From the Newsletter history archives... Vintage Equipment From the April '87 Newsletter (entitled "Ham Radio News & Views"), it was noted that the meeting for April was to be at Arvin Fowler's (K4RP) QTH in Valdese. Arvin would conduct a demonstration of Slow-Scan TV (SSTV) using his station which should prove to be quite an interesting meeting! (Note: Arvin Fowler is now a SK. -Ed). Also, in the same Newsletter, it was noted that Duane, N4AVU, and Bud, KN4K, advised that the 220 repeater atop Hibriten is once again active and on the air. The two had been hard at work to get it operational in time for the new rules regarding expanded Novice/Technician priveledges which went into effect Mach 21st at 0001 UTC. And lastly, it was noted in the same Newsletter that the "Packet" revolution was just getting into full swing! There was a lot of talk at the Charlotte Hamfest regarding this "new" mode. I said "new" because hams had apparently just discovered it. Actually, according to the Editor's information, the Packet mode had been around for 20+ years! The same applies for RTTY and to a certain degree...AMTOR. It was noted that digital communications was getting closer and closer to home all the time and the reader was encouraged to try it. An appeal was made to the readers to help put Lenoir/Hudson/Granite Falls/Valdese/Morganton etc. on the Packet and/or the RTTY map.

(Each month, a brief spotlight will appear here on equipment you may have seen at hamfest swap tables. This month the spotlight is on the Collins 75A4 Receiver ). For as long as I can remember, the Collins line of equipment has reigned supreme..and even today, has a huge cult following which keeps its price (at hamfest tables) in a lofty position. The 75A4 model, the last in a series (i.e. 75A1, 75A2, 75A3), was so far out of my price range that I didn't keep abreast of its price through the years but I know the used price generally fetches a price in the middle hundreds today! The 75A4 had a companion transmitter---the Collins 32V3 and the pair in the hamshack presented an awesome station. The 75A4 debuted somewhere in the early fifties...as I remember my Elmer, Preston Perry, W5NH, had the pair in his office area in the rear of his shop. As an eager Novice prospect, I had the pleasure of twirling the knobs on his 75A4/32V3 combo and to feel the silky operation of all controls...not to mention all the stations it could pull in when compared to my Hallicrafters S-38C!! Sadly, the Collins Radio Company, a major manufacturer of military and ham equipment both during and after WW II, decided to exit the Ham Radio scene (probably due to the great influx of Japanese equipment which started hitting our shores in earnest in the early-80's). Should you like to have one of these babies sitting on your desk, take plenty of loot with you!! -Ed Pg 3 Collins 75A4 Home Previous Next Auto Trivia - [Last Month] Sharing its namesake with washing machines, TV's, and refrigerators , the auto shown was a 1948 Crosley Hotshot Roadster! Bill Barr, KG4GSV, accurately named the make...but not the year or the model.

Now, try your hand at this month's offering . This car (USA), about the size of an early Toyota Corolla or a VW Beetle, was also sold by by a well-known department store! Can you name the Year, Make, & Model of this one?? (Email me if you know! -Ed) ??? ???

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