Month: June 2020

No Main-Tuning Reduction Drives in Stock Drake 2-Bs — But why no mod articles?

Alan Wolke W2AEW and I were recently discussing our Drake 2-Bs (again!). Both of our receivers have reduction drives between the main tuning control and the string mechanism that moves the main tuning capacitor. I wondered if these were the results of modifications by previous 2-B owners. I vaguely recall that my Elmer — Hilmar WB2NEC — had done this sort of mod.

OM Wouter ZS1KE sent me this very illuminating photo of the inside of his Drake 2-B. No reduction drive. So Alan and I obviously have modified 2-Bs.

One thing that puzzles me: I can’t seem to find a single article that describes this apparently common mod. Does anyone know of an article in the ham magazines that might have described how to do this?

Thanks again Wouter!


“The Radio Collector” A TV Series from 1985

Here is a really nice five part series of PBS TV programs about the history of radio and about restoring old radios. I got a kick out of W6AM’s description of the “exam” that got him his first radio license — you will find that story at the end of the first episode (above).

Here are all five of the progams:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLTogcYJemH5Oc_W8Q4gsae4a0zHvi5L8&fbclid=IwAR1H1Eq1vqMb_-MntRvPId5f_UpU5h-KJVtz2Wj8ijbTmSusr1BmGvcAROk

 And here is the background info (from the YouTube Channel):

The Radio Collector from the California Historical Radio Society

5 videos 156 views Last updated on May 25, 2020

The 5-part PBS series from 1985, “Radio Collector” was nominated for a Los Angeles Area Emmy for Best Informational Series. Radio Collector was shot in 1985 on 3/4″ video, a marginal format that boasted 240 lines of resolution. It was edited 3/4″ to 3/4″ using a control track/insert cuts-only editor, then that 2nd generation 3/4″ was transferred to 2″ at KOCE in Southern California where the credits were added. KOCE sent it to PBS and it was available to all member stations, and it has been aired on many stations. Mike Adams’ students in Radio-TV-Film at California State University, Fullerton, were the camera operators, musicians, etc. Twenty eight years later CHRS President Steve Kushman transferred a copy of a copy of a copy of the master which went from 2nd generation 3/4″ to 2″ to 1″ to Beta SP to his computer. The story has held up well, and of course many of those profiled here are silent keys/valves. Mike’s inspiration for this series was the original “This Old House,” thus “This Old Radio.” Enjoy

Adam N0ZIB’s FB Station (and UGLY Michigan Mighty Mite)


 Bill and Pete,


Thanks for the work you put into your podcast. I’ve been listening to it on my commute and while at work (I’m a welder/fabricator). Fantastic content. Keep up the great work.

All your talk about Farhan and the Ubitx convinced me to order one. I welded an aluminum case for it and upgraded to the Nextion 3.5” screen. Also added a tuning knob from a Heathkit SB-401. So far I’m really enjoying this rig. Plan to add an audio amp (to drive a larger speaker) and a CW filter to it this weekend. In the station picture I sent I also show my paddles made from a hacksaw blade and stainless steel hardware. It’ll send 25 WPM before it gets a little sloppy. My QCX 40 is also pictured. I have a commercial rig too but find I’m not using it very often.

Plan to start building the simpleceiver soon and maybe a bitx 17 too. Your podcast played a big part in convincing me to pick up a soldering iron again. You guys are awesome. Keep it up.

73’s
Adam
N0ZIB

(Pete noticed that the main tuning knob on Adam’s uBITX was NOT from Heathkit but was instead from a Collins KWM-2 or 32S3. He advised Adam that the knob would sell quickly on e-bay. It did, and will finance additional N0ZIB homebrew projects. We are thinking of adding these knobs to our SolderSmoke Retirement Fund Portfolio.)
Adam continues:

I was listening to your older podcasts and heard several discussions about the Michigan Mighty Mite. So this jumbled up mess probably doesn’t look like much but I built one. I need to order a 40 meter crystal and actually build it again on a board(with the coil rewound for 40) but my “proof of concept” build was a success. Using a variable cap from a Hallicrafters S20-R and the crystal holder from a Heathkit.