AM Rally Logs

[KD1SH]

  Well, I finally got through transposing my Rally logs from pencil scribble to Excel spreadsheet; checking for duplicates and correct calls and locations, and I just sent them off to the Rally website. I'm thinking that maybe next year I'll get with the times and use Steve's logging software!
  One of the most enjoyable aspects of the Rally was noting all the operators who had either never worked AM before, or hadn't used it for decades. I remember one gentleman saying that he hadn't used AM since the early 60's. Sad that he was away for so long, but great to see that the Rally encouraged him to come back.
  And, of course, all the cool rigs—one notable station was running a home-brew "cake pan" transmitter and amplifier! Now that's classic AM!
  Thanks again to Steve and Clark for this great event.

[WA1LGQ]

One of the most interesting and unusual rigs that we heard was a converted Butleman paging transmitter that was made in Stamford, CT I think Pete N9HXW said.

[KD1SH]

Hi, Larry! Was that contact on 6 meters, or HF? I don't know what frequencies those pagers would have operated on. I did some "googling" but couldn't find anything about Butleman or their products. Lost to history, I guess. I looked at Pete's QRZ page, too, in case he had a picture of it. Yes, that is an unusual contact!

One of the most interesting and unusual rigs that we heard was a converted Butleman paging transmitter that was made in Stamford, CT I think Pete N9HXW said.

[W3SLK]

For the last several years I've been on with my British-made MK-214D. It last did service in an Algerian embassy. Nobody ventured down to 160M this year though. One like it can be seen here: https://sites.google.com/view/ww2-secret-radio-station/radio-details-downloads/dws-mk214d

[Steve - K4HX]

Very interesting transmitter Mike. Where did you come across such a rare bird?

[KD1SH]

Now that is a thing of beauty! I'm certainly no expert in British equipment, but looking at the innards of that rig, it simply "looks British." Neat and tidy and uncluttered. If you've ever taken note of British steam locomotives from back in the day, you can tell them from their American counterparts at a glance: all the external plumbing—boiler water feed, compressed air, sand pipes—is neatly covered under the sheet metal jacket surrounding the exterior of the boiler. American locomotives are covered in spaghetti tangles of tubing and pipes. British aircraft, likewise—smooth and clean like a sculpted clay model. It's a British thing, I guess.

For the last several years I've been on with my British-made MK-214D. It last did service in an Algerian embassy. Nobody ventured down to 160M this year though. One like it can be seen here: https://sites.google.com/view/ww2-secret-radio-station/radio-details-downloads/dws-mk214d

[W3SLK]

K4HX said:

Very interesting transmitter Mike. Where did you come across such a rare bird?

I bought this off of Ray, WD2AFJ. It became a want the first time I laid eyes on it. He told me it originally belonged to my good friend Eric, WB4VVI(SK). Originally, Ray modulated it with a pair of 572Bs and an ART-13 mod transformer. Later, he installed an audio choke on the screens and built a larger separate modulator using 805's. This past year the B+ transformer shorted(again!) and I went in and completely overhauled the power supply. It currently uses an RCA uses a K900763-001 mod transformer. I'm thinking about replacing it with either a VM-4 or a CVM-5 that I have and put the that transformer back in the ET-4336F and restore that box.
One of the things to note. Although they aren't rare, Ray gave me the original Mullard 813s that came with it. As you can see, the plate is what I call 'geodesic' and looks as though as it were cast instead of machined like that of a typical RCA carbon plate.

[Steve - K4HX]

Lots of good Qs with VVI on 160 meters in years past. RIP

805s are a great tube. They remind me of an 810 without the grid cap. When I used the Derb Homebrew rig for a year, it had a pair of 805 mods pushing tow 812H in the final. No lack of audio!

K4HX said:

Very interesting transmitter Mike. Where did you come across such a rare bird?

I bought this off of Ray, WD2AFJ. It became a want the first time I laid eyes on it. He told me it originally belonged to my good friend Eric, WB4VVI(SK). Originally, Ray modulated it with a pair of 572Bs and an ART-13 mod transformer. Later, he installed an audio choke on the screens and built a larger separate modulator using 805's. This past year the B+ transformer shorted(again!) and I went in and completely overhauled the power supply. It currently uses an RCA uses a K900763-001 mod transformer. I'm thinking about replacing it with either a VM-4 or a CVM-5 that I have and put the that transformer back in the ET-4336F and restore that box.
One of the things to note. Although they aren't rare, Ray gave me the original Mullard 813s that came with it. As you can see, the plate is what I call 'geodesic' and looks as though as it were cast instead of machined like that of a typical RCA carbon plate.

[W3SLK]

K4HX said:

Lots of good Qs with VVI on 160 meters in years past. RIP

805s are a great tube. They remind me of an 810 without the grid cap. When I used the Derb Homebrew rig for a year, it had a pair of 805 mods pushing tow 812H in the final. No lack of audio!

I remember those nights/mornings on 160M and often wonder what happened to others there. KK4BO Lamont Bryant, let his license lapse. I know he and his wife owned a few stations down there in VA around the Richmond/Goochland area. We had a good cast of AMers on 1885 back then! To those that are SK, RIP!
With regards to the 805s, I've seen them a time or two being used as RF finals. But mostly I thought they were used in theater amps. They are a solid performer. I have one in the modulator right now with a 1938 date code on it!