Disappearing Ham Radio History - Hope for the Future

[@edwardsiclari9235]

I'm 72 and a licensed ham for about 46 years now. This video brought back so many memories of when I was a little boy of the days my father used to take me to Radio Row to look at all the ham gear and surplus WWII electronics. It was a time for learning and bonding with my dad over our common interests in electronics and communications. He was an electronics engineer and I credit him for stimulating my interests in all things electronic, electrical, mechanical and harm radio. At this age, I'm rekindling my interests in the latest evolution of ham radio communications especially digital modes of communication. 73

[@restoredoutboards]

This is like “A Christmas Story” for ham operators. The storytelling is amazing! Fluid…great pace and just enjoyable. Thank you for this classic piece of history.

[@flash001USA]

It really is like a Christmas Story for ham operators or any radio enthusiast who love this kind of stuff.

[@derrickbaranowsky5715]

Radio Row in Manhattan sounds absolutely magical to have had growing up... maybe close to heaven on earth? What a great story and presentation. I always looked at ARRL membership as a useless money grab, but I had no idea they were advocating for us hams by taking on the FCC. Sounds like I should re-evaluate my stance there. I recently found what I believe to be the last mic to come off the assembly line at the old Astatic Factory in Youngstown, OH during WWII and presented to someone high up in the company signed by the factory workers. I hope to someday do a video here to share on this.

[@Ira06002]

Your presentation reminds me why I’m a proud member of the AWA. Tom - Loved hearing your “Radio Row” memories. 73 - Steve (K1KTF)

[@ehayes5217]

ur wealth of experience is, without any doubt whatsoever, truly impressive & enviable!🇺🇸😃

[@s1718dm4]

What a wonderful presentation! Thoroughly enjoyed it! Remember traveling to NY to the FCC office to take my 2nd class Radiotelephone test. Walking up the stairs while listening to those coming down the stairs saying how hard it was. Scared to heck! I passed and that started my radio career. David W2QU

[@joewong3115]

I salute you. I started working as a professional radio operator in 58. I used Collins equipments when I was working as radician at the DEW lines.. Yep your Dad had money.

[@MakeDoAndMend1]

Great video. Love the narrative. I have just returned to the Hobby. Only to find the clubs near me have all closed. The shows/market stalls have also closed where I would go and buy Ham stuff. Local 2m Vhf and 70cm repeaters have been shut down. Packet radio is non existent. Most of my original contacts are silent keys. But I am still hopeful it will become better for me .cheers from old George "Michael " G1BKI in the UK.

[@sandycove777]

Wonderful idea to sell your equipment and making the past into the future for others. I am envious of all your years of ham enjoyment. Just received my tech license but a I'm 67 year old newbie. KQ4KUO 73 😊😊

[@josephhara4777]

Wonderful story of Ham radio history. I was impressed with old history about Radio row in NYC.

[@rayinpau.s.a.6351]

Hi Tom , As I have enjoyed electronics since I was a little boy in the 60's . I would take a part my Christmas gifts (Radios) to see what made them work . As I got older and took notice to CB Radios with tubes in them ,. I was hooked . I have been into electronics since . It seems no one is collecting or using them any more . It was a lot of fun for me . Thank You Tom for sharing your dreams and conversation .

[@richardspiek1401]

GREAT job Tom ! Hope many take the time to watch your whole presentation. 73...Rich N3JLR

[@josephsawicki9335]

OMG This is such a Happy and yet Sad storie at the same time the history and the life of you and your Ham operators is Wonderful I wish i could have seen Radio Row with yous Thank you for all the Great stories and the some of the nicest people on earth who pioneered what we have today, Call me old fashion but i wish we could go back again, I say that every time i watch this channel and all you folks that lived it Thanks again Joe.

[@KaL_Terow]

Enjoyed your story immensely! Gracias Tom. "Keep The Faith"! 73 Jorge

[@luistapia642]

Hi Tom ,Congratulation wonderful story , remember my early time looking behind the receiver , blue ligth for 6V6 dancing with the sound.73. CE3LTR.

[@johnrieley1404]

Great story, you had perseverance even as a kid. I used to go mostly to Canal Street in the 70s for my needs, after Radio-Row was done for. I got licensed in 1961. Well, NY has sure changed. Bless you, your work, and hobby. John, W8JO

[@josephd514]

Just shared the link to this video to Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association of Gloucester Massachusetts. I’m 40 so only certain parts pertained to me. NEAR Fest. As well as a couple other things mentioned. Very interesting. So I passed it along to the older Hams for maybe some memories of the past. Thank you for such a well narrated segment. KC1LWT 73!!

[@fargoalspach557]

I only got into it radio last year and so far it’s been a blast, I’ve only played on CB, but this is something I might consider moving forward. The youth of today need to be immersed in radio if we hope to keep it alive. Great video

[@clytle374]

Amazing, thanks for sharing. I missed out on all those days. Born in the 70s, got my license about 2 years ago and rebuilt an old Heathkit HW-101, then one for my dad, then one as a spare. Then a pair of SB-200s for him and I. I have been rebuilding old tube stuff for years now, test gear mostly. My oldest memories are from Radioshack and testing tubes there. Fair Radio sales just announced they are closing.

[@BrassLock]

Interesting story of your "recent" life as a HAM. But sad that companies are still closing up business just as a possible revival is about to emerge from a younger generation. I got interested in listening to Short Wave Radio broadcasts in 1953 in isolated Perth, Western Australia, and continued doing that until recently, but now distracted by the immediacy and ease of the Smartphone Internet. I never learned Morse Code 😮 so it was really interesting to hear these stories today.

[@robertklein1316]

Hi Tom, enjoyed your ham sandwich, I remember going to to radio row in the late 40's with my father to buy television sets and portable radios. The TV sets looked more like an oscilloscope with maybe a 6" screen and also buy a magnifier or a colored sheet.

[@merrillbancroft7013]

Excellent work Tom. One of the best presentations I have seen. Possibly THE best. Merrill Bancroft.

[@lomgshorts3]

East Bloomfield, NY? I remember Bruce Kelly (W2ICE) and the museum very well. Bruce was instrumental in me getting interested in radio back in the late 70's. He found me an Elmer when I wanted my Ham License. The AWA was not just interesting, but a wonderful collection of Broadcast and Radio history all in four walls. Anyone who visited there had to be curious about the exhibits from an original spark gap transmitter to the progression of black and white cameras to “living color“. 78RPM recordings of old radio broadcasts on Victrola machines. All so very interesting. You have got to visit the AWA museum if you care anything about Radio!

[@BastHoen]

Fantastic video and story! Watched it and could relate to it! Thank you, best 73 Bas PA5BAS

[@peterwaine923]

What a lovely story, something similar with me, brought memories back of the good old days of our hobby, the challenge as somewhat gone out of it today with modern radio and parts basically mass produced and often a repair now or build is just plug in boards already produced. Lovely story sir , 73 De M0JFK

[@Mike-v9k5t]

Awesome video Tom. All the best 73. Mike

[@markanderson8066]

Thank you, Tom!

[@garyimmelman7059]

This is a wonderful video pertaining to our beloved hobby! Many nostalgic memories were re-awakend! Thank you so much Tom! 73 Gary ZS6YI

[@SB-it3hr]

Bravo Tom, enjoyed every minute especially the cameo appearance of the Collins radio repair van.

[@richarddegen6184]

Started in the late 50's playing with an old Zenith console shortwave radio, my Elmer in 1962 was my Jr High shop teacher, W0DPB....gave me the novice exam which I finally passed, was WN0EQV...first workable station was an Eico cw transmitter with a 6146 final, Hallicrafters SX140 receiver and a folded dipole made from 300 ohm twinlead.........played with a Knight kit tube type CB after that..........1974........same elmer gave me the novice exam again, WN0NBA...............later that year, FCC exam in St Paul, MN........passed General exam with the code at 13wpm............still a ham WB0NBA....50 yrs same call.....some years of little activity, but still at it! , built and operated lots of Heathkit stuff in the 70"s.........didn't have much money then. still have a couple boatanchors ( Swan 500C and Kenwood TS520) that I operate along with modern Yaesu stuff.......not much effort to get licensed nowdays, get online, couple weeks memorizing test questions, get out your checkbook or C Card, buy latest gear, now your'e an Extra class in a few months........very apparent when on the bands nowdays..

[@CanuckHam]

Wow what a Wonderful Presentation!

[@N1IA-4]

Great job!! I, as somehow who started out at the tender age 15 on CB radio and becoming a ham 4 years later in 1979, I'm still active and doing various projects and operating CW and FT8. Old school stuff is great, but so is the new stuff. Ham radio must keep moving forward in order for it to survive. 73 de Scott, W1AL

[@DonBrowne]

Excellent presentation and photos!

[@johncloar1692]

Thanks for such a wonderful video, it was pleasure watching this video.

[@DucatiMTS1200]

Great recounting Tom - thanks for all your work and presentation material. Most enjoyable. 73 de GI8WFA William.

[@johnrees44..G4EIJ]

WOW!! Tom.. Difficult to find the words for this one 😊.. We are geographically thousands of miles apart and our “ham radio paths”, although similar in some ways, are, of course, different..but what we have shared in the past is the excitement of discovering for ourselves, radio communication, and the “buzz” we get from seeing, making, and touching the amazing devices that make communication by radio possible.. What you have published here on YT should be compulsory viewing for all “would be” ham radio ops.. It is, without doubt, the most interesting of the many hundreds of videos I have ever watched on YT over the years. The oration is absolutely brilliant.. We don’t need to see your face to catch your smiles during the video. I’m so glad I caught this one, Tom.. We’ll done.. and I look forward to your next masterpiece.. Best 73.. John.. G4EIJ

[@W8TJM]

Incredible collection of ham radio artifacts in your video. Nicely done.

[@jeromewhelan6723]

WOW! What an enjoyable story teller you are. I started with my ticket at 15 in 1963, and I could still see remnants of the era when hams built their own equipment from war surplus parts, or converted stuff like ARC-5's. I never left the Arlington, Virginia area at that time, but I remember RITCO electronics in Alexandria, where the unfinished dirt floor basement was filled with row after row of WW-II military surplus. KEY Electronics was within walking distance of my home and I brought home many surplus parts for my first transmitter. I chuckled at numerous points in your talk where you discussed putting up a "stealth" antenna with your dad... My first antenna was so. Thanks much for the education and entertainment. AB3SX.

[@wacoflyer]

Fantastic presentation Tom! I thoroughly enjoyed it! (Ken - NEVEC Member)

[@gerardosullivan1642]

A great presentation that will open people’s eyes to radio.

[@KB2OXR]

Thank you so very much for this video. One of the things that really upsets me about the new hams is, they do not want to know anything about the history and the true art of radio . It really makes me sad . When you speak to new hams about how it was back in the day , they call us old ,sad hams and other choice phrases . I am only 61 but, I grew up around radio . My dad had a radio shop and I grew up right outside of Ft. Monmouth ,home of the Signal School. Bell Labs was a few miles to the north , Camp Evens a few miles south . I was right in the middle of it all . Even though I did not get licensed until the early 90's , I came up the old school way and I am very proud of that . I hold the traditions of this hobby very close . When the old hams in my area found out I had a great love for messing with old tube gear and CW ,they were so happy to see someone with the same love for radio they had when they were young . Thats how I ended up with a house FULL of parts , radios and all kinds of cool stuff to play with . Sadly, New HAMS just dont understand . They dont want to understand . I understand that things change but, the changes in this hobby ,to me have not been good . New HAMS dont learn theory , they memorize the Q&A and learn nothing . Now a day ,if you cant plug a PC into it ,they dont want anything to do with it . Anyway , I really enjoyed this video . 73 KB2OXR/DV3

[@basshorseman998]

Thank you Tom, great look at the hobby. Listened straight through.

[@AmericanConstellation]

This is such a great video. I laughed and also welled up with tears. Just a great story. Thank you for sharing this.

[@OhmSteader]

Makes me feel better about keeping my old stuff.

[@kc8tyk86]

Very nice listen, Don't worry Ham Radio will live on. It's a ever evolving hobby. I know several younger hams who enjoy pounding brass. Myself I enjoy listening to others and the aspects that excite them with all the avenues you can go. We have our share of problems on 80 and 40 that need cleaned up but considering the vast group of people that is just a small percentage. My thoughts are we need to offer more Elmering to anyone who seeks it and follow through with multiple contacts. Just my view point. Keep up the Great Videos!

[@mikehartmann5187]

Great video. Thanks for putting this together!

[@TheArtofEngineering]

Homebrew is soooo satisfying ....thanks so much for this presentation, absolutely loved it.

[@matambale]

Loved every second, sir. Thank you for this.

[@GoldSeals]

Great Story,Thanks for sharing,been a ham since the mid 70's..73's WA4WXX

[@Superfandangoo]

An absolutely wonderful early radio life story, I was rivited and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing

[@HannoBehrens]

Thank you very much for sharing! I had the honor to get the daughter of a good friend of mine (12) first through a telegraphy course, which she aced, then through the A-license course (13), which is the highest license in Germany. Smart as a razor, that girl. We have another kid (15) who has gotten his license at 14, so there is happening a lot here in Germany. HAM radio is surely not dying. Our next telegraphy course here in Hamburg is stuffed full to the brim with applicants. We will see, if they'll survive it to the end. 73 + DE DL7HH TU ..

[@ronsaunders3978]

Tom, found your story interesting. I am reminded of the story of VE7AZ, Shorty McDonald who started off as a sparker during WW1 and carried on until he went QRT I think in the 80s. I worked VE8RCS back in the 70s, Shorty worked 14147.5 every morning passing phone patch traffic for us to various locations around the Vancouver area. At that time we were using the Collins S line with a full wavelength log periodic on a 75 ft tower, could talk to just about anywhere.

[@daveN2MXX]

Amazing stories. Really nice job!! Thank you! 73 from NJ N2MXX

[@brucebuckeye]

Tom, that was wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@maxasaurus3008]

What a magical tale, a very fulfilling life so far. Thank you for telling the tale ❤.

[@WirelessMuseum]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jeanburgos3416]

What a wonderful era that inspired so many. Thank you for sharing your journey.

[@ThaloBlue432]

Thanks for sharing... Very informative...

[@TheArtofEngineering]

I was born too late....got 6 years at sea as ship's RO.....but missed the golden years of ham and radio in general! 73 de VK2AOE

[@georgezardecki2545]

Great story Tom. Thank you.

[@Mr07008]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful video ! 73 John

[@andersonbargas2255]

Awesome!! Thanks for sharing this with all of us. 73

[@drstrangelove09]

Man, was that ever informative and invaluable!!! Thank you, sir!!!

[@justinrayguitars6024]

A very wonderful video. Great story from the past.

[@vladtepes481]

Tom, as usual a great presentation.

[@AJMjazz]

Thank you. This is a great presentation on the past, present, and future relevance of amateur radio and the tirtiary benefits thereof.

[@brianyoung9014]

Thats quite a story, Thanks for sharing it with us. 73.

[@ehayes5217]

That was really interesting, as I think pretty much all hams can identify with ur early fascination with radio & beyond; ur story of when u went to take ur test felt similar to mine (which for me was in the mid-1970's); & boy, I bet Radio Row WAS something to see! Again, enjoyed ur story & thanx for posting, 73 de WA4ELW in TN 🇺🇸 dit dit 😃

[@Mikek2bn]

Tom that was a wonderful presentation of prior and current ham history., I especially enjoyed the radio row photos. Since we lived one long island I rarely got the chance to tour the area but I remember Arrow and Harrison quite well. Great places. My first good receiver was a 75A3 but I never built such an elaborate station. I had a B&W 5100 with a SSB adaptor but college days interrupted my operating time and military service took care of the rest of my early years. Thanks for the great work and I know you never buried all that great old gear. Mike K2BN

[@Nathriel]

I'd be absolutely shocked it he did!

[@josephrogers5337]

Some years ago in Florida I had a neighbor's who had been a dealer on Radio Row, a Mr Priestus.

[@Subgunman]

Fair Radio is still in business in northwestern Ohio! We did loose Mendelsons in Dayton several years ago, a surplus shop that started by selling military electronics surplus equipment. In Columbus, Ohio back in the 80’s we slowly lost Starr Surplus an electronics shop as well as Fox-Wood Surplus which was a surplus shop that dealt with a little of everything. All gone now from Columbus. Radio Shack purchased Allied Electronics which had a better selection of electronic parts and supplies than radio shack had in the early years. Today I still have a collection of Motorola MX 300 series radios including the first synthesized MX portable. Some converta comms for these radios allowing one to use the MX as a mobile. Have a low band high split Mitrek mobile that is waiting to be converted to a 6 meter repeater. Even have several GE MASTR II series of radios, mobiles, mobiles converted to repeaters as well as a MII repeater from the factory which has the true FM exciter. Too bad that ICM closed up, finding decent crystals for these old reliable radios. Bengali got his start making knitting machines for home and industrial settings.

[@stichter51]

Really enjoyed your video, Tom. Took me back to MY time in the attic as a kid. NPR used to air a segment called "Lost and Found Sound". One of the episodes from 2005 was all about Radio Row. Here's a link if you're interested. Thanks for all your effort!

[@jessemargolis]

This is fabulous, I am the grandson of W2AZK

[@aerofart]

Great stories. What an amazing time to be alive. It’s interesting to see the parallels between this era and the era of computers. Same fanaticism, same passion, (slightly) different gear.

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

👍Fascinating story. Thank you for sharing. I did not know about Radio Row or that Heathkit started out making aircraft.

[@rpsmith]

Very interesting presentation! Thank you so much, Tom! --- N0ROY

[@lyledal]

This was wonderful!

[@leonrigdon2788]

In my garage, there is a Motorola base station about six feet tall, with three meters across the top. The door has a key lock, and inside there are several separate chassis connected together. It must weigh over 200 pounds and cannot be moved. Someone I know suggested we strip out all the electronics and use the cabinet as a gun rack, but we haven't done it yet. Built like a tank. Today the same hookup would be about the size of a cigar box.

[@mikecolley-]

Awesome, Thank You

[@ehayes5217]

Oh my gosh, a "Collins Repair Van," that's amazing, as I never even knew they had a repair man, much less someone who'd make house calls, Wow!😮 de WA4ELW in TN 🇺🇸😀

[@AA5MC]

One of the best video I seen in a while . Nice job!!

[@alanpecherer5705]

I love my memories of Radio Row in NYC. Living in New Jersey I would take the bus or PATH trains into NYC, sometimes the Newark subway to Hoboken, and spend the whole day walking around Radio Row. I'd make that trip when I was 10, 12 years old. Imagine wandering around NYC at that age. This was 1965-1967. Radio Row was probably a lot different right after WW2 when megatons of radio surplus flooded the market, but was still amazing when I visited there. That area, Canal St, wasn't just radio, at that time it had a tremendous variety of businesses. Metalworking machinery, fat rendering, sewing machines, leather production gear, wholesale everything. It was dirty and gritty and beautiful in its way. Of course, the greatest thing about it was the stimulation of my imagination. I could wander around NYC for hours, once I walked from Canal St to Columbus circle, at least 60 blocks. All those grizzled NY guys who owned those shops, I was a kid scraping quarters together. "Whaddya think, kid, I'm in this business for my health?" Classic. The rustier the piece of crap you picked up and asked for price on, the higher the price. You were awfully lucky starting out with a Collins receiver. My goodness, even then Collins stuff was the Cadillac of gear and that receiver must have cost a solid 2 weeks of a working man's wage.

[@joebloe4374]

420 dollars 1950 That's 5500 dollars in today's money 3600 a year median salary So almost 1 1/2 months salary

[@blugoose86]

I couldn't sleep so I got back up and found this. What a wonderful story. I cringed when you said you buried all those radios. You got me!!! Then I thought, how cool it would be to seal up one of those radios and hide it somewhere in the city and sell the scavenger hunt map with clues to find it. I think I'll bring up this idea to my local club. It might be a good draw on field day. Anyway, thank you so much Tom, for sharing your story with us. de James KA9TII

[@tomperry2896]

Me too especially when I saw that SB220 in the loaded in the loader. I spent many nights building my first two. One 220 for me and a 1000 for a local CB'er who needed more power who paid for both kits. Not proud of doing that but it put me on the air with a "Big Sig" I was young and had baby twins at time. If I spent the diaper money on more Han gear I probably wouldn't have lived to this day.

[@patthegunsmith]

How wonderful! Thank you so much for this. Best Regards de Pat KC2EEB

[@michaelhesterberg702]

I had to learn the code, and am VERY proud to say I still can copy code albeit very slowly. I am now a general licensee. I can't imagine why the code requirement was cut out? Anyone who really wanted to be a ham learned the code, now anyone can pass the test like it was the cb application or something.

[@DoubleQz]

Thanks for sharing.

[@xenia5101]

A great story well told. I too grew up during the war and collected all the TRF radios stored in attics as well as buying surplus equipment by mail. In high school I worked in a radio and tv repair shop after reading the owners correspondence course texts. My upward path deviated from amateur radio when I joined the Air Force at 17. Many yeas later I returned and took all the exams and passed all three steps in a year. KC3VJJ

[@michaelterrell]

Diversity recption was developed for Military communications, where they wanted to monitor the low grade portable radios. Separate antennas were spaced far enough apart so when the signal started to fade in the main channel a second or third receiver would continue to provide a usable signal. The technology hasn't gone away. In fact, Deep Space Telemetry uses diversity reception. I've work on both Analog and Digital systems. The Analog receives used a linear, 0 to 5V AGC system. The control circuit used 14 op amps to allow the pair of receivers to track from Zero on one receiver to 5 volts on the other. Any fade automatically adjust the output to maintain the signals to under 1.5mV error.

[@ehayes5217]

I got my Novice in 1973 & I do rembr Arrow Electronics; in fact, I think I still have one of their catalogues! de WA4ELW in TN 🇺🇸😀

[@PhG1961]

Awesome video!

[@gn1656]

Nicely done ! 73

[@carlubambi5541]

Awesome to hear people backing up their product ..I have an interest in getting into armature radio but there is just too much politics to get your radio licence in Toronto Canada .And the crazy part is that there are a few ham operators with1000 feet from my house .Something to do about getting into a club and so on

[@ricomputermuseum1107]

The transmitter at 21:58 is at the New England Wireless and Steam Museum.

[@ehayes5217]

...& thank you for the history of Radio Shack & especially that of Heathkit; I've never seen such an expansive, chronological listing, quite interesting since my first rig as a Novice was the DX-60B xmtr, HR-10B rcvr & later, the HG-10B external VFO (since, when I got my ticket, using a VFO was then allowable) de WA4ELW 🇺🇸😃

[@martineastburn3679]

I have the knowledge, parts and time to time want to. Just never got the skinny. No one uses parts anymore from what I know. Heath Kit was great in their day. I used them extensively in the 70's.

[@freedomfighter1000]

thank you so much.

[@HarryHamsterChannel]

Terrific stuff from a historical standpoint. Things sure have changed, eh?

[@johnnyjohn6527]

enjoyed this story

[@ovalwingnut]

W.O.N.D.E.F.U.L Thank you for this video. You RoCk! Cheers from So. CA. 3rd House on the Right. p.s. Holy smoke! I didn't know about the "telegraph" during the civil war. This is going straight onto my resume!

[@miker8379]

Wonderful

[@daveslifeover65]

Hello Tom loved your story. i to built a Heathkit, it was a HR10B receiver. I just couldn't get it to work. So I sent it back and they called me back and said that it worked just fine. they returned it to me promptly. i plugged it in hooked up to my long wire antenna and guessed what! no sound no nothing. After some head scrathing i figured it out. On the back of the rig was an Octal socket which if you had the companion transmitter would disable the receiver while transmitting. heathkit inclided a plug which i was susposed to jumper two pins so it would receive. you probably guessed what the problem was. I was in such a hurry after finishing the build, that i jumpered the wrong pins. Once repaired i spent several long hours after school listening to hams and short wave stations. in 1970 i got my ticket and was on the air.

[@3Swillems]

Wonderfull storytelling! Thank you sir! De on5dri