I remember P.A. for .19 cents a can. Old Judge coffee cans along with Rex coffee cans made good "tea drinkin cans". Saw awhile back in an antique shop P.A. cans sellng for $8. each--empty! Vacume tube radios were the finest thing to come along in a long time and was made only better by R.E.A. No more draggin in the Model A battery to play the radio on Sat. nite. Just turn'r on and lett'r rip! Why we even got to listen almost every night without fussin and beggin to just get to listen. Pappy was always right there a listening also. "Lum Eddards" and "Abner Peabody", Fibber McGee and Molly, Louisana Hayride-all kinds of Southern Gospel. Nuff to quiet the most troublesome soul and everyday ailments. My first ham radio was a Heathkit DX 60 Transmitter and R14 receiver. Had an external VFO and was not even crystal controlled. I was in seventh heaven! First contact was on 80 meters with a LONG dipole about 6 ft above the ground. "Talked" to Madisonville, Ky via code. I have new solid state rigs now but seldom use'm. I prefer the old, obsolete tube jobbies. Drake TR 4-C thats "sooped" to the gills. When you key it those old tubes glow PURPLE! Dims the lights in the house, makes the t.v. screen pull a little and oh the smell of wax capacitors and waxed wiring inside the unit!!! [for those wondering,---yes, i'm running legal power--about 350 watts out but can run 2,000]. Fresh fish from the river or backwaters was always good eatin in the springtime when water was fresh and plentiful. It would kinda wash the mud from those big old "hogs" and make'm fit to eat. Deep fried with cornbread [before we ate hushpuppies] would make a feast for the hungeriest of country folks. My how time flies! Matt. 24:44

-- hoot gibson (hoot@otbnet.com), June 30, 2000

Answers

hoot, You know I know about Prince Albert in a can and Old Rex coffee and even Lum and Abner but there rest of that about your ham radio is like speaking french to me. But it sounds like you are having fun and that's what counts right? karen ps I miss the fried catfish caught on a hook down at the creek and cooked in an iron skillet with fried potatoes.

-- Karen Mauk (dairygoatmama@hotmail.com), July 01, 2000.

Darn it Hoot, let Prince Albert out! Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), July 03, 2000.