRL was getting into SSB with the Galaxy(?) and it just seemed  out of character, like Hopalong Cassidy in a leisure suit.  Weren't the Galaxy rigs made in Japan?  Sorry guys, I'm no uberbuff, but I know what I like.  For my money, at that time, never mind today, the Globe King best represented that WRL Heartland je nais se quoi

Don't have one.  Probably never will, but that somebody does is somehow, comforting.

I'm curious about the WRL thoughts of others, in the day, and today.

[w4bfs]

from hubris to an intense smugness factor, it's hard to predict how a single human being will react to any specific stimulus ... it is amusing to watch however

[K1NSS]

from hubris to an intense smugness factor, it's hard to predict how a single human being will react to any specific stimulus ... it is amusing to watch however

Sure, smugness factor and ham radio retail go together like beans and toast. Trust me, no kidding, I worked part time for a couple of very fun years at HRO in Salem NH.

But Hubris? When I think of Achilles, I think of Amateur Electronic Supply about as much as Brad Pitt. Never mind, if you're amused, mission accomplished. Still, a little amplification on your part might amuse me as well.

I sent away for a lot of radio catalogs as a kid, aside from the federally mandated Allied, Lafayette, Heath and Radio Shack way before Tandy.  AES. Fair Radio Sales. WRL. Maybe some Olson too. I probably thought more about radios I didn't have than the DX-40 and '30s SuperPro I did. Frankly, the catalogs fascinated me for their own sake, like ham culture itself. Part of me wanted to be running a  450-TH modulated by a pair of Gammatrons into a back forty Rhombic. When I was in that mode, the WRL catalog was at its most appealing.

BTW, in another venue, I've been told that Galaxys were made in Council Bluffs, so please excuse my impression they came from elsewhere.

[Steve - K4HX]

They had a cool logo.

[K1NSS]

They had a cool logo.

Yes indeed.  Logos don't get much better than that, unless you have TWO radio towers, EXTRA lightning bolts and Pegasus jumping between. 

[Steve - K4HX]

I think many people could relate to some of the WRL transmitters because quite a few looked much like nicely built homebrew rigs. The Globe 275, 400 and 500 fit that mold in my mind.

[K1NSS]

I agree.  There's a straightforward "Solid as Sears" quality that's so attractive in the best homebrew that WRL captured, by design or just cuz form followed function.

[w4bfs]

Sure, smugness factor and ham radio retail go together like beans and toast.....

here in the south that wuld be beans and cornbread ... yum

[WQ9E]

I have the impression that WRL rigs were "operator's rigs" and few just sat around as decorations.  They aren't the fanciest or prettiest but I bet the majority of them got a lot of hours of usage when they were newly purchased.  A wide range of rigs came out of Council Bluffs and I think most of them scored quite well on the bang for the buck scale.  Self confident amateurs didn't need an expensive rig or exclusive brand to enjoy the hobby and that same behavior can be found in pretty much every hobby.  I have a lot of interesting radios now but none will ever equal the fun of operating my well used Johnson Valiant as a novice back in 1975.  You just cannot recreate the fun and wonder of anticipating who from where will answer those tentative early CQs.

WRL did have one of the nicest company logos and the naming system fit well with the logo.

Years ago I was seriously looking for a Globe King but I have several other big rigs now so that desire has mostly passed.  I have several of the smaller WRL transmitters along with a Globe Champion 175 and 300A which is probably the highest power WRL rig I will ever own.

From everything I have read Leo was definitely one of the good guys.  Your confusion on the Galaxy production may have come from the relationship when Hy Gain bought the WRL Galaxy name so receivers like my Galaxy R-530 later became the Hy Gain R-1530.  Hy Gain later sold the 3750 transceiver which was made by Panasonic and at some point in more recent history Galaxy seems to be the name for the import CB/freeband rigs.  It seems like it was a very tangled relationship but I am impressed with my 3750.  It is well built and has one of the best noise blankers of any rig I own.

[K1NSS]

Cornbread and beans, yum indeed, although I wasn't to have that specific combo until later in life. Kind of a breakfast thing, with butter and jam. We ate beans with that New England so-called"brown bread" from a can, which was pretty sweet and fatty. Used to plop big chunks of butter on top. I think I heard about cornbread from some TV western and glommed on that right away. Browbeat my mom into buying the mix every so often.

This New Yorker fancied foreign stuff and old time stuff, which in retrospect was not so antipodal or antique.  Stuckey's, Zenith consoles, World Radio Laboratories, radio books that called tubes "valves", cage antennas, spark coils, catwhiskers, the usual suspects.  Pretty much anything south of Manhattan, west of Philly, and before Ike was in the White House. And then there was my Elmer's 813 homebrew modulated by a pair of 811As.

[K1NSS]

I have the impression that WRL rigs were "operator's rigs" and few just sat around as decorations. 

From everything I have read Leo was definitely one of the good guys.  Your confusion on the Galaxy production may have come from the relationship when Hy Gain bought the WRL Galaxy name so receivers like my Galaxy R-530 later became the Hy Gain R-1530.  Hy Gain later sold the 3750 transceiver which was made by Panasonic and at some point in more recent history Galaxy seems to be the name for the import CB/freeband rigs.  It seems like it was a very tangled relationship but I am impressed with my 3750.  It is well built and has one of the best noise blankers of any rig I own.

Tnx OM for your observations, experience and adding more light to my dim memories re the Galaxy history.

From my teenage vantage point, Johnson equipment was more stylish in its old school way, but yes, WRL had a Git 'er Done look just a compelling.

Once again, in another venue, I heard from a ham fortunate to have taken license classes in the WRL cafeteria, had Leo as a personal Elmer, and recalled him most fondly.

[K1JJ]

I remember WRL well.

In Oct, 1964, sitting on the shelf at Hatry's of Hartford was a used Globe Scout for $35.  I brought in $2 / week from my paper route money to hold it as I studied for my Novice. I figured I needed about $100 in xtals to cover the bands. After a few weeks I got a "big" idea -  and transferred the money to a Ranger.

My first antenna was a Gotham vertical on a pipe, in Dec, 1964. I called CQ on it for three days without a single answer. Turned out the top was grounded/bolted  to the rain gutter in error.

Later, in 1966, I had fantasies of buying the whole WRL Galaxy V line with console, on credit payments. (With 6m and 2m unit, of course)  For about $79 a month, the full line could be yours,  according to the ad.  In hindsight, what a mistake that would have been! ...    Leo was a great marketer and actually had a decent manufacturing facility at the time.

Whenever I mentioned Galaxy to Corky at Hatry's, he grimaced and said, "Get rid of all the shit and buy a Collins S line."   He was right, but who could afford it at the time?

Tom, K1JJ

Galaxy V line:  ( I have a friend who actually duplicated and homebrewed their "2,000 watt P.E.P." linear amplifier. Ten 6HF6 sweep tubes in parallel)  

[K9DXL]

Just a couple of thoughts to add to this thread.  Growing up in the Chicago'burbs back in the early '60s, receiving the new Allied catalog every fall was a big deal.  A real wish book that was well worn out by the time the next one came out.  (The other big deal fall thrill was the introduction of the new car models in the dealer's showrooms!)

[K1NSS]

I remember WRL well.

In Oct, 1964, sitting on the shelf at Hatry's of Hartford was a used Globe Scout for $35.

Having a place nearby that sold used ham gear was a treat.  In the 60s our gang of kiddo ops hung out at a Utica NY electronics shop which served as inspiration for Goort Supply in my second Dash! Book. Rigs there were mostly above my newsboy paygrade, but I bought my Texas Crystals and ARRL logs there and patronized the Pepsi machine.

[K1NSS]

Growing up in the Chicago'burbs back in the early '60s, receiving the new Allied catalog every fall was a big deal.

Trust you've heard Jean Shepherd talking about Allied and the catalog.  If not, click this and run the clip  ahead to 32:00.  He often referenced Allied in his ham stories, and this is not the longest reference, but best I could find on short notice, a tragic little tale of Taylor 807s.

http://ia600300.us.archive.org/32/items/JeanShepherd1967/1967_11_06_Allied_Catalog.mp3

The Allied catalog was my default reference  Brought it to school to study in study hall, and natch read it closer than the Kabbala into the wee hours at home.   Never forget my first package from Allied, including a Knight Ocean Hopper regen receiver kit, Weller gun and all the trimmings.

[K1NSS]

I have a friend who actually duplicated and homebrewed their "2,000 watt P.E.P." linear amplifier. Ten 6HF6 sweep tubes in parallel)  

Forgot to comment on this.  Tnx for restoring memory of the parallel processed KW! Give me enough sweep tubes and I'll swamp the Woodpecker!

[Opcom]

That's pretty cool!

[K9DXL]

My friends and I sent for the new Allied catalogs every fall.  What a great wishbook!  By the time the next year's edition came out, it was as well-thumbed as an evangelist's bible.  My other great fall memory for those teen and pre-teen years:  checking out the new car models at the dealer showrooms around town.

[K1NSS]

New cars, new radio catalogs, some of our fun we didn't make ourselves.

Back to WRL.  Wanted to go on a little more about their catalog's retro style.  One funny aspect was their liberal use of Leo's photo headshot, as well as, (am I imagining this?)a cartoon caricature, kind of in the 1930s "Pep Boys" style, a la UncleDave at Fort Orange Radio in Albany NY.  I think Henry Radio in New York was among the slicker marketing approaches, given their proximity to Madison Avenue. Much as I was drawn to sophisticated stuff like Collins and Henry ads, my heart was a lot closer to the pulpy lost world of Johnson Smith catalogs and idosyncratic Hugo Gernsback-ian electronic retail empresarios. Leo and WRL had a bit of that still going on into the 60s, quite at odds with the space age Galaxy line.  There was an American sweetness, a funny combo of medicine show razzamataz and Jimmy Stewart earnest to WRL.  For my taste, Heathkit, for all its tasteful suburbanoid hobby electronics, had no soul.  Broad-shouldered Chicago styled Allied Radio still had some, but they were trying to catch the cool wave, just a little too hard.  Pre-Tandy Radio Shack, and Lafayette Radio were struggling out of the basement shack/shop and into the paneled rumpus room.  Just riffin' here, curious about others' impressions of the usual suspects.

[N0WEK]

Growing up in the Chicago'burbs back in the early '60s, receiving the new Allied catalog every fall was a big deal.

Trust you've heard Jean Shepherd talking about Allied and the catalog.  If not, click this and run the clip  ahead to 32:00.  If not, he often referenced Allied in his ham stories, and this is not the longest reference, but best I could find on short notice, a tragic little tale of Taylor 807s.

http://ia600300.us.archive.org/32/items/JeanShepherd1967/1967_11_06_Allied_Catalog.mp3

The Allied catalog was my default reference  Brought it to school to study in study hall, and natch read it closer than the Kabbala into the wee hours at home.   Never forget my first package from Allied, including a Knight Ocean Hopper regen receiver kit, Weller gun and all the trimmings.

Good Jean Shepherd story of Ham radio...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22fl5JtoZXU

[Pete, WA2CWA]

New cars, new radio catalogs, some of our fun we didn't make ourselves.

Back to WRL.  Wanted to go on a little more about their catalog's retro style.  One funny aspect was their liberal use of Leo's photo headshot, as well as, (am I imagining this?)a cartoon caricature, kind of in the 1930s "Pep Boys" style, a la UncleDave at Fort Orange Radio in Albany NY.  I think Henry Radio in New York was among the slicker marketing approaches, given their proximity to Madison Avenue. Much as I was drawn to sophisticated stuff like Collins and Henry ads, my heart was a lot closer to the pulpy lost world of Johnson Smith catalogs and idosyncratic Hugo Gernsback-ian electronic retail empresarios. Leo and WRL had a bit of that still going on into the 60s, quite at odds with the space age Galaxy line.  There was an American sweetness, a funny combo of medicine show razzamataz and Jimmy Stewart earnest to WRL.  For my taste, Heathkit, for all its tasteful suburbanoid hobby electronics, had no soul.  Broad-shouldered Chicago styled Allied Radio still had some, but they were trying to catch the cool wave, just a little too hard.  Pre-Tandy Radio Shack, and Lafayette Radio were struggling out of the basement shack/shop and into the paneled rumpus room.  Just riffin' here, curious about others' impressions of the usual suspects.

I don't remember Henry Radio having any stores east of the Mississippi. NYC had Arrow, Harrison, Harvey, Barry, Lafayette, and a host of others.

Lafayette was already out of the "basement shack/shop" back in the 30's with a slick line of radio and audio components.
Here's an article: "Sixty Years of Lafayette Radio" as published in the December 2012 Monitoring Times (with added pictures). http://www.ohio.edu/people/postr/bapix/LafArt_60_3.htm  And, having worked at several NY and NJ Lafayette stores for many years, I was a fun place to spend your time and get paid for it.

[K1NSS]

I don't remember Henry Radio having any stores east of the Mississippi. NYC had Arrow, Harrison, Harvey, Barry, Lafayette, and a host of others.

Lafayette was already out of the "basement shack/shop" back in the 30's with a slick line of radio and audio components.


[/quote]

Yup Pete, I confused Henry with Harrison and I missed the mark on Lafayette. Thanks for the article link. I did know they were a big longtime retail chain in the NYC metro area and I certainly enjoyed their catalog in my kid days, partly as a cross-reference to Allied and as a fanciful springboard for pop science woolgathering.  I have a 1963 copy now. I would have enjoyed access to the bigger Lafayette stores in their day, never mind the Radio Row legends, but was marooned in the boondocks of central New York near Utica, where the local smaller Lafayette store out by the muffler shops and day-old bread outlet (might have been a franchise op, not sure) was the teen CB hangout and place to purchase one's dash-mounted auto reverb unit or, in my case, my $60 rice-burning reel-to-reel recorder. We rube kid hams referred to Lafayette as "Lousey-ette," largely based on our local shop's filling the niche of a Post-Tandy Radio Shack, not the catalogue/brick and mortar empire to which you refer.  What I perhaps enjoyed most about the Lafayette catalog was its opitical goods etc encroachment on Edmund Scientific territory, another outfit I surely would have loved to visit myself. Still find it amusing to have a wishbook buffet covering everything from the usual turntables, modulation transformers and HT-37s  to sugar refractometers and MiniVac digital computers and insect part microscope slides.

Oh yeah. And my Lafayette HE-40, my poor ham's Hallicrafters S-120...with an S-meter I kept telling myself.

Sent away for it when I passed my Novice and traded-up when I passed my General -  to a couple of CBer twins who dressed in identical mechanic's coveralls and fancied its chrome. for a full blown circa 1930s Hammarlund Super Pro. I think they were Lafayette regulars. But then, so was I, at least when my ham buddies weren't looking.