Chrome and Glass Shine Again

It’s done all the time on ham radio, the new home for fine, old vacuum-tube transmitters from Gates, RCA, Western Electric, Collins, General Electric, Raytheon and other “classic” names of broadcasting.
For More InfoThe AM Window. Technical discussion and documentation. www.thebizlink.com/am

AM International. Fraternity of vintage hams. http://ourworld.compuserve.com /homepages/sweetbay/amintern.htm

AM North America. E-mail reflector, links page. www.thebizlink.com/am

AM Classifieds. Surplus gear, including broadcast transmitters. www.bulletinboards.com /view.cfm?comcode=inr

Society of Broadcast Engineers.www.sbe.org

Electric Radio. Monthly magazine featuring stories about vintage operating.
Phone/FAX (970) 564-9185

Amateur Licensing.www.w5yi.com/
A retired broadcast transmitter often gets pushed to a dusty, dark back corner of the technical room at a radio station. Increasingly, ham radio operators are giving a second life to these graceful old beauties, donated or sold cheaply to hobbyists by stations with no further need.

Walsh, Dorrough and Balsamo

The attraction of a “heavy metal” radio is part of a vintage specialty in the hobby, and it resembles old car collecting. Some of the radios even take their styling cues from automobiles of the era.

Technically-minded experimenters drawn to “hollow-state” vacuum-tube technology nurture, build and restore all manner of “classic” radios, including those from maritime and military communications.
Ham Under Glass – and ChromeSome 80 amateur radio operators sport retired broadcast transmitters as part of their shortwave setups. To find the city of license for any of the operators, look up their call letters on the free online database at www.QRZ.com.

Martin, WB6OFM, Collins 300-G

Bill, N7OTQ, Collins 20V3 (75m), 20V2 (160m)

Barry, N6CSW, Collins 300-G

Rolynn, K7DFW, Collins 20V3, and Gates BC1-T on 75m

Mike, W2ZE, RCA BTA-250K on 160m

Gregg, WA2IAC, Gates BC1H

William, AB6MT, Collins 20V2 on 75m

Larry, WA9VRH, Collins 20V2

Tom, W2ILA, Collins 300-G

Chris, KC4CMR, Gates BC1-G

Clyde, K4UXK, Gates BC1T

Bruce, WX1O, Gates BC 250GY

Bill, N3JDR, Gates BC1 on 160m

David, W6PSS, RCA BTA-250M on 160m

Richard, W9LDB, Collins 300J on 160m

Marion, W7UO, Gates BC1-G on 160m

Gary, W6UH, Collins 20V-2 on 160m

Jim, K7EWE, Gates BC-250GY on 160m

Gary W7GMK Bauer 707, on 160m

Fred KF0OW, Gates BC-250GY, on 160m

Doug, W5JV, Collins 300-G on 160m

Bob, K2NK, Gates BC-250GY, on 160m

John, N9QWH, Gates BCA250

Jeff, W5OMR, RCA BTA-1R

Steve, WD8DAS, Gates BC1-H

Ron, WB0MBZ, GE BT-20A

Tim, W3TIM/4, Gates BC1H

Chaz, K8RNM, Gates 250GY

Barry, N6CSW/0, Gates 250GY

Glen, N4VL, 1950 Gates BCA 250 160-75-40, ‘67 Gates BC250GY on 75

Jim, K4EDK, Bauer 707

Eric, WB4VVI, RCA 250H, 160, CCA AM1000, 160

Tony, W5OD, Collins 20V3

Dudley, WA5SVL, Collins 20V2

Gregg, K9CBD, Collins 300-J

Dean, KK1K, RCA BTA 250M On 160m

Andy, WA4KCY, Gates BC-250GY 75m

Gary, W3AM/4 Florida, Collins 20V2

Paul, VE7KHZ, RCA BTA-250M, 160/75

John, WB5OAU/4, Collins 550A-1,

Larry, WB8SKV, Western Electric 451A-1 (6) 211A on 160, and RCA 250H

Mike, W1JZ, RCA BTA-1 160m TBD, Raytheon RA-250

Joe, N2YR, 1948 Gates BC-250GY On 75m

Joe, WA3GMS, 1946 Gates 250C-1

Joe, WA2PJP, 1953 Collins 20V2

Chuck, WA4HHG, Collins 20V2 On 160m

Tom W2KBW, Collins 20V on 160, 75 & 40m

Sam, KI4AE, RCA BTA-500MX

Jim, W3ATV, RCA BTA-1MX

Arnie, K0AS, Raytheon (pair of 304TLs into a pair)

Keith, K0KE, Gates BC-1

Bill, WA8LXJ, Collins 231-D, (pair of 450-T into pr. of 750-T) 160/75m

Mike, WN3B, Gates 250C-1 On 40m

Dave, WB3ETN, Gates 250C-1 on 160m

Frank, K0BRA/4, Gates BC-250GY, 160m

Dale, KW1I, Collins 300-G On 160m

Jim, WA2WHV, General Electric XT-1 On 160m

Gary, N2INR, 1949 Collins 21E On 75m

Jerry, KG2BK, Raytheon RA1000, and RA250 Not presently on-air

Scott, N0BST, Collins 300-G, Gates BC1-T

Steve, WB3HUZ, 1946 General Electric BT-20A On 160m

Steve, N8JRJ, Gates BC-1G (75m), and Gates BC500T (160m) and GE BT-20A

(160m)

Mike, KO6NM, Collins 820-D. On 75m

Jim, W8MAQ, 1948 Collins 300-G, 160 and 75m

Howard, W3HM/8, Collins 20V and a Gates BC-500. On 160m

Phil K2PG: Two Collins model 20V’s on 160

Paul WA3VJB: 1949 Collins 300-G on 40, 75 and 160m

Bill, N2BC, RCA BTA 1R1 160m

Ed N2CWJ: 1961 Collins 20V3

Bob W2ZM: RCA BTA250K, BTA-1MX, and Northern Electric 451A-1, all 160m

Sparks W4AES: Bauer 707

Ed, VA3ES, 1968 RCA BTA1-R3; and ‘70 RCA BTA1-S, not on air

Dale, VE3AAM, Gates BC5-P (pair of 3CX2500 into a pair) 75m

Bill, K2LNU, Gates BC1-H on 160 and 75m

Al, W1UX, RCA RCA BTA-500MX

John, W6BM, Collins 20K 160m, RCA BTA-1R, 75m

Sam, W6HDU: RCA BTA-250K 160m, Western Electric 443A 160m, W-E 451A-1 and

23A (both on 160m), Collins 20V2 on 75m

Mike, W6THW, Collins 300-G 160m, W-E 12B and 71B on 160, Collins 20T

Bill, AB6MT, RCA BTA-250M 160m, Bauer 707 75m, GE BT-20A 160m, and G-E

XT-1A on 75m

Doc, K6HLO, RCA BTA1-K

Mike, K6KKM, Collins 300J on 75m

Ike, W4KKO, Gates BC-1T

Tom, N5AMA, Gates BC-250-GY
Many broadcast engineers happen also to be ham radio operators. In some cases they have gotten into their careers thanks to years of “playing radio.” These hams may play by day with the latest technology, but remain delighted to stay in touch with discrete components, point-to-point wiring and the ornate hardware and craftsmanship not found in the typical contemporary transmitter.

Fans of these heavily chromed, glass-window transmitters include rock star Joe Walsh, whose ham call signs are WB6ACU; Mike Dorrough, of broadcast audio fame, call sign K06NM; and Nick Balsamo, KG2IR, a recording engineer known for his work with Sony Music, Studer and now NBC. All three gentlemen devote a lot of their ham-radio hobby to vintage, vacuum-tube equipment.

Leisure time spent bringing back a chrome-and-glass transmitter leads to large gatherings on the shortwave ham bands, where the rigs are demonstrated in their full glory. Nighttime propagation is especially reminiscent of the early days of radio, as people warm up their radios for hours of storytelling and technical discussion with other enthusiasts far and near.

Vintage stations often place an emphasis on high-fidelity reception as well as striving toward good transmitted audio. Some hams listen on the big speaker of an antique floor console with shortwave bands such as those from Philco, GE, Crosley and Zenith. Occasionally, a ham running AM gets reception reports from an “SWL,” a shortwave listener who has picked up the signals on an antique radio or perhaps with a modern “world-band” receiver.

Heavy metal

The pasttime has become so popular that there now is a Heavy Metal Rally on the 160-meter ham band, around 1885 kc (the old fashioned “kc” reference is deliberate). You’ll notice this frequency is not far from the Standard Broadcast Band, where the old rigs gave years of faithful service to their communities in the days before television.

The first Heavy Metal Rally last December drew about 25 broadcast transmitters nationwide, each with hams at the switch. There are now more than 70 amateur operators across the country who have placed retired broadcast transmitters on the shortwave ham bands (see sidebar).

The first Heavy Metal Rally honored grand old AM broadcast transmitters, and also marked the centennial of the world’s first “phone” transmission, Dec. 23, 1900. Experimenter Reginald Fesseden used an amplitude-modulated spark gap transmitter to communicate a short distance from a site at Cobb Island, Maryland along the Potomac River.

The Heavy Metal event, which featured an award for “best station” decided by popular vote, was sponsored by Electric Radio magazine, a publication dedicated to vintage ham radio activity. The event was the brainchild of Bill Kleronomos, KD0HG, the chief engineer of a broadcast station in Denver. The trophy features a brass portrayal of a classic ribbon mic, with some lightning bolts. The winner was Mike McElhinny, WN3B, running a Gates BC-250GY from his Pennsylvania home.

New wavelengths

Technically, it often takes little to recrystal and retune a transmitter from its radio station frequency to a new home on the shortwave ham bands.

Some new owners additionally have done considerable research and have reconfigured driver and RF tank circuits for greater power efficiency, better harmonic suppression and expanded frequency agility.

Modifications typically involve a certain loyalty to the original look and design of the transmitter. The hobbyist-engineer might use components of the original vintage like ceramic coil forms and mica capacitors, even drawing on NOS (new old stock) components carefully procured from years of searching hamfest “flea markets,” or more recently, from online bulletin boards or auction sites catering to vintage equipment.

Reworking the original single-frequency circuitry allows such transmitters to operate not only on 160 meters, as mentioned, but also on 75 meters (around 3880 kc) and all the way to the 40-meter ham band. Here, many AM rigs can be found between 7280 kc and just below 7300 kc, the limit of the allocation for the amateur service on this band.

Retro radio

When the revival of interest in vacuum-tube gear first gained momentum, many hams involved with mainstream activities were puzzled at the “retro” approach taken by others who were getting together in what was seen as an eccentric little sub-group.

Part of the allure involves the pleasure of a technical pursuit, which has become far more difficult for the average ham to accomplish with today’s technology. The most common activities in the hobby do not include much radio homebrew and experimentation, but instead focus on using pre-determined circuitry in radios with a heavy emphasis on computer technology to provide operating features.

Another explanation for the attraction to “classic” radios comes from the feeling of participating in making the radios “work” to communicate through the aether. Pushing buttons on a modern radio may feel constrained compared to being actively involved manipulating Plate and Load controls, and hearing the solid ker-thunk of relay contacts keying a 50-year-old transmitter that you’ve restored to operating perfection.

These hams might have a modern transceiver of some kind for emergency work, because the amateur community often is called upon to supply disaster communications. But the preference in the “AM Community” is to seek equipment from long-gone American manufacturers like Hammarlund, Hallicrafters and Drake.

Enthusiasts then arrange a delightful mix of vintage ham, military, maritime, industrial and broadcast communications gear in their stations.

Bigger is not better

For a ham-radio operator, practical and residential considerations limit the list of desirable broadcast transmitters to those using single-phase line voltage, designed for RF power output of 1 kilowatt or under, and which take up “only” a single cabinet’s worth of space.

That leaves a lot of transmitters to unearth and place in good homes. Among the most popular are the Gates BC-250GY and BC-1, the Collins 300-G and 20V, and the RCA BTA 500 and BTA-1.

Less commonly found are rigs like the GE BT-20A, among the smallest of the vintage broadcast transmitters at roughly the size of a standard 19-inch panel/seven-foot equipment rack. At the other end of the scale is the enormous, 2,300-pound Raytheon RA-1000. At least two examples of the Raytheon have made it to the ham bands.

A company that had a foot in both the broadcast and ham radio camps was the Collins Radio Co., founded by the late Art Collins, W0CXX. Well-regarded for quality amateur receivers and transmitters, the company’s broadcast transmitter offerings now enjoy special status in the vintage community.

The 1946-49 Collins 300-G has a viewing window surrounded by chrome to show off a row of 810 triodes from left to right. In a darkened room, it looks like a quad of barn lanterns at full wick, very impressive.

The same effect comes through the picture window of the Gates BC-1 and the GE XT-1, both with a quad of 833A triodes. The Bauer 707 has a similar layout using 4-400s, each glowing behind a glass chimney like the wick of a kerosene heater.

Familiar technical standards

Ham radio’s vintage specialty is one of the last venues where someone can get practical, hands-on expertise at troubleshooting radio circuitry outside of academic or workplace settings.

Experimentation takes place without the pressure of having to get “back on the air” immediately, as when a broadcast station is knocked off by a technical problem. The hobby also provides an opportunity to apply what’s been learned elsewhere to a pleasurable pasttime.

The Society of Broadcast Engineers has, for years, offered instant certification as a Broadcast Technologist to hams with the highest class of amateur licensing (“Extra” Class). This is in recognition of the technical achievement involved in passing ham radio’s most rigorous FCC exam on circuit fundamentals.

In the Amateur licensing structure, federal regulators have discontinued a challenging high-speed Morse code requirement. This challenge had, in recent years, been cited as an obsolete holdover that often blocked many broadcast engineers from joining Amateur radio. Now, any of the shortwave ham licenses require only an entry-level, slow-speed code test. License exams continue to be conducted by certified teams of volunteers.