READING RADIO CLUB

INCORPORATED

P. O. BOX 13777

READING, PA 19612-3777

83 YEARS OF AMATEUR RADIO

Founded in 1921 / Incorporated in 1956

Affiliated with ARRL in February, 1922

1931 - 2001

70 YEARS OF HISTORY - INTO THE 3RD. MILLENIUM!

W3PFT W3BN W3CCH

TABLE OF CONTENTS - CHAPTERS

INTRODUCTION ........................... 1

Early Amateurs and Experimenters ....... 2

Reading Naval Reserve Radio Association 3

Reading Shortwave League ............... 4

Membership ............................. 5

Honorary Members ....................... 6

Meeting Locations ...................... 7

Attendance ............................. 8

Entertainment .......................... 9

Visits by ARRL Officials .............. 10

PUBLIC SERVICE ........................ 11

Field Day - Emergency Preparations .... 12

Contests .............................. 13

Pagoda Award .......................... 14

The Reading Radio Club Bulletin ....... 15

Officers .............................. 16

Board of Directors .................... 17

Banquets .............................. 18

Picnics ............................... 19

The RRC 6 and 2 Meter Repeaters ....... 20

Quarter Century Wireless Association .. 21

Amateur License Plates ................ 22

Volunteer Examiner Program 0........... 23

Special Service Club .................. 24

SILENT KEYS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 25

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION

The Reading Radio Club is an organization of amateur radio operators, for the purpose of furthering the interest in amateur radio, promoting a fraternal spirit among amateurs and all person's. interested in radio communications, assisting each other wherever possible and helping potential amateurs in securing their operating licenses.

The Reading Radio Club became affiliated with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) in February 1922 and again in March 1941 and the affiliation is renewed each year by submitting a club report to the ARRL indicating club membership and activities and affirming that a majority of club member are also members of the ARRL.

Amateur radio is a hobby and is the only hobby licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Reading Radio Club cooperates with the FCC in providing volunteer examiners when needed locally and in solving radio frequency interference problems when they arise.

In December, 1956, the Reading Radio Club became incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania. By-Laws were drawn up and adopted so as to define 20 articles such as: Membership, Dues, Meetings, Duties of Officers, Duties of Board of Directors, Nominations, Elections and Terms of Office. The Off icers consist of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Each Officer serves a one year term. The Board of Directors consist of nine members from which the officers are elected. Each Director serves a three year term.

The Reading Radio Club is a general interest club, that is, individual members enjoy participation in any or all of the interesting phases of amateur radio.

The Reading Radio Club adopts an annual budget consisting of about 12 items in order to establish financial goals. Sufficient insurance is carried each year to cover general liabilities.

A monthly news bulletin is published - printed or Email - and amateur radio classes are conducted as needed for the growth and betterment of the club and it's members.

The club has had an active Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) net which has essentially been included with the weekly "ON AIR" meetings. RACES is affiliated with the Berks County Emergency Management Agency (Civil Defense). The club also had an active Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) net which is affiliated with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).

The history of the Reading Radio Club is presented here in the following chapters for those who may be interested in the hobby and in the Reading Radio Club. It is expected that future amateur radio operators will bring this history of the Reading Radio Club up to date at least every ten years.

The following organizations and individuals have directly or indirectly contributed to the information contained in these chapters:

CHAPTER 2 Edward Clammer, W3BDI > W3UN

CHAPTER 2,3 Elmer Frantz, W3FSQ

CHAPTER 4 Stewart Ringler, W3EYN

CHAPTER 11 Reading Eagle Company, ARRL, W3WJC

CHAPTER 20 Richard E. Ahrens, W3WJC

CHAPTER 22 James Cochran, W3MLY

CHAPTER 23 Harry Hoffman, W3VBY

CHAPTER 24 Brian Beitler, KC3QB

The most recent prior history of the Reading Radio Club was primarily the efforts of RRC Secretary Al Brailer, W3UQC; Al compiled data, typed, edited and literally published the 60th Anniversary of RRC History in 1991. Al has also provided all the information to bring the history up to date for this 70th Anniversary of RRC History edition. Conversion from the original computer printouts to PC compatible RTF formats (MS WordPad) with some retyping was performed by W. Frank Esseluhn, K3MGO, using an Microtek X6EL scanner and OCR (optical character recognition) software. The RRC will be needing a new historian, preferably some interested RRC amateur who can and will maintain this RRC history well into the 21st century.

CHAPTER 2 EARLY AMATEURS and EXPERIMENTERS

The first known local experimenter in the new hobby of "wireless communications" was William H. Wagner who in 1908 went on record as claiming to be the first in the Reading area. He became so advanced in his new hobby so that three tears later, in 1912, he was able to intercept the sinking HMS TITANIC's wireless CQD distress call at his West Reading home on the site of the former "Eckerts Hill" which is located near 3rd and Chestnut Streets. After four years of wireless experimenting, William H. Wagner applied to the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Navigation and was issued license No. 1072 and was assigned the call letters 3KL in 1913 to become, as he claimed, Reading's first licensed amateur radio operator.

About this same time , two Reading Boys High School students started developing an interest in wireless communications. Harold 0. Landis was issued a Department of Commerce, Bureau of Navigation license, 3LP in 1313 and Harold E. Schearer was assigned 3MB in 1918. Except for the added W prefix in 1924, both retained their original wireless age issued calls unchanged in the modern radio age until they became Silent Keys in 1967 and 1990 respectively. Recorded local history does not reveal any other pre-World War I Reading amateur radio operators. All amateur related activities ceased when the U. S. entered into the war in April, 1917 until November 11, 1918.

The likely companionship of this 1918 triumvirate of 3KL, 3LP and 3MB could be interpreted as an informal beginning of the Reading Radio Club which would follow five years later in 1921. By 1921, there were about 35 wireless experimenters and about an equal number of newly licensed radio amateurs in the Reading area. Informal meetings were held at the old Reading Company YMCA building located at 8th and Green Streets, Reading, Pa., from 1921 until about 1924.

Harold Landis, 3LP organized this group of experimenters and licensed radio amateurs and applied for an amateur club station license and in 1921, the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Navigation issued license No. 1290 on May 25, 1921 and assigned the call letters 3BDP to the Reading Radio Club, 8th and Green Streets, Reading, Pa., with Harold Landis 3LP as the trustee. Spark gap equipment was located in this building and wire antennas were located on the roof . The new Reading Company YMCA building was constructed about 1928 and is located at 6th and Greenwich Streets, Reading, Pa. The old Reading Company YMCA building is still standing at 8th and Green Streets, Reading, Pa.

Harold Landis, 3LP affiliated the new Reading Radio Club, in February 1922 with the American Radio Relay League of Hartford, Connecticut.

As one of the pre-World War I licensed radio amateurs, Harold Landis, 3LP, had by this time, in 1921, become a U.S.Navy Radioman war veteran and an inspiring leader as he proved in his subsequent 46 very active years from 1921 until 1967. He was the organizer of the Reading Radio Club, he started the first commercial radio station, WRAW in Reading, he was a charter member of Local Chapter 31, Quarter Century Wireless Association, he was a charter member of the Reading Aero Club and he was a charter member of the Berks Camera Club.

To date, there are no records of membership or minutes of meetings of the first attempt to organize the Reading Radio Club in 1921; therefore, its officers and membership can only be a speculation. Appended to this chapter are lists of those early licensed radio amateurs and experimenters who probably were included as club members, based on the year they were first licensed, in 1922 or later call books.

The Reading Radio Club had to vacate the Reading Company YMCA building at 8th and Green Streets about 1924 at the request of the Reading Company and it is thought that this apparently caused the club and amateur radio station 3BDP to dissipate until 1931.

In April, 1931 Harold Landis, now W3LP, being a member of the American Legion Home, Post No. 12, 133 N. 4th Street, Reading, Pa., arranged to have a meeting at the Legion Home of previous and new prospective club members in an effort to reorganize the Reading Radio Club. Records of the reorganized club indicate that Harold Landis, W3LP, was president, Edward Clammer, W3BDI, was vice president and treasurer and Francis Liesman, W3PT, was secretary. The minutes of the April, 1931 meeting also indicate that the following were present at the first meeting:

Harold E. Schearer W3MB Donald C. Kinsey W3AUW

Wayne H. Epler W3AUU Stanton L. Bast W3CCH

Stewart H. Resch W3TF Edward S. Clammer W3BOI

Clifford S. Mauger W3VM Harold 0. Landis W3LP

Ben Bohrer W3BGG Charles F. Broskey W3AKK

Dr. F. Lee Terry W3BFK John W. Channel

Leonard Haeseler W3BBB Wilbur Kleckner W3BMM

Milton Harris Francis J. Liesman W3PT

The following joined the club a few months later:

J. Herbert Kissinger M. Leonard Savage W3UP

Edward P. Gurtowski W3BHS Harry C. Rarick W3KR

Clifford C. Trout Dr. Wayne Schearer

G. Ralph Hartman W3CRD Henry Prince

John W. Morrow W3CCV Paul F. Naftzinger W3AHF

Baker Young John M. Connely

W. Donald Turnbull Ralph G. Turnbull

Harold McCauley Charles S. Perkins W3EAT

Russell L. Roth W3DLT

 

Application was made for an amateur radio license to operate a station at the new meeting location at the American Legion Home, Post 12 located at 133 N. 4th Street, Reading, Pa. The call assigned was W3CBL. According to the Log of W3CBL for the years 1932 and 1933, this call was used by the Reading Radio Club and by the Reading Naval Reserve Radio Association.

The newly reorganized Reading Radio Club however only existed until 1933. Harold Landis W3LP called a special meeting in an attempt to organize the Reading Naval Reserve Radio Association out of the members of the Reading Radio Club. Most of the existing club members plus others became active with the new association until it also dissipated about 1935. A further attempt to reorganize the Reading Radio Club was not again realized until the beginning of 1940. On January 30, 1940, Stanton L. Bast W3CCH called a meeting of all former club members in an attempt to again reorganize the Reading Radio Club. The first meeting was held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3405, located at 326 Penn Ave., West Reading, Pa. During the first few years the club had a membership of about 75 of which about 54 were licensed amateur radio operators.

Stanton L. Bast, W3CCH, was elected president, H. Clifford Weidner, W3HPD, was elected treasurer and Steward J. Ringler, W3EYN, was elected secretary. The club reaffiliated with the American Radio Relay League of West Hartford, Connecticut, in March, 1941. During the second World War the Federal Communications Commission established the War Emergency Radio Service (WERS) and assigned the call letters WKRV to the Berks County control station located on the 19th floor of the Court House.

In 1949, the Federal Communications Commission assigned the call letters W3PFT to the Reading Radio Club. This call sign was used until 1964, when the club requested from the FCC the call sign W3CCH as a memorial to Stanton L. Bast, W3CCH, Secy. of the Reading Radio Club, who passed away in September 1957.

In 1965, The Reading Radio Club requested from the FCC the call sign W3BN as a memorial to James Marx, W3BN, president and benefactor of the Reading Radio Club, who passed away in July, 1965.

THE EARLY AMATEURS AND EXPERIMENTERS:

The prefix "W" was added to call signs beginning with "3". The (*) following a call sign indicates the amateur had more than one call, possibly due to a lapse in being licensed.

Issue Call EARLY AMATEURS: STATION ADDRESS:

Date Sign Name / Handle: City of Reading, unless otherwise.

1913 3KL William H. Wagner Eckerts Hill, West Reading

1913 3LP Harold 0. Landis 341 N. Front St.

1916 3MB Harold E. Schearer 733 Madison Ave.

1917 3GX Fred Ancona 1578 Mineral Spring Road

1917 3HT * Dr. F. Lee Terry 28 N. 2nd St.

1917 3JW Paul D. Eisenbrown 918 N. 3rd St.

1917 3OP Ralph W. Miller 136 Hudson St.

1917 3SJ Ambrose A. M. Anderson 735 Lincoln St.

1917 3UX Luther M. Biehl 1362 Mineral Spring Road

1917 3VM Clifford S. Mauger 109 S. 10th St.

1920 3AAF James J. Curry 519 Penn St.

1920 3AEB William H. Wagner 328 W. Franklin St., West Reading

1920 3AFH Harold A. Monyer 1034 Court St.

1920 3AGC * Russell B. Kutz 330 N. 10th St.

1920 3AGG Clarence C. Leinbach 952 Morey Ave., Wyomissing

1920 3AGI Fred G. Delong 141 Oley St.

1920 3AGX Chester Miraszewski 127 S. 10th St.

1920 3AHF Paul F. Naftzinger 313 Rose St.

1920 3AHG G. A. Phillips 1338 Cotton St.

1920 3AHH Leonard B. Busch 725 Pear St.

1920 3AIC Practical Arts Dept. Practical Arts Building

Reading school District 2 Cedar St.

1920 3BDI Edward S. Clammer 422 Douglas St.

1921 3APD Horace D. Good 419 Gordon St.

1921 3AQN W. G. DeLong 212 W. Elm St.

1921 3ASZ John T. Ziehler 1044 Moss St.

1921 3AUY Paul T. Kissinger 631 N. 8th St.

1921 3BAB Charles S. Perkins 337 1/2 N. 11th St.

1921 3BBO Douglas H. Fredman 148 N. 10th St.

1921 3BDP Reading Radio Club 8th and Green Sts.

1921 3BEY Ralph Jones 840 Front St.

1921 3BMM Donovan Geyer 112 S. 8th St.

1921 3BLB Elwood C. Boote 231 N. 4th St.

1921 3BSR Charles H. Kaufman 1508 N. 8th St.

1921 3BTF * Stewart J. Resch 556 N. 10th St.

1921 3BVD Sherman L. Eaton 915 N. 4th St.

1921 3CBY John H. Williams 329 McKnight St.

1921 3CCH Stanton L. Bast 222 N. 2nd St.

1921 3CDS Russell W. Frederick 365 Schuylkill Avenue

1922 3CBL Charles J. Stocker 330 N. 2nd St.

1922 3CJP Harold A. Stoudt 1011 Washington St.

1922 3CKC Melvin Swillinger 342 Crestmont St.

1923 3AUW Donald C. Kinsey 1040 N. 5th St.

1923 3GA Clifford C. Trout 553 N. 13th St.

1924 W3PT Francis J. Liesman 940 Elm St.

1924 W3VB L. Lewis 842 Green St.

1925 W3KE Harry C. Rarick 1121 N. 11th St.

1925 W3TF * Stewart H. Resch 1031 Douglass St.

1928 W3AGS Francis A. Sharadin 183 Main St., Kutztown

1928 W3AHS Harry S. Lewis 830 Thorn St.

1928 W3AJP Clark F. Koffke 557 N. 11th St.

1928 W3AKK Charles F. Broskey 27 Crestmont St.

1928 W3AQH* Russell B. Kutz 330 N. 10th St.

1928 W3AST Wayne H. Epler 524 N. 13th St.

1928 W3PA Pennsylvania State Police 259 Penn Avenue, West Reading

1929 W3CCV John W. Morrow 100 Penn Avenue, Wernersville

1929 W3LG C. W. Dentzer 1204 N. 6th St.

1929 W3TC W. Redcay 832 Mulberry St.

1929 W3ANX P. K. Musselman 54 S. Miller St., Shillington

1929 W3AX Chester J. Angstadt 615 Walnut St.

1929 W3BBB Leonard W. Haeseler 1416 Alsace Road

1929 W3BCY Virginia K. Sharadin 183 Main St., Kutztown

1929 W3BKF * Dr. F. Lee Terry 28 N. 2nd St.

1929 W3BGG Ben Bohrer 35 N. 9th St.

Now, in the 21st Century, it is interesting to note that all these amateurs, excepting the Sharadins in Kutztown, could reach the Reading Radio Club easily using Public Transportation - trains, trolleys and buses running on half hour or less schedules. Not only that, but many more places to socialize and meet for eyeball QSOs.

CHAPTER 3 READING NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS RESERVE

by Lt. Elmer H. Frantz Jr., USN (Ret.), W3FQS

PROLOGUE:

The U.S. Navy and War Departments entered the 20th Century with a common Purpose of establishing a Reserve personnel category to utilize in augmenting their regular forces in times of emergency and war. Also, they desired to administer and train discharged veterans designated Reserve while they remained inactive as civilians. This common Reserve concept was eventually formalized by an Act of Congress in 1916. While it filled an immediate need, the 1916 Act and Military Departments failed to fully consider the vast pool of civilian trained talent that would be needed for rapid emergency expansion. That would have to come almost a decade later.

U.S. entry into WWI in 1917 verified the value of the Naval Reserve concept; especially its application to the new and highly skilled Amateur Wireless Operators. By the end of 1918 and WWI, the total population of Naval radio operators on active duty exceeded 5,000 spread among 150 ships and shore stations. Many of these came from the over 4,000 "Ham" Wireless Operators who entered the military services when their total population of 6,000 stations was closed down by the U.S. government at the outbreak of war in 1917. Post WWI Navy planners were duly impressed by their performance and availability as a pre-trained, ready force for emergency activation. They began developing a program to attract Amateur and Commercial Operators into a volunteer "Radio Naval Reserve Force"; it would be five years before introduction.

THE LANDIS ERAS BEGIN:

When mustered into the Navy, most of these self-trained wireless operator volunteers were designated USNR (Naval Reserve) and retained this status when discharged at war's end. One of these was Reading's own Harold 0. "Eggy" Landis 3LP who served on board USN vessels in the South Atlantic until released circa 1920 as a Petty Officer 1st Cl. Radioman.

Landis promptly reactivated his Amateur Station 3LP at his parents residence 341 N. Front St. as a modern, tube-equipped CW radio station and joined in the resurgence of Reading area Amateur Radio activity. By late 1920, he led the local Amateurs in formation of the Reading Radio Club (RRC) and, as its first President, established a Club headquarters/station in the Reading Railroad Co. YMCA building, 8th & Green Sts. As station sponsor, he applied for and received the Club's first station license 3BOP in 1921. The following year in 1922, he received a broadcast station license WRAW for his Front St. address; it survives in use to this day.

In the early 1920s, U.S. Amateur operators nationwide rallied in support of their 1914 launched American Radio Relay League (ARRL) who immediately sponsored a concerted effort to bridge the North Atlantic by ham radio on uncharted wavelengths below 200 meters (HF). Their subsequent 1923 success was noted by the U.S. Navy whose then communications system were limited to short range low and medium frequencies (LF & MF) with resulting loss of communications with ships traveling far from land stations.

Also in 1923, USN Cdr. Stanford Caldwell Hooper, reputed "Father of Naval Radio Communications" was appointed as Fleet Radio Officer on the staff of the Commander, U.S. Fleet. One of his first tasks was to solve the Navy's long distance communications problem. Aware of the ARRL Amateurs trans-Atlantic success using HF technology, Cdr. Hooper followed the progress of the Amateurs very closely.

Ever concious of his veteran status and Navy allegiance, Harold 0. Landis had meanwhile joined one of Reading's most prominent veteran organizations, the American Legion Post at 133 N. 4th St. When, by circa 1925, the RRC lost its tenant status in the YMCA building at 8th & Green Sts., Landis convinced the Legion Post officials to permit the RRC to meet in the Post building. Surviving Radio Club members of that period have expressed belief that Post officials desired to have a Naval Reserve organization within their domain and viewed Landis and his self-trained RRC operators as providing a significant step in that direction. Additionally, a series of events had and were transpiring that added to the Reserve formation picture.

In 1925, both the U.S. Army and Navy Departments approached ARRL with proposals of joint cooperation in exploitation of the unexplored HF band. The Navy.had scheduled a squadron of Fleet units to visit Australia that year and ARRL was invited to provide a typical Amateur station and Operator to accompany them. ARRL Traffic Manager Fred Schnell IMO/SBD/W3UZ/W4CF was Volunteered and set up on board the Cruiser USS SEATTLE. As a result of Schnell's demonstrated long range Amateur communication while enroute, the Navy immediately initiated a Fleet-wide program to add HF as a standard equipment augmentation.

BIRTH OF THE RADIO NAVAL RESERVE

The proliferation of amateur radio after its demonstrated WW-I Reserve Operator capability and its post war mastery of long range HF communications technology, finally galvanized the U.S. Navy into unveiling their planning for a revised and expanded "Radio Naval Reserve".

In a February 1925 QST magazine editorial, ARRL President Hiram Percy Maxim describes receipt of a letter from the Director of Naval Communications (DNC), Capt. Ridley McLean USN requesting ARRL assistance "..in the organization of a topnoch 'A Number One' Radio Naval Reserve". The stated objective was the establishment of : "A Radio Reserve Force of six thousand skilled operators in order to keep a supply of expert radio operators constantly in the pink of condition so, that in case of necessity, they are available.". Enrollments would be made in "Class 6 of the Naval Reserve Force in which there are various ratings..".

"The Director of Naval Communications will provide a course of instruction, issuing bulletins on Naval radio apparatus, Naval procedure, etc.". Additionally, if an operator desired to make application for two week duration summer training cruises on a warship, it would be so permitted. The volunteer nature of the program was stressed and interested applicants were advised to communicate with their nearest Naval District Commandant for full details.

President Maxim and his ARRL Executive Committee enthusiastically welcomed and approved the Navy's assistance request. Subsequent combined ARRL/USN diffusion of the program's availability resulted in entry of 150 the first year with a total of 4,300 by 1930. This shortfall of nearly 2,000 operators less than the original 6,000 target did not go unnoticed by the sponsors. Meanwhile, ARRL also assisted the U.S. Army in development of an Army oriented Amateur Operator Reserve that evenually produced the Army Amateur Radio System (AARS); later rwdif ied to the Military Amateur Radio Service (MARS).

THE LANDIS AND READING RESPONSE

With the previously said events having transpired, the time was ripe for initiation of a Reading based Naval Radio Reserve. Patriot and organizer par excellence Harold 0. "Eggy" Landis, 3LP, started recruiting with initial emphasis centered on his contemporary Commercial Radio Operator licensees. Under the new Reserve program they were enlisted at advanced Petty Officer levels by virtue of their commercial licenses; thus providing experienced role models for those that followed. By the end of 1926, a suggested Muster List of the first Naval Reserve enlistments for the Reading area follows: USNR Radioman 1st Class Harold O. Landis, 3LP; USNR Radioman 1st Class M. Leonard Savage, W3DHI (in 1934); USNR Radioman 2nd Class Stewart Resch, 3TF and USNR Radioman 2nd Class Francic J. Liesman, W3PT. On Landis's application shortly thereafter, the Commandant Fourth Naval District at Philadelphia recognized a Reading Radio Reserve organization headquartered in the American Legion Post, 133 N. 4th St. with RM1C Harold 0. Landis, USNR as its Petty Officer-in Charge (PO-in-C). Newer recruits with licenses, amateur or commercial, were to enter the ranks as SM1C - Seaman 1st Class.

Ably assisted by RM2C Stewart H. "Stut" Resch, 3TF, Landis continued recruiting among the Reading Radio Club members, still concentrating on those holding, or in the process of obtaining, Commercial Operators licenses. In this effort, Amateur licensees and novices were not overlooked. Sometime during the 1926 - 1928 period, a second group of aspiring reservists were ready to be examined for enlistment and the Fourth Naval District so notified.

ED CLAMMER RECOLLECTIONS

One of this group, Edward S. Clammer, W3UN, ex 3BDI, still survives and describes the circumstances surrounding the medical examination. Fourth Naval District dispatched a medical officer to Reading via a multi-seat, single motor Navy plane landing at the former Madera Air Field located between N. 9th St. extended and the Reading Fair Grounds. While there, the pilot took several of the USNR personnel aloft for short Navy P.R. type flights. Clammer recalls the recruits numbered 25 or more, however, a surviving journal entry indicates that after the medical examination and other screenings, only eight were accepted and enlisted that day. They were as follows:

RM1C Stanton L . Bast 404-72-37 3CCH

RM2C Edward S. Clammer 404-72-39 3BOI

RM2C Donald C. Kinsey 404-72-32 3AUW

RM2C Harold E. Schearer 404-72-34 3MB

RM3C Charles F. Broskey 404-72-38 - (W3AKK 1928)

SMlC(R) G. Ralph Hartman 404-72-36 - (W3CRD 1933)

SMlC(R) Russel B. Kutz 404-72-33 (ex 3AGC)

SMlC(R) Clark F. Koffke 404-72-35 - (W3AJP 1928)

As Clammer further remembers, Fourth Naval District began to ship in to the new activity "bales of white uniforns" causing Landis to initiate uniformed close order drill practice on the American Legion Post's ballroom floor. Also the Post officials were then persuaded to allocate a basement storage room as a Reserve "lucky bag" for storage of the inflowing USNR supplies. Clammer states he does not recall any USNR related communications training or on the air drills existing during his affiliation and virtually all regular meetings were conducted within the context of Reading Radio Club matters of business and interest.

THE BAST INFLUENCE

One of the newly enlisted Reservists was RM1c Stanton L."Benny" Bast, 3CCH, who also enlisted about this time in the Pennsylvania State Police as a uniformed radio operator in their Troop C, 259 Penn Ave., West Reading barracks. Later, he sponsored their Amateur station W3PA and had already distinguished himself as a leader and official within the Reading Radio Club. This leadership trait he extended into the USNR organization and, along with Resch, 3TF, became a most supportive deputy to H. 0. Landis in USNR related enhancement and recruiting efforts.

Semblance of a USNR training program became evident by the Fourth Naval District allocating a 100 ft. inshore patrol vessel called an "Eagle Boat" to District Reservists for summer weekend cruises on Delaware Bay. Ed Clammer, W3UN, remembers taking a cruise on Eagle 52, one of 25 built by the Ford Co. for the Navy prior to 1922. After boarding at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, they steamed as far down the Delaware Bay as Lewes, Del. before going ashore where they encountered "thousands of blood-thirsty mosquitoes". According to Clammer, only the fleet of foot got back to the ship unscathed; Stanton Bast was unfortunately not so endowed and sustained sufficient bites to cause his limbs to swell and double in size. On their return to Phila. Navy Yard the next day, Bast was off-loaded by an ambulance crew and spent three days in the Naval Hospital. Clammer recalls Bast vowing it was his last training cruise; it was. The Eagle Boat weekend cruises continued into the early 1930s as recalled by another former reservist Wilbur M. Kleckner, ex W3BBM, who remembers, from his cruise, the Eagle Boat's pressurized boiler room.

The receding 1920 decade produced ever fewer additions to the budding Reading USNR. One, however, stands out. LTJG John W. Channel, USNR, arrived in Reading circa 1929 to work for AT&T. With him, he carried orders to relieve PO-in-C Harold O. Landis of the local reserve group and become its first Commanding Officer. Clammer recalls: "There was nothing wrong with Channel, but he was an outsider".

BIRTH OF THE R.N.R.R.A.

A surviving journal entry dated July 1, 1931 indicates a special meeting,was held in the American Legion Post to "..arrange the disbanding of the Reading Radio Club and organization of the Reading Naval Radio Reserve Association (R.N.R.R.A.)". The rationale behind this sudden title change is unknown but similar titled Reserve Associations already existed in nearby communities such as Lancaster, Pa. where Reading USNR members in uniform periodically visited. Also, the American Legion Post where the Reading Radio Club desired to continue meeting may have tightened policy on identity and admittance of organized groups.

THIRD INCREMENT ADDITIONS AND NEW ARMORY

A surviving journal entry presumed to be from the early 1930s pick up the following new enlisted reservists for the Reading group:

RM3C Wilbur M. Kleckner W38BM

RM3C Ben Bohrer W3BGG

SMlC(R) Wayne H. Epler W3AST

SMlC(R) John H. Gamber

SMlC(R) W. Donald Turnbull (later WA3EXK)

SMlC(R) Henry Printz

By late 1931, USNR training requirements and related equipment offered by the Navy dictated the need for dedicated quarters for the Reserve group. Probably instigated by the Fourth Naval District and spear-headed by LTJG Channel, R.N.R.R.A. President Milton Harris, Reserve quarterbacks Landis and Bast, the American Legion Post officials were approached on this subject. The result was assignment to the reservists of a sizeable, rent-free 2nd floor room in the Post building , accessed by an enclosed, secure, exterior building stairway. With assistance from varied sources including sweat equity of the reservists, radio operating positions were fabricated and installed along one wall. Personal gear lockers and racks for locking in approximately 20 Springfield '03 rifles lined the opposite wall. A floor, rack-mounted 300 watt (852 final) CW transmitter provided by H. 0. Landis, 3LP, then modified, installed and serviced by Stewart Resch, 3TF, was positioned in a corner by the windows.

RNRRA Secretary Stanton L. Bast, 3CCH, filed for an Amateur station license for the "Unit Armory"; W3CBL was so assigned and received in early April, 1932. This is the first documented indication of "Unit" used as a title and portends reserve organization changes that followed. Surviving log entries record some of the first amateur and reserve radio contacts by W3CBL, all on 3610 KHZ by operators Clark Koffke, W3AJP, Charles Broskey, W3AKK, Ed Clamrner, W3BDI, and Brad Martin, W30V, an USNR official visiting from his home in Roslyn, Pa. Martin's visit was probably to inspect and certify the new Unit's entry into the Districts new Naval Reserve radio network using the tactical call AD4C on non-amateur U. S. Navy frequencies (i.e. 2820 KHZ). Thusly, from April, 1932 onward, Reading area Amateur and Commercial Radio Operators were presented with a facility, and therefore opportunity, to conveniently inter-relate with USN communications to better evaluate it as a potential career objective.

NEW ARMORY MUSTER LIST

With the new Naval Reserve Unit Armory came a surviving journal entry Muster List dated November 10, 1932 (CO* was Commanding Officer):

RANK: NAME and FCC CALL SIGN: RANK: NAME and FCC CALL SIGN: LTJG John W. Channel CO*

RM1C Harold 0. Landis W3LP

RM1C M. Leonard Savage SM1C Wayne H. Epler W3AST

RM1C Stanton L. Bast W3CCH SM1C John H. Gamber

RM2C Edward S. Clamrr W3BD1 SM1C G. Ralp Hartman W3DHI

RM2C Donald C. Kinsey W3AUW SM1C(R) Clark F. Koffke W3AJP

RM2C Francis J. Liesman W3PT SM1C(R) Russell B. Kutz x3AGC

RM2C Stewart H. Resch W3TF SM1C W. Donald Turnbull

RM2C Harold E. Schearer W3MB Henry Printz

RM3C Ben Bohrer W3BGG

RM3C Charles F. Broskey W3AKK

RM3C Wilbur M. KlecKner W3BBM

THE EBB TIDE LOW POINT

The period 1932-1935 appears to be one characterized by malaise, attrition, absence of personnel input to the Reading USNR, out of area transfers and general disinterest in the reserve program. CO LTJG Channel departed from the local scene and the RNRRA dissipated as a viable supporting entity. The "Reading Short Wave League," centered a few blocks up 4th St. from the American Legion Post appeared as a local amateur operator replacement for the RNRRA but was completely isolated from any association with the U. S. Naval Reserve group. By early 1935, only Landis, Broskey and Resch of the original and early 1930s cruises regularly answered to muster. Obviously the Unit was no longer viable and the prospect of it being decommissioned appeared imminent. The low ebb tide mark had been reached.

RESTRUCTURING

In the early 1930s, after at least five years failure to meet the Radio Reserve program's objective of 6,000 operators, the program was closely examined and significantly restructured, to wit:

a. Title was changed to the "Naval Communications Reserve (NCR)".

b. Old, unspecific Class 6 for all Reserve specialities was replaced by a V or

the "Volunteer class" with suffix numbers assigned to a source or speciality;

for example, V-3 for only NCR members who were always so identified.

c. A V-3 training command structure functional under each District Commandant

was mandated and implemented; therein Naval Districts were subdivided into

NCR Sections with discrete Unit numbers assigned to each subordinate city.

d. Training programs were considerably improved and were modified to insure

"on-the-air" operating opportunity at multiple levels for all V-3 operators;

in addition, advancement procedures and opportunities were also improved.

e. Two week summer training cruise billets reallocated to operational U.S.Navy

Fleet units (Battleships, Cruisers and Destroyers) sailing on planned cruises

dedicated to reserve training.

Under the new restructuring, the vaguely defined Reading Naval Radio Reserve organization was now retitled "Unit 411 of the Fourth Naval Districts Section 1, Naval Communications Reserve <NCR). Its Unit Armory radio station (Amateur W3CBL) would therefore function on USN radio tactical frequencies under the call sign AD4C; reflecting its placement within the NCR organization.

LANDIS ONCE AGAIN

In mid 1935, once again PO-in-C Harold 0. "Eggy" Landis, W3LP, accepted the challenge of salvaging the foundering NCR Unit. He realized new recruits was the only answer. Armed with a newly compiled list of area youths that had recently obtained Amateur Station licenses, he personally visited their homes, including that of the writer. Each new amateur was invited by him to visit Unit 4 and participate in the new NCR training program. He pointed out that if they were interested and physically qualified, the Navy would enlist them into the NCR as a Petty Officer, Radioman 3rd Class V-3 USNR on the basis of their operator skills as evidenced by their amateur operator license. It was an effective sales pitch and Eggy's enthusiam difficult to resist; I bought.

During 1936, two Orwigsburg, Pa. area amateurs became affiliated with Unit 4 primarily by their inclusion in on-the-air training exercises. Despite their distance from Reading, they periodically joined the Unit crew at its summer picnics and other social events. They were Herwood N. "Herp" Miller, W8OML, and Walter B. Tyndall, W8KJY.

CRM (Chief Radioman) BOWEN AND POTTSTOWN UNIT 7

In addition to his two Unit veterans Broskey and Resch, Landis was then joined in the recruiting effort by one CRM Joseph L. Bowen, USN, then engaged in Office of Naval Investigation covert surveilance of Reading area German-American officials in industry contracting with the Navy.

Sporting many years of recent Navy active duty experience, the authorative appearing, but affable Chief Radioman presented an ideal role model to the impressionable young Unit 4 recruits. His addition to the Unit's crew and support of the recruiting effort contributed much to its success. In contemplation of his imminent retirement from active duty, CRM Bowen established a permanent residence in nearby Pottstown, Pa. in which area he noted an ample supply of young radio amateurs. By late 1935, he had recruited sufficient number of them to form Pottstown Unit 7 NCR and by 1937, its reconstructed Muster List follows: Joseph L. Bowen W3ITW Chief Radioman in Charge, U.S.N.(Ret.)

H. W. Anderson W3EHD Paul Miller No call

W. Norman Dalling W3BLN Roy Reifsneider W3GUR

Clarence C. Deppen W3FFG Russel S. Smith W3HAC/K3APM

Lloyd Geiser W3HOG Howard J. Trout W3IGW

Earl Kulp W3EXM William H. Wiand W3BIP/N3WW

Unit 7 members and those of Reading Unit 4 frequently joined together for common interest events such as NCR medical examinations, drills, and picnics.

FOURTH INCREMENT RECRUITING

The new recruiting program initiated by Landis, his 4th, in mid 1935 began producing immediate results and by October, a group of aspiring reservists from both Unit 4 Reading and Unit 7 Pottstown assembled in the latters Armory for physical examination by a Navy Yard based medical officer. Not all passed, but sufficient did so to establish Unit 7 and inject Unit 4 with new blood and continued viability. Also, Unit 4 received its second Commanding Officer when PO-in-C H. O. Landis was promoted to Ensign, USNR. Constructed from memory, a circa 1937 muster list of the revitalized Unit 4 follows under the command of Ensign Harold 0. Landis, V-3 USNR, W3LP, Commanding Officer:

ALTHOUSE, Charles F. MILLER, Herwood N. W3OML

ANGSTADT, Harold F. W3HOT POPOFF, Valentine G. W3DUZ/K7AW

BOWEN, Joseph L. W3ITW REOPATH, Randall C. W3IQO

CRAWFORD, Joseph W3FNO RESCH, Stewart H. W3TF

FERRY, Robert M. W8AMB/W3HKE STAUFFER, Harold C. (N1BRX)

FRANTZ, Elmer H. W3FOS TYNDALL, Walter B. W8KJY/W3LXX

GARLIN, Russell A. W3BCZ/W5UKA YEICH, Donald E. W3DMM

GURTOWSKI, Edward A. W3BHS ZEMBER, Wilmer J. W3GWY

KERBER, Stanley F. W3DTE/W8OF

NAVAL COMMINICATIONS RESERVE TRAINING PROGRAMS

Second only to recruiting, the prime objective of the NCR V-3 concept was to train and indoctrinate its personnel so they could be integrated directly into regular Navy billets in time of emergency with a minimum of delay or pre-training. It was structured and functioned to accomplish this objective with minimum demands on, or disruption to, civilian life persuits. The Volunteer aspect was always considered and respected.

The training program was stratified into three levels and locations: at the individuals home Amateur Radio station; at the Unit Armory/station facility; and optional two week duration annual training cruises with pay aboard Navy vessels of the Fleet. All three location activities stressed acquiring proficiency in Naval radio communications procedure.

Most V-3 operators were also Navy Petty Officers which necessitated their indoctrination to include leadership, military bearing, regulations, law, safety, etc. Most of these areas were covered by advancement in rating courses and optional speciality correspondence courses which all enlistees were offered and encouraged to persue. Their successful completion coupled with time in rate and training cruise experience enabled the individual to progress upward by receiving promotions to higher Petty Officer or Commissioned status.

Home Amateur station drills were usually scheduled for one weekday evening of alternate weeks and were of an intra-Unit nature, i.e. individuals of the Unit such as Unit 4's choice of 3610 KHZ was used with Unit members substituting an N for a W in their Amateur call. When operating outside Amateur bands, Unit 4 members used AD4 with an assigned number suffix.

Intra-Section drills functioned on Navy assigned frequencies such as. Section 1's 2820 KHZ on Thursday evening of each alternate week. All Unit members were expected to attend this Armory session which also included classroom lectures as well as radio circuit operating. This type drill tied in all the Unit stations composing the Section and was under control of the Section Commander. Frequently the Fourth Naval District main station NOM would participate and disseminate messages of general or specific Unit interest. Direct communications with that high level of command gave the budding Navy operators a sense of achievement and self confidence needed to meet the challenge of regular Navy circuit operation.

SUMMER TRAINING CRUISES

Each summer, the Naval Districts were allocated some operational Fleet Destroyers such as Destroyer Squadron (DesRon) 10's World War I vintage 4-stackers (bow numbers under 200) and older Battleships such as the USS ARKANSAS, NEW YORK and TEXAS for two weeks duration training cruises off the East coast. Portions of their regular crews would be granted leave and their vacated billets made available for USNR trainees. These billets would be announced in early spring to the various NCR Units; volunteers from these Units would be solicited to fill the Radioman billets. Individual volunteers accepted for cruising were granted two weeks pay of their rank/rate per year. Longer or additional cruises within one year were offered on a with-out-pay (WOP) basis. One example of this type were the annual Annapolis midshipman cruises to distant areas or countries spanning many weeks.

The two week training cruises usually included Organized Reserve Divisions and were conducted under simulated combat conditions complete with nightly darkened ship, both day/night formation maneuvers and live gunnery practice. Drills included general quarters, fire, collision, man over-board, air and torpedo attacks, search and rescue, damage control and, for Radioman ranks, simulated emergency communications. For many V-3 type Reservists, this third level of summer cruises training would prove to have been a great assist in preparing them for the demands of WWII active duty that followed.

THE FINAL YEARS

Unit 4's fourth increment crew inmeshed themselves with relish in the challenges of the new training program. Drilling from their home Amateur stations and at the Armory station, they honed their code speeds, mastered Navy operating procedures and perfected their message handling capability. Those with reduced civilian commitments and imbuded with a strain of adventure, took advantage of the summer cruises. Armory crew banter soon became laced with references to their Battleship tours and names of Destroyers they had manned. Liberty port names Such as Portland, Norfolk, Key West, Guantanamo and San Juan became part of their vernacular. They also soon noted that having training cruise experience on their record significantly advanced their promotion potential; especially when accompanied by good attendance at on-the-air drills and successful completion of advancement in rating and other correspondence courses. Several members of this category advanced from RM3c to RM1c within f ive years.

The inevitability of their envelopment by the "winds of war" as 1939 and World War II approached only seemed to increase the crew's resolve. Some, like your author, were still on 1940 training cruises in German infested Atlantic waters as President Roosevelt traded, to the British, the very Destroyers they were manning.

Rumors of probable receipt of active duty orders accelerated in proportion to intensity and fortunes of the European War. Rumor became reality in early 1940 when the Unit's Commanding Officer Ens. H. 0. Landis received active duty orders to fill a communications-related billet on the staff of The Commandant, Fourth Naval District at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. During the year that followed, Unit 4 training continued under Landis's relief, PO-in-C RM1c Elmer Frantz , W3FOS. Others too received their orders such as CRM Joseph L. Bowen recalled from retirement and served thereafter on at least two ships: USS DELTA and USS AZURLITE PY-22; retiring a second time in 1945 as a commissioned officer.

Valentine G. Popoff soon departed to become the Radar Officer on our new Battleship USS WASHINGTON during both its 1942-1945 Atlantic and Pacific combat campaigns.

Charles F. Althouse was eventually assigned to a District Mine Sweeper, The USS HOGAN OMS-7 and dispatched into the Pacific theater.

Joseph Crawford was ordered to the Torpedo Station, Newport, RI.; thereafter he was commissioned and, after a full-time Navy career, retired as a Captain.

Randall C. Redpath, as a Radioman on board the Destroyer USS WALKER DD-517, survived seven combat campaigns in the Pacific.

Walter S. Tyndall, W8KJY, was called to active duty on July 7, 1941 and shortly became attached to Naval Air Operations, Quonset Point, RI; transferred thereafter to west coast air activity. By then, ACRM Tyndall became attached to TBM (Torpedo Bomber) and F4F (Fighter) Squadrons that shipped out to Pacific campaigns on board and Escort Carrier CVE SALAMAUA BAY for the duration.

Harold C. Stauffer, with prior regular duty was one of the first to be called up; eventually, like Elmer Frantz, qualifying for entry into the Naval Security Group Cryptologic Service and stationed at its Chatham, MA. station. He remained on active duty as a career and retired nearby. In the interim, he also obtained and operated N1BRX until his death in the 1980s.

Wilmer J. Zember initially served on the Destroyer USS BAINBRIDGE and later on the AttaCK Aircraft Carrier USS INDEPENDENCE CVA.

The ending of 1940 witnessed receipt of orders for Unit PO-in-C RM1c Elmer Frantz for an early 1941 departure to Cryptologic Operator training school at Bainbridge Island, Seattle, Wash. Eventually, CRM Frantz served as Chief-in-Charge of a cryptologic tasked D/F Station (NHF) at NAS, Sitka, Alaska for most of the war. Conversion to regular Navy and a full 25 year career followed as a CTC, WO, CWO2 and LT USN when retired in (Reading 5 years NCR time counted) 1966.

RM2c Harold A. Angstadt relieved Frantz as the Unit 4 PO-in-C by February, 1941 and continued administering an ever diminishing muster list of his crew. With the December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, Angstadt received orders thereafter to decomission Unit 4 and dispose of its property. In this process, he was greatly assisted by its founder and former CO Ensign H. 0. Landis who personally trucked much of the Government property back to the Philadelphia Navy Yard while stationed there and commuting to Reading.

After retirement from active duty in 1945, then LT. CMDR Landis would continue his career as a par excellence organizer by originating, in 1966, at least one more organization; the Reading Chapter 31 of the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) and served as its first President until his death November 1966 at age 70.

Eyesight acuity caught up with Harold A. Angstadt caused his rejection for USN active duty, discharge and 1942 absorption into the US ARMY via the draft. There followed basic training in Texas and transfer to Australia and Dutch New Guinea as part of the Army Depot Engineers. He was returned home via Nagoya, Japan and discharged in January, 1946.

Those of the NCR failing to receive active duty orders by early 1942 were given medical disability discharges from the Naval Reserve and referred to the National Draft System. Therein, some were drafted into the Army like Angstadt while others received draft deferment and, as civilians, comtributed valuable service in direct support of the military war effort.

READING NCR UNIT 4 R.I.P.

The closing of Reading's NCR Unit 4 was in concert with like terminations throughout the country as NCR's trained V-3 volunteers, as planned, were ordered into billets of the expanding Navy. a total of 25,000 Naval Communications Reservists were called to active duty by the end of WWII and surely attests to the success of the NCR V-3 program.

Thus ended the saga of the f irst Naval Reserve entity in the Reading area, spanning the 15 years period 1926 - 1941. It was a beginning, served its people and country well, and happily not the end. The post World War II era would witness its return in a greatly expanded role that would serve both the Navy and Marine Corp to the end of the 20th Century, and hopefully beyond.

CHAPTER 4 READING SHORT WAVE LEAGUE

Some of the Reading Radio Club members were also members of the Reading Short Wave League which met at the home of Allyn Freese, W3BLM, 312 N. 4th Street, Reading, Pa. from January 1934 to the end of 1935. Freese, W3BLM was president and the secretary treasurer was Steward Ringler W3EYN. Meetings were held every 2 weeks and the members included the following:

Allyn Freese, W3BLM; Steward Ringler, W3EYN; Clarence Boyer, W31XX; Arlington Clouser (no call); Charles Bubp, K3ODW; Ralph Jones (no call); Jack Starke (no call); Paul Kern, W3HON/W3LB; Clyde Mengel (no call); Robert Coleman (no call); Elmer Frantz, W3FQS; Charles Perkins, W3EAT; Robert Fulton (no call); Paul Stoudt (no call) and Robert Bedard, W3DYX.

CHAPTER 5 - RRC MEMBERSHIP

In the early years of the club , the membership was estimated at 25 in 1931, 30 in 1932 and 40 in 1933. With the reorganization in 1940 there were 75 members with an increase to 109 members in 1945. From 1958 to 1961 the club had 95 members as indicated in the annual club report to the ARRL. With the new meeting location in 1963 at Building 437 at the Reading Municipal Airport, came a corresponding increase in membership.

From 1963 until 1970 the membership varied from a high of 150 to a low of 110. With the loss of the building at the Reading Municipal Airport in 1970 as a meeting location, the membership dropped to around 75 each year from 1971 until 1975. Meetings were held at the UGI Building Auditorium from June, 1970 to February, 1973 and the Northmont Fellowship Association from March, 1973 till January, 1976. After that, RRC meetings were held in the new Berks County Emergency Operating Center located in the basement of the Berks County Agricultural Building. With this excellent, still current location, the membership increased each year from 132 in 1976, to slightly over 200 in 1979. After 1979, the number of members dropped gradually to a level between 110 and 140 through the year 2000 due to a number of reasons; ie, less new amateurs, competing technical hobbies (computers) and SILENT KEYS. In the new millenium, the speed (words per minute) reduction and possible complete elimination of morse code testing may increase the membership again.

Complete data on membership (estimated) on an annual basis from 1931 to 1933 and from 1940 through 2000 is contained in Appendix A.

CHAPTER 6 - HONORARY MEMBERS

Jimmy Smith, WWY - November, 1956. Honorary membership is bestowed

Leroy Genthner, W3AYO - December, 1961. on the basis of service - long term,

Charles Genthner, W3DSM - December, 1961 . exceptionallity and excellence - as

James Marx, W3BN - December, 1963. deemed by their peers, fellow RRC

Russell Frederick, W3CDS - September, 1973. enthusiasts, and the officers and

Jesse Bieberman, W3KT - November, 1980. board of directors of the RRC.

Steward Ringler, W3EYN - January, 1986. Honors and dues exemption were

the major rewards.

CHAPTER 7 - MEETING LOCATIONS

From April 1931 until 1932, meetings of the Reading Radio Club were held at the Gregg Post No. 12 American Legion, 133 N. 4th Street, Reading, Pa. In January, 1940, when the reorganization took place, meetings were held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 3405, 326 Penn Avenue, West Reading, Pa. until October, 1941, after which meetings were again held at the Gregg Post No. 12, 133 N. 4th Street, Reading, Pa.

During The Second World War and until May, 1948, meetings were held in the DUGOUT which was located in the basement of the American Legion. The club met at the Junior Fire Company Social Ouarters at Reed and Walnut Streets for 6 months, then in a garage at 1733 Kline Street for 2 years, then on the 17th floor of the Berks County Court House for 3 years, then at the Berks Police Home on the Pricetown Road for 3 years.

From January, 1958 until June, 1963 meetings were held in the basement of the Gantert Brothers Garage, owned by Arthur Gantert, W30LG, located at 133 Thorn Street, Reading, Pa. The club had many wonderful years at this location, however with an increase in membership, there was also an increase in the problem of autmobile parking.

In June, 1963, meetings were held in rented ($10.00 per month) Building No. 437, located on the property of the Reading Municipal Airport. This location provided the club more room for parking; and, most importantly the club had the ability to put up antennas that allowed the set up amateur radio stations for each band. Also, the club now had a kitchen, a library, a workshop and toilet facilities.

In January, 1970, the club received notice that it had to move out of the building because the Airport Authority sold the land to the General Public Utilities and the building would eventually be demolished. It took six months to remove the antennas, sell most of the radio equipment and find another meeting place. The complete, multiband (80 through 2 meters) station for use by RRC members became history not to be repeated.

Meetings were held at the UGI auditorium on the Morgantown Road, Reading, Pa. from June, 1970 until February, 1973. In March, 1973, meetings were held at the Northmont Fellowship Association until January, 1975. After the new General Public Utilities Utilities building was completed, meetings were held there for a few months. At the same time, the Berks County Civil Defense moved into its new Emergency Operating Center located in the basement of the new Agricultural Building in Bern Township. The club presently meets at the new E.O.C., it provides good parking facilities as well as other nice accommodations.

CHAPTER 8 - MEETING ATTENDANCE

Meeting attendance varied from month to month for all the usual reasons, typically averaging between about 25 to 40 percent (80 of about 200 in May, 1979) of the membership. Complete data on attendance on a month by month basis from 1973 is available as Appendix B from the RRC Historian.

CHAPTER 9 - ENTERTAINMENT

A complete history of entertainment at meetings and other events on a month by month basis from 1952 is contained in Appendix C.

CHAPTER 10 - VISITS BY ARRL OFFICIALS

The Reading Radio Club has been honored over the years by visits of the following ARRL officials who addressed the club on various topics of interest:

Allen Breiner, W3ZRO, E.Pa SCM in September, 1962 (Ganterts Garage).

Gilbert Crossley, W3YA, Atlantic Division Director in November, 1964 (Bldg 437).

Connie Mac, W3SW, Atlantic Division Director in May, 1977 (EOC Meeting Room).

Jesse Bleberrnan, W3KT, Atlantic Division Director in November, 1980.

Hugh Turnbull, W3ABC, Atlantic Division Director in May, 1986 (Berks Ag Center).

Kay Craigie, KC3LM, E. Pa. SCM in April, 1988 (Banquet at Moselem Springs Inn).

Hugh Turnbull, W3ABC, Atlantic Division Director in October, 1995 (Chef Alan's).

Bernie Fuller, N3EFN, Atlantic Division Director on October 7, 2000 (Chef Alan's).

CHAPTER 11 - PUBLIC SERVICE

Amateur Radio exists because of the public service it provides. The Reading Radio Club has been active in civil emergency nets since 1941 when the WERS net was active during the Second World War. After the war was over, the Berks County Civil Defense Radio Net was organized by Jim Marx, W3BN and was held on the 2 Meter AM band at 145.400 Mhz.. In 1976, the net was moved to the RRC's 2 Meter FM repeater (146.31 Mhz. receive, 146.91 Mhz. retransmit), where it presently operates.

Over the years the Reading Radio Club hals been active in providing communications for hill climbs, road races, foot races, bicycle races, canoe regattas, aircraft spot landing contests, fire company parades, motorcycle enduros, special event stations and high school band competitions.

On other occasions, where human life is involved, the Reading Radio Club has furnished emergency communications for Hurricane Hazel in October 1954, the flood near Stroudsburg, Pa. in August 1955 and Hurricane Agnes in June 1972.

References:

Hurricane Hazel - QST Magazine - January, 1955 (Page 42) and March, 1955

(Page 64) Issues.

Stroudsburg Flood - QST Magazine - December, 1955 (Page 11) Issue.

" " - Reading Eagle/Times - August 22, 1955 Issues.

Hurricane Agnes - QST Magazine - November, 1972 (Page 75) Issue.

In addition, many of our members have been involved in relaying messages from disaster areas outside Pennsylvania, even outside the United States to persons all over the world.

The RRC members have over the years participated in and supplied communications coverage for a number of events every year. Appendix D contains a complete listing of these other events dating from May, 1953.

CHAPTER 12 - ANNUAL FIELD DAY

Every year, at the end of June an emergency preparedness excercise named Field Day is held to prepare and train amateurs to set up amateur radio stations, antennas and portable housing and power equipment. Usually some accessible open-air location is selected to conduct the ARRL sponsored weekend in the "field". There are various ways of participation such as number of stations at a given location, transmitting power levels, operating modes and other special items. Stations participating are scored based on the number of contacts, power levels and special events and are actually competing with one another for section, division or overall leadership. RRC field day participation was conducted at the following sites (Total Contact Points in [.......] ) since 1947:

Reading Municipal Airport - 1947, 1963 [899], 1964 [1235], 1965 [1259],

1966 [1314], 1967 [1040].

W3FJI's (Archie High) Bungalow - 1948, 1949, 1950

W3IUI's (Earl Homan) Home - 1951

David Geiger,s Bungalow - 1952

Vicinity of Leinbach's Hotel - 1953

W3URH's (Robert Hamilton) Farm - 1954, 1955

Mohnton Rod and Gun Club - 1956, 1957 [438], 1958 [361], 1960 [646].

Mount Penn Fire Tower - 1959 [744], 1961 [714], 1962 {734], 1969 [1378],

1970 [1026], 1971 [1126], 1973 [1048].

Schuykill Valley High School - 1968 [818]

Cushion Peak, Camp Conrad Weiser - 1974 [1218], 1975 [1170], 1976 [1899],

1977 [1680].

WA3SPJ's (Stephen Dobb's) Farm - 1978 [1718], 1979 [1627], 1980 [1657],

1981 [1906], 1982 [2383], 1983 [3055],

1984 [3039], 1991 [1146].

Sol Schearer's Barbecue Ranch - 1985 [2112], 1986 [1364], 1987[922],

1988 [1203].

Daniel Boone Homestead - 1989 [1462], 1990 [1452]

WB3FPL's (Eric Olena's) Place - 1992 [1830], 1993 [1419], 1994 (No interest)

Janssen Conference Center, PSU Berks Campus - 1995 [840], 1996 [660].

Blue Marsh Lake Area (Vista Pavillion) - 1997 [1370], 1998 [????],

1999 [1718], 2000 [1676].

Field day was not held locally in June, 1972 due to Hurricane Hazel. It in itself was a "real" field day, not an exercise.

CHAPTER 13 - CONTESTS

The members of the Reading Radio Club have been active in two major contests as indicated below (* after month is in subsequent years reference issue):

The ARRL November SWEEPSTAKES: Pennsylvania Oct. QSO PARTY:

YEAR: ENTRIES: RRC RANK: MAY* QST: ENTRIES: RRC RANK:

1975 14 28 Page 61

1976 6 81 " 89

1977 3 102 " 69

1979 4 34 " 81

1980 12 28 " 86

1981 7 45 " 74

1982 17 21 " 92

1983 10 10 " 83

1984 6 17 " 75 11 8

1985 5 16 " 81 15 5

1986 3 20 " 81 20 6

1987 5 20 " 82 35 6

1988 6 7 " 94 29 4

1989 3 12 " 77 19 4

1990 5 9 " 81 18 4

CHAPTER 14 - PAGODA AWARD

The Pagoda Award of the Reading Radio Club originated at the October 1961 meeting of the club. Any amateur radio station in the world may apply for and receive the Pagoda Award in accordance with the following rules:

1. Contact ten (10) members of the Reading Radio Club at their home

QTH, their mobile or portable location.

2. Any amateur band, any amateur mode of transmission may be used

in accordance with FCC current regulations.

3. Contacting the Club station W3BN and/or W3CCH is acceptable;

however, phone patch or repeater contacts are not.

4. All applications for the Pagoda Award shall be in writing, addressed

and mailed to the RRC secretary at the club address.

5. All contacts shall have been made after October 13, 1961.

6. Applications shall list the call signs, bands and dates of the contacts

with RRC members and applicant's signature. NO QSL CARDS are

required.

7. There are no fees connected with the Pagoda Award. A nine by twelve

inch manila SASE is requested.

8. Additional endorsements are available for 25, 50, 75 and 100 contacts.

CHAPTER 15 - CLUB BULLETINS

The club has published a monthly RRC Bulletin continuously since January, 1954, starting with a one page meeting notice type to a multi-page Bulletin followed by today's modern Bulletin that is sent monthly by Email to members with Email addresses and in turn printed by recipients for other non-computerized RRC members. Members serving as editors of the RRC Bulletin include the following:

AMATEUR and CALL:__ ___ STARTED: YEARS/MONTHS:

Arthur Gantert,W3OLG Jan.1954 1 / 1

Apr.1958 2 / 10

Stanton Bast,W3CCH Feb.1955 - / 7

Albert Brailer,W3UQC Sep.1955 - / 4

Peter Nicholas,W3ITH Feb.1961 1 / 11

Jul.1984 - / 7

Richard Ahrens,W3WJC Jan.1963 1 / -

Jan.1965 - / 5

Feb.1986 4 / 5

Mary Wentzel,K3VWT Jan.1964 - / 9

Patrick DiGuardi,K3CXR Oct.1964 - / 3

Robert Wagner,W3GII Jun.1965 - / 3

Jul.1966 2 / -

John Bednar,K3TEJ Sep.1965 - / 10

Roger Rehr,WA3JYM/W3SZ Jul.1968 - / 5

Mark Perloe,WA3FXE Dec.1968 - / 9

Richard Harris,WA3LIV Sep.1969 - / 3

William Ader,WA3GTR Dec.1969 7 / 10

Tom Youngberg,K3RZF Oct.1977 - / 4

Gary Hafer,WA3VUE Feb.1978 - / 8

George Rhoads,N3ADX Oct.1978 - / 10

David Fix,N3AMY Aug.1979 - / 10

James Miller,KA3BMO Jun.1980 - / 6

John Forry,WB3EPW Dec.1980 - / 10

Linda Manegold,KA3HTJ Oct.1981 - / 11

Eric Olena,WB3FPL Sep.1982 - / 5

John Hilbish,W3UM Feb.1983 1 / 4

Deirdre Serio,N4JLQ Jul.1990 ? / ?

 

 

CHAPTER 16 - CLUB OFFICERS

PRESIDENTS: OTHER OFFICES HELD

CALL: HANDLE/NAME: YEARS IN OFFICE: & TOTAL YEARS (xx):

W3LP Harold Landis 1931 thru 1933 ( 3)

W3BN Stanton Bast 1940 thru 1945 Sec. (16)

W3CDS Russell Frederick 1946 Sec.,Treas. (26)

W3BN James Marx 1947 thru 1960 (14)

W3EYN Stewart Ringler 1961,1962 V.Pres.,Sec. ( 5)

W3WJC Richard Ahrens 1963,1964,1970,1971 V.Pres. (16)

W3GII Robert Wagner 1965,1966 ( 2)

K3IIJ James Lorah 1967,1968 V.Pres. ( 3)

K3HIU Robert Jensen 1969 ( 1)

W3UQH Duane Redline 1972 V.Pres.,Treas. ( 5)

K3MNI Leroy Flamm 1973 V.Pres. ( 2)

W3ETJ* Robert Plummer 1974,1975 V.Pres. ( 3)

K3DTD Charles McCreary 1976,1977 Treas. ( 5)

K3RZF Thomas Youngberg 1978,1979 ( 2)

WB3EPW John Forry 1980 V.Pres ( 2)

WA3JSP Steve Dobbs 1981,1984 V.Pres. ( 4)

WB3FPL Eric Olena 1982 ( 1)

WB3CKD Edward DeFrees 1983 ( 1)

KC3QB Brian Beitler 1985 thru 1987 V.Pres. ( 4)

NT3V M. Abramovicz 1988 thru 1990 ( 3)

WA3WSJ Edward Breneiser 1991 ( 1)

KS3F Joel Dennis 1992 ( 3)

NK3Z Bruce Smith 1993 ( 2)

W3VBY Harry Hoffman 1994 thru 1996 V.Pres. ( 4)

W3OXK Walton Horn 1997,1998 ( 2)

WA3FYR James Nicholas 1999,2000 ( 2)

 

VICE PRESIDENTS: OTHER OFFICES HELD

CALL: HANDLE/NAME: YEARS IN OFFICE: & TOTAL YEARS (xx):

W3BDI Edward Clammer 1931,1932 Treasurer ( 2)

W3MLY James Cochran 1954,1955 ( 2)

W3BOL Harold Hackerty 1956 thru 1962 ( 7)

W3EYN Stewart Ringler 1963,1964 Pres., Sec. ( 5)

W3WJC Richard Ahrens 1965,1966,1976 thru Pres. (16)

1978,1985,1986,1994

thru 1998

K3MNI Leroy Flamm 1967 Pres. ( 2)

K3PSX Arthur Achenbach 1968 ( 1)

K3IIJ James Lorah 1969 Pres. ( 3)

K3CBE John Freeman 1970,1971 ( 2)

W3ETJ* Robert Plummer 1972 Pres. ( 3)

WA3KBH James Stamm 1973,1981 ( 2)

W3UQH Duane Redline 1974 Pres.,Treas. ( 5)

K3PCX Chas. Brownmiller 1975 ( 1)

WB3EPW John Forry 1979 Pres. ( 2)

WA3SPJ Steve Dobbs 1980,1982, 1991 Pres. ( 5)

K3WGR Albert Zimmerman 1983 ( 1)

WB3CAC R. Lamm 1984 ( 1)

WA3TIU Paul Rittenhouse 1987 ( 1)

KC3QB Brian Beitler 1988 Pres. ( 4)

KS3F Joel Dennis 1989,1990 Pres. ( 3)

NK3Z Bruce Smith 1992 Pres. ( 2)

W3URH Karl Hamilton 1999 ( 1)

W3VBY Harry Hoffman 2000 Pres. ( 4)

SECRETARIES: OTHER OFFICES HELD

CALL: HANDLE/NAME: YEARS IN OFFICE: & TOTAL YEARS (xx):

W3PT Frances Liesman 1931,1933, 1947 Treas. ( 3)

W3CCH Stanton Bast 1932,1950 thru 1957# Pres. (14)

W3EYN Stewart Ringler 1940 Pres.,V.Pres. ( 5)

W3CDS Russell Frederick 1941 thru 1945 Pres.,Treas. (26)

W3MBJ J.Lenhart 1946 ( 1)

W3KHN Lewis Gaul 1948,1949 ( 2)

W3OWU Frank Rose 1952# ( 1)

W3UQC Albert Brailer 1958 thru 2000 (43)

TREASURERS: OTHER OFFICES HELD

CALL: HANDLE/NAME: YEARS IN OFFICE: & TOTAL YEARS (xx):

W3BDI Edward Clammer 1931 Pres. ( 2)

W3MB Harold Schearer 1932 ( 1)

W3PT Francis Liesman 1933 Sec. ( 3)

W3HPD Harold Weidner 1940 thru 1945 ( 6)

W3CDS Russell Frederick 1946 thru 1966 Pres.,Sec. (26)

K3MGO Frank Esseluhn 1967 thru 1971 ( 5)

K3DTD Charles McCreary 1972 thru 1974 Pres. ( 5)

W3UQH Duane Redline 1975 thru 1977 Pres.,V.Pres. ( 5)

WB3AAK% David Hill 1978 thru 2000 (23)

CHAPTER 17 - BOARD MEMBERS

After incorporation in December, 1956 a governing Board of Directors

was mandated by the corporate laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;

they, in turn, being eligible to be elected as officers.

1st. LATEST OFFICER POSTS:

CALL SIGN: HANDLE/NAME: YEARS: YEAR: YEAR: PR VP SE TR

W3OLG Art Gantert 7 1957 1973

W3OXW Otto Kosa 6 1957 1962

W3VUF Lee Wentzel 3 1957 1959

W3RAV Web Painter 6 1957 1966

W3CDS Russell Frederick 17 1957 1973 X X X

W3CCH Stan Bast 2 1957 1958 X X

W3BN James Marx 7 1957 1963 X

W3BOL Harold Hackerty 6 1957 1962 X

W3HVL Paul Gardner 1 1957

W3EYN Stewart Ringler 26 1958 1997 X X X

W3UQC Albert Brailer 42 1959 2000 X

W3GII Robert Wagner 15 1960 1971 X

W3WJC Richard Ahrens 35 1960 2000 X X

W3ITH Pete Nicholas 1 1962

K3KHV Herb Cohen 2 1963 1964

K3OEC Aaron Schlechter 1 1963

K3ODZ Richard Norton 3 1963 1965

K3VWS Bradford Wentzel 2 1964 1965

K3SZG Edward Rothermel 2 1964 1965

W3MB Harold Schearer 1 1965 X

K3PSX Arthur Auchenbach 4 1966 1969

K3YNN Elmer Worth 2 1966 1967

K3IOJ Stanley Olanin 4 1966 1969

K3IIJ James Lorah 3 1967 1969 X X

K3CBE John Freeman 15 1968 1997 X

W3WX Gerald Baldauf 3 1970 1972

WA3GTR William Ader 8 1970 1979

WA3FBP Leon Hood 2 1970 1971

K3MGO Frank Esseluhn 2 1972 1973 X

WB3KBH James Stamm 12 1973 1987 X

W3UQH Duane Redline 9 1974 1996 X X X

W3ETJ Robert Plummer 10 1974 2000 X X

K3DTD Charles McCreary 10 1974 2000 X X

K3BFA Charles Hummel 3 1975 1977

K3CPX Charles Brownmiller 2 1976 1977 X

K3RZF Thomas Youngberg 3 1977 1979 X

K3NW N. Williams 3 1978 1980

WB3EPW John Forry 3 1978 1980 X X

W3DWH David Hill 21 1980 2000 X

WA3SPJ Steve Dobbs 12 1980 1992 X X

WB3FPL Eric Olena 15 1980 1994

K3WGR Al Zimmerman 4 1980 1983 X

WB3KCD Edward DeFrees 3 1983 1985 X

WB3CAC Robert Lamm 3 1983 1985

KA3KTG Brian Beitler 6 1984 1989 X X

WA3TIU Paul Rittenhouse 3 1986 1988 X

WA3VIZ Mark Abramowicz 3 1988 1990 X

KS3F Joel Dennis 6 1988 1994 X X

WA3WSJ Edward Breneiser 3 1989 1991 X

NN3L Robin Staebler 2 1989 1990

W3UM John Hilbish 3 1990 1992

W2HPB J. Bachner 5 1991 1995

NK3Z Bruce Smith 3 1991 1993 X X

K3TEJ John Bednar 1 1991 1991

W3VBY Harry Hoffman 8 1993 2000 X

W3OKX Walton Horn 6 1995 2000 X

W3JMR Stan Parr 3 1996 1998

AA3PO N.Dorward 1 1996 1996

WA3FYR James Nicholas 4 1997 2000 X

W3JZN Art Becker 4 1997 2000

W3URH Karl Hamilton 2 1998 1999 X

W3MEl Mel Salzman 1 1999 1999

 

 

 

CHAPTER 18 - BANQUETS

The Reading Radio Club held an annual banquet for many years. Records were kept from 1956 onward as to location and months. Some years were skipped because of lack of interest or a committee and very special banquets were held on the 40th, 50th and 60th historical anniversaries of the club in 1971*, 1981* and 1991*. Based on the RRC's original beginning in 1921 the true aniversary banquets were actually the 50th, 60th and 70th. Some excellent banquets were also held in 1968 and 1969. Conversly, some places (Year+) were not banquet places. Initially banquets were held in April and later in the fall, usually October. In recent years, starting in March, 1994, breakfast buffets in the spring and fall at Chef Allan's Restaurant have replaced the annual banquet with an average attendence of 63 persons. The banquets in prior years were held in the following places:

Reeser's Restaurant, Route 61 - 1956 thru 1961 and 1965.

Crystal Restaurant, Penn Square - 1962 thru 1964.

Elks Home, 5th & Franklin Sts. - 1966.

Temple Fire Company, Kutztown Road - 1967.

Reading Motor Inn, Wyomissing - 1968 and 1969.

Lincoln Restaurant, Route 183 - 1971* and 1974.

Villiage Diner, Douglasville, Route 422 - 1975 thru 1979.

Sinking Spring Fire Company - 1980, 1983 thru 1985.

The Riveredge Inn, Route 183 - 1981*.

Big John's Eatery, Schuylkill Avenue - 1982+.

Shillington Restaurant, Museum Road & Route 222 - 1986 thru 1989, 1992.

Governor Mifflin Intermediate School Cafeteria - 1990+

Moselem Springs Inn, Routes 222 & 662 - 1991*

St. Catherines School Cafeteria - 1993

The Reading Radio Club named the RRC Amateur of the Year at the 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1993 banquets. They were W3UQC, Al Brailer; W3EYN, Stewart Ringler; W3VBY, Harry Hoffman; W3DWH, David Hill and WB3FPL, Eric Olena; respectively.

CHAPTER 19 - PICNICS

The Reading Radio Club held a summer picnic for a number of years. Records were kept from 1954 onward as to location and months. Some years were skipped because of lack of interest or a committee. In June, 1981 thru June, 1984 a second picnic was held with "field day" at the Steve Dobbs Farm. Some excellent picnics with the Philmont Mobile Radio Club were held at Sol Schearer's Barbecue Ranch from 1978 thru 1983, usually in September. Picnics were held, usually in August or September, at the following locations:

Berks Police Home, Pricetown Road - 1954 (Clam bake).

Maple Grove Park - 1954 (Clam bake)

Lou's Acres, Hill Road - 1955 (Clam bake)

Berkshire Meadows, State Hill Road - 1961 thru 1967.

Sol Schearer's Barbecue Ranch - 1969, 1978 thru 1983.

Blue Falls Grove, Off Route 61 - 1976 and 1977.

Red Bridge Recreational Area - 1986 thru 1988, 1990.

Grings Mill Recreational Area - 1989.

CHAPTER 20 - RRC REPEATERS

Reading Radio Club members became interested in the frequency modulation (FM) mode of operation in the early part of 1966 when commercial equipment was available for conversion to the amateur FM bands. Local amateurs were experimenting on 2 and 6 meter FM, but a majority at that time were on 6 meters FM mobile and fixed station operating simplex (same transmit and receive frequencies). In June, 1971 the Reading Radio Club placed into operation a 6 meter FM Repeater. It was located on Mt. Penn and was a two site design, with the receiver located about 2 miles from the transmitter site. They were connected by a 449 MHZ I inK. The repeater was licensed as WR3ACX and the link transmitter was licensed as WA3SGD.

At the same time, 2 meter repeaters were appearing in cities all around Reading as well as all across the U.S.A. The Reading 6 meter Repeater was used less and less and in October, 1973, vandals broke into the 6 meter repeater site and did considerable damage to the equipment. In June, 1974 it was taken off the air due to lack of use by the local amateurs.

In July, 1975, a questionaire was sent to all RRC members, to find out their interest in proceeding with the proposed single site 2 meter repeater. As a result of the survey, in September, the board of directors authorized the purchasing of a 2 meter repeater; in October Charles Hummel, K3BFA, was designated as the trustee of the new repeater. In December, the new VHF Engineering Repeater when into operation from the trustee's QTH (home) for testing and debugging. This unit was designed to have a power output of approximately 15 watts into a 50 ohm load. The dual conversion receiver had a squelch sensitivity of about 0.75 microvolts. The duplexer was manufactured by Phelps-Dodge. The antenna was soon to be mounted on top of a 100 foot microwave tower whose top is located at an elevation of 1140 feet above sea level. This is also the current location of the RRC repeater operating on a transmitter frequency of 146.91 Mhz. and having a receiver input frequency of 146.31 Mhz. Over the years, many changes and improvements have taken place to bring the repeater to it's current "state of the art" level. A detailed log of all the repeater related activities, upgrades, modifications and other information is contained in Appendix E.

CHAPTER 21 - QUARTER CENTURY WIRELESS ASSOCIATION

A discussion of organizing a Reading Chapter of the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) was first brought up at the January, 1966 meeting of the Reading Radio Club by Harold Landis, W3LP. In order to establish a chapter in Reading it was necessary to have ten charter members. By June, 1966 ten amateurs, each with at least 25 years of being licensed and an interest in starting a Reading Chapter, signed the charter application. They were: Harold Landis, W3LP; Steward Ringler, W3EYN; Robert Bedard, W3DXW; Frank Lengel, W3EFK; Harold Schearer, W3MB; Robert Wagner, W3GII; Russell Frederick, W3CDS; Elmer Frantz, W3FOS; Horace Good, W3KNY and Russell Schaffer, W3FOW.

QCWA headquarters approved the charter application and designated the Reading Chapter No. 31 official in August 1966.

Annual dinners were held in Septembers of 1967 thru 1970 at the Lincoln Restaurant on the Bernville Road. In Septembers of 1971 thru 1973, annual dinners were held at Frank Reesers Restaurant on the Pottsville Pike. In order to accommodate members coming from the Pottstown area, the annual dinners were moved to the Village Diner in Douglassville and were held in December as an annual Christmas dinner on Saturday evenings from 1974 thru 1988.

These afternoon Christmas dinners were moved to a Wednesday and were held at Demsey's Restaurant on Route 222 near Shillington, Pa. in 1989 and 1990.

Annual summer picnics were held at the home of Harold and Hilda Stoudt, W3CJP and KA3KLW, located along the SchuylKill River from 1969 thru 1974. In 1975, 1976 and 1977, picnics were held at the Mohnton Rod and Gun Club. From 1978 thru 1984 picnics were held at the Arboretum near Bernville, Pa. The annual summer picnic was moved to Sol Shearers Barbecue Ranch in 1985 and continued there thru 1990.

The first regular business meeting was held October 1966 at the Reading Radio Club headquarters at the Reading Mnicipal Airport, building No.437. It was decided to hold all future business meetings in March, June, September and December.

Quarterly business meetings were held at various locations, including the Reading Radio Club headquarters, the Lincoln Restaurant on the Bernville Road, the home of Robert Bedard, W3DYX; Frank Reesers Restaurant on the Pottsville Pike, the home of Harold Stoudt, W3CJP; the Village Diner, Douglassville, Pa.; the Sinking Spring Fire Company Social Quarters, the Grill Fire Company Social Quarters, the Exeter Diner on the Phila. Pike and the Dutch Colony Motor Inn's Airplane Restaurant.

In January 1989 it was decided to hold business-breakfast meetings on the first Wednesday of the odd numbered months and social-breakfast meetings on the first Wednesday of the even numbered months, at the Dutch Colony Motor Inn's Airplane Restaurant on the Philadelphia Pike. The QCWA Reading Chapter No. 31 has recognized the following members:

Paul Naftzinger, W3AHF, in April, 1973 for being licensed for 50 years.

Russell Frederick, W3CDS, in October, 1973 for being licensed for 50 years.

Harold Schearer, W3MB, in May, 1986 for being licensed for 70 years.

CHAPTER 22 - AMATEUR LICENSE PLATE

The Pennsylvania Special Amateur Radio Operator automobile license plate bill was signed into law by Pennsylvania Governor George Leader in Harrisburg, Pa. in August, 1955. Two Reading Radio Club members, listed below were involved in the legislation. The following were in attendance at the signing ceremony:

Gilbert Crossley, W3YA, ARRL Atlantic Division Director from State College, Pa.

John Elder, W3RSB, Chairman of the Committee from Pittsburgh, Pa.

James Marx, W3BN, Committee Member and RRC member from Reading, Pa.

James Cochran, W3MLY, Committee Member and RRC member from Reading, Pa.

Albert Readinger, State Legislature Representative from Berks County

Charles Smith, State Legislature Representative from Delaware County

William Burton, W3ADF, Committee Member from Havertown, Pa.

In 1976, when the bicentennial amateur license plates were issued they were the only plates that did not have the liberty bell in the center; vanity plates with initials and house numbers did, a few did not. K3MGO's XYL's "ham associated" vanity plate was "VY(BELL)73"; the first VY73 plate was the plate of DARC president Karl Schultheis, DL1QK because "call" plates were not allowed in Germany. Karl visited the Reading area in September, 1970, a guest of Magoo.

CHAPTER 23 - VOUNTEER EXAMINER PROGRAM

Volunteer Examining in the amateur radio service got its start in the Novice program many years ago. In 1981, Congressman William Dannemeyer introduced legislation to make Novice testing by volunteer amateur operators legal.

Barry Goldwater, K7UGA, noting that the FCC was faced with serious budgetary problems and personnel cutbacks, suggested that all amateur radio operator examinations be given by volunteers. He said it would save the taxpayers about $400,000 a year. After Congressional approval, President Reagan signed volunteer amateur testing into law on September 13, 1982, as part of Public Law 97-258.

The following Reading Area Amateurs are ARRL Certified Volunteer Examiners:

Richard Ahrens, W3WJC John Hilbish, W3UM

Gerard Baldauf, W3WX Harry Hoffman, W3VBY

Max Blackwell, K3PZS Paul Hoffman, NK3M

Edward Breneiser, WA3WSJ Scott McLellan, ND3P

Michael Cwynar, KA3OPB Duane Redline, W3UQH

Joel Dennis, KS3F Bruce Smith, NK3Z

Stephen Dobbs, NE3F Robin Staebler, NN3L

Clarence Feinour, N3GAN Thomas Stone, NF3V

Worthington Fister, N3FCM Henry Tamanini, WA3HPH

Martin Geisler, NN3R Jeffrey Zell, NK3O

Amateur Radio License Examinations have been held every 6 months in the Reading area at the Wernersville State Hospital building No. 5, with the first session in July, 1985.

CHAPTER 24 - SPECIAL SERVICE CLUB

The ARRL Bcard of Directors approved a new class of affiliated club called Special Service Club. The Reading Radio Club made application to ARRL for the SSC affiliation in February, 1987 and received certification in June, 1987. In order to be approved as an SSC, the Reading Radio Club must have a program in each of the following areas:

A. Public Relations

B. Emergency Communications

C. Training

D. Technical Advancement

E. Operating Activities

F. ARRL Membership Recruitment

A. The Reading Radio Club Provides Communications for several non-emergency events such as fire company parades, road runs and band competitions.

The Reading Radio Club maintains a TVI Kit for use by the club's TVI committee. Components used in problem solving are in the offending system and the Kit is resupplied by the amateur radio operator. This is good public relations since the amateur stays on the air and the interference is gone without waiting for parts and without reevaluation after ordering parts from a different manufacturer which where untried in remedying the problem.

The Reading Radio Club publishes a top notch bulletin and sends complimentary copies to local TV, radio stations and newspapers as well as to groups for which we have provided communications for or have agreed to provide comnmnications for.

The Reading Radio Club swaps newsletters with approximately 20 other clubs as well as sending copies to prospective club members. Overall the Club sends out about 50 complimentary copies of the Club's Bulletin.

B. The Reading Radio Club sponsored a combined ARES/RACES net every Monday at 8:00 pm local time. The net usually has between 40 and 50 check-ins. This net is still operated on non-meeting Friday evenings at the same time utilizing the W3BN two meter FM repeater.

The Reading Radio Club supplies an amateur radio operator to man the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency's mobile communications center, which is kept in Hamburg, Pa., during times of alert.

The Reading Radio Club participates in several nuclear power plant drills including the Three Mile Island and Limerick nuclear power plants. The Club supplies over 30 operators to man all Township Emergency Operations Centers as well as the Berks County Emergency Management Center and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management mobile center at Hamburg, Pa.

C. The Reading Radio Club holds licensing class annually and several members hold additional impromptu classes in their homes as the requirement arises. One member, who is a school teacher, sponsors a high school club as well as holding novice training class after school hours.

D. The Reading Radio Club has several standing technical committees such as the repeater and TVI/RFI committees which serve the Club and its members as well as provide programs of a technical nature on their current projects from time to time.

The Club's monthly meeting programs have covered such topics as the Dr. DX contest trainer, Micro Log Computer Interface, Chinese Radio Direction Finding Hunt, Apple Computer Demo, Contesting Night Live, Packet Radio Demo and Theory, Technical Discussion of the Club's new ACC RC-850 controller and a Home Brew Night. This wide range of programming exposes members to many facets of their hobby and can kindle their interests in learning more on many varied subjects.

E. The Reading Radio Club participates as a club in the ARRL Field Day exercise, the Pa. QSO Party, November Sweepstakes and the SET emergency drill.

The Club has sponsored a repeater since June of 1971 when a 6 meter FM repeater was placed on the air. In May of 1976 the 6 meter repeater was replaced with a 2 meter repeater. In January of 1978 an autopatch was added to the repeater, thus increasing the value of the repeater for emergency communications. See Chapter 20 for details.

CHAPTER 25 - SILENT KEYS

* QCWA Members

Berks County Amateurs who have passed away from May,1957 thru January, 1981:

May,1957 W3WWY,James Horine

Sep,1957 W3CCH,Stanton Bast

Jul,1962 K3JIY,Paul Wittig

Mar,1964 W3MBJ,John Lenart

Mar,1964 W3EWA,Gerald Kaufman

Jul,1965 W3BN,James Marx

Feb,1966 W3BLM Allyn Freese

Nov,1966 *W3LP,Harold Landis

Sep,1967 W3EAT Charles Perkins

Jul,1968 W3CEU,Fred Bearinger

Aug,1968 W31FJ,George Griffith

Dec,1968 W3UIH,Dr.Arthur Cope

Apr,1969 K3FPV,Dr.Joe Kelner

Feb,1971 K3WJE,William Jones

Apr,1971 W3RAV,Webster Painter

Apr,1972 K3MFL,William Greth

Oct,1972 W3GXX Alton Bowers

Dec,1972 W3DLT Russell Roth

Jun,1973 W3PT,Francis Liesman

Apr,1974 WA3APN,Edward Artz

Aug,1975 *W3CJP,Harold Stoudt

Nov,1975 WA3ETMV,Jean Sturgis

Nov,1975 W3TF,Stewart Resch

Dec,1976 WA3EXK,Don Turnbull

May,1978 WASGKF,Walter Kohl

Mar,1979 W3BDC, John Rightmeyer

Feb,1980 W3DEJ,Dr.Hottenstein

Feb,1980 *W3EFK,Frank Lengel

,1980 W3IUT,Frederic Spies

Jan,1981 N3AKZ,Paul Hastings

Berks County Amateurs who have passed away from April,1981 thru December, 1990:

Apr,1981 K3KBG,Kenneth Cregar

May,1981 W3SNM Chet Angstadt

May,1981 W3RKO,Monroe Heister

Nov,1981 W3ZFU,Annie Carson

Dec,1981 W3NRQ,Thomas Algier

Dec,1981 N3AJQ,Darrell Cox

Jan,1982 W3HPD,Cliff Weidner

May,1982 W3KT,Jesse Bieberman

Oct,1982 *W3HAX,Edgar Miller

Nov,1982 WA3FYP,Robert Moyer

Jan,1983 WA3BRO,James Doyle

Feb,1983 WB3AWA,Charles Obold

Oct,1983 *W3KNY,Horace Good

Aug,1984 *W3BFK,Dr.Lee Terry

Jan,1985 W3MCX,Bill Emerich

Feb,1985 W3WBV,George Naftzinger

Feb,1985 *W3ITW,Joseph Bowen

Mar,1985 *W3CDS,Russ Frederick

May,1985 KA3HFN,Duy Davis

Aug,1985 K3SSD,Henry Elbert

Dec,1985 K3IFS,Dr.Charles Wang

Dec,1985 K3LEY,Vincent Mohan

Feb,1986 WA3WDX,Paul Smith

Feb,1986 *W3UH,Robert Adams

Aug,1986 W3OML,Herwood Miller

Aug,1986 WA3WRB,Leroy Sheidy

Sep,1986 W3URH,Robert Hamilton

Dec,1986 W3BYV,Stuart Kreisher

Apr,1987 W3KKK,Ralph Kintzer

Apr,1987 W3JUJ,Robert Zellers

Jul,1987 W3OYQ,Chas.Melville

Oct,1987 W3GWY,Wilmer Zember

Oct,1987 W3MXW,Joseph Salamon

Nov,1987 W3VM,Clifford Mauger

Nov,1987 W3IGO,Randal Redpath

Jan,1988 W3DXW,Otto Kosa

Jan,1988 W3AYO,Leroy Genthner

Feb,1988 K3APJ,Frank Williams

May,1988 KA3JJH,John Dutko

May,1988 KA3ROZ,Robert Hafer

Jun,1988 K3CXR,Pat DiGuardi

Sep,1988 KC3OG,Marshall Salt

Feb,1989 WA3EVQ,Warren Stitzer

Feb,1989 WA3MAQ,Bill Schwartz

Mar,1989 ???SJZ,James Miller

May,1989 WA3SCC,John Thompson

Sep,1989 W3GFN,Earl Werst

May,1990 *W3BHS,Edw.Gurtowski

Jun,1990 *W3MB,Harold Schearer

Oct,1990 WA3KLW,Hilda Stoudt

? ,1990 *W3UQW,Larry Kaczmarczyk

Berks County Amateurs who passed away from January, 1991 thru December, 2000:

Feb,1991 W3HVL,Paul Gardner

Apr,1991 *W3SV,Michael Pozzani

Jul,1991 N3CHL,Rich'd Luigard

Aug,1991 W3WX,Gerard Baldauf

Sep,1991 N3FPY,Marino Ruggere

Sep,1991 *K6YGH,Earl Homan

Aug,1992 K3VFS,Rudy Mosteller

Jun,1992 W3UN,Edward Clammer

Dec,1992 *K3PZS,Max Blackwell

Feb,1993 WA3LOY,Lester Hoffman

Feb,1993 WB3FJO,Larry McKinney

Apr,1993 K3FOC,C.Kelly Sturgis

Jun,1993 *W3VUF,Lee Wentzel

Oct,1993 N3CIX,John Warker

Nov,1993 WA3EBP,George Meyers

Nov,1993 W3UHF,Eleanor Smith

Nov,1993 *W3KR,Harry Rarick

Nov,1993 WA3FBP,Leo Hood

Feb,1994 *K3ULY,Nick Damato

Aug,1994 N3ONF,Richard Reed

Oct,1994 K3LNL,Charles Crosby

Dec,1994 *W3HOT,Harold Angstadt

Dec,1994 KA3HVZ,Leo Polityka

Jan,1995 *W3FJI,Archie High

Mar,1995 W3WNS,Filbert Laser

Jun,1995 K3AVX,Joseph Stefanick

Mar,1996 W3KSV,Michael Wentzel

Apr,1996 *W2HPB,Joel Bachner

Apr,1996 W3BBM,Wilbur Kleckner

Jun,1996 *W3HKP,Larrt Heckman

Aug,1996 WB3FOS,Paul Shaaber

Sep,1996 W3DUZ,Val Popoff,K7AW

Nov,1996 W3ITH,Peter Nicholas

Dec,1996 *W3FDW,Russell Schaeffer

Jan,1997 N3YGB,Samuel Hahn

Feb,1997 *W3FEA,Bill Finley

Feb,1997 KA3AXN,Donald Miller

Apr,1997 N3MYC,Herbert Wheatley

Apr,1997 *N3WW,William Wiand

Jun,1997 W3LPN,Avrum Kay

Jul,1997 *K3IPI,Roy Shank

Aug,1997 W3OLO,Charles Dietrich

Oct,1997 W3VMN,Walt"Kit"Carson

Mar,1998 N3DXI,Manuel Perteet

May,1998 *W3EYN,Stewart Ringler

May,1998 WA3ZTG,Clarence Krick

Jun,1998 W3CCV,John Morrow

Sep,1998 *KI3N,Elmer Worth,K3YNN

Sep,1998 N3NV,Denes Varady

Dec,1998 *W8OF,Stanley Kerber

Jan,1999 K3IWZ,John Achey

Feb,1999 W3GOX,Joseph Crownover

Jun,1999 K3JYN,Robert Herbein

Jul,1999 *NA3D,Edward DeFrees

Jul,1999 WA3MBR,Paul Brobst

Nov,1999 *KA3OCH,Fred Boettcher

Dec,1999 K3KKO,Dr.Ralph Hoyt

Dec,1999 *W3BOL,Harry Hackerty

Jan,2000 WO3P,Dr.George Pappas

Feb,2000 *W3EXM,Earl Kulp

Apr,2000 *W3DES,Dr.Frank Blair

Jun,2000 *W3AHF,Paul Naftzinger

Aug,2000 *W3SLA,Kenneth Smith

Nov,2000 W3TWH,John Strauss

Berks County Amateurs who have passed away from May,1957 thru December, 2000: (Dates Unknown)

W3SW,Harry McConagy W3DGX,Ted Gibson

W3KNE,Franklin Yarnell W3PVY,Ed Rittenhouse

K3BHU,Katie Gibson K3TXD,Charles Dix

WB3HNK,Leonard Theodore

Some of the "Silent Key"Amateurs listed are from adjacent counties, but were well known to many RRC members.

 

The End

Most of the Appendices referenced in Chapters follow.

APPENDIX A - MEMBERSHIP

The estimated or actual membership by years is shown below. A goal of 200 had been set for the first year of the 21st century and third millenium beginning on January 1, 2001.

1931- 25 1946- 75 1961- 95 1976-150 1991-1???

1932- 30 1947- 75 1962-110 1977-146 1992-

1933- 40 1948- 75 1963-115 1978-175 1993-

1934- ? 1949- 80 1964-120 1979-205 1994-

1935- ? 1950- 80 1965-130 1980-162 1995-

1936- ? 1951- 80 1966-135 1981-165 1996-

1937- ? 1952- 85 1967-140 1982-146 1997-

1938- ? 1953- 85 1968-145 1983-138 1998-

1939- ? 1954- 85 1969-150 1984-125 1999-

1940- 75 1955- 90 1970-150 1985-124 2000-

1941-(WW2) 1956- 90 1971- 76 1986-127 2001-

1942- " 1957- 90 1972- 67 1987-115 2002-

1943- " 1958- 95 1973- 70 1988-128 2003-

1944- " 1959- 95 1974- 65 1989-143 2004-

1945- 75 1960- 95 1975- 68 1990-138 2005-

APPENDIX B - MEETING ATTENDANCE

YEAR JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

1973 43 35 30 30 16 20 20 16 23 25 30

1974 20 8 26 21 20 23 28 26 31

1975 23 26 30 27 25 33 27 33 40 50 58

1976 48 68 52 47 61 64 62 61 62 72

1977 35 *99* 71 74 89 63 66 71 65 61 66 68

1978 39 79 78 78 56 48 54 70 63 44 74 88

1979 26 63 65 62 80 64 41 48 65 40 61 64

1980 53 65 56 70 56 48 43 45 46 15 50 63

1981 44 60 50 63 62 44 50 51 47 48 52 63

1982 40 54 48 56 38 38 35 40 35 28 54 53

1983 40 63 34 48 41 33 40 42 19 49 50

1984 37 45 34 46 46 42 46 45 42 17 49 51

1985 25 36 49 55 41 44 35 44 52 26 45 41

1986 44 14 48 54 44 47 28 39 36 34 39

1987 47 42 42 44 45 31 31 46 34 45 50 49

1988 24 62 68 42 38 41 38 44 17 58 64

1989 48 46 45 37 45 32 32 34 36 19 29

1990 51 35 38 30 40 29 37 49 31 34 33 52

1991 38 37 39 35 32 26 31 41 28 31

1992 37 25 41 25 15 24 17 29 25 14 28

1993 47 21 38 41 28 33 22 29 40 20 43 31

1994 18 21 37 12 33 20 32 23 33 39

1995 35 36 41 39 31 32 40 42 29

APPENDIX C - MEETING ENTERTAINMENT

This appendix lists entertainment and educational presentationd in various media forms as related to amateur radio, electronics and computers. The occurence of these presentations and field trips was largely the effort of RRC entertainment chairpersons or committees, the really active ones providing regular monthly programs.

Jan 1952 Meeting at American Legion Home, 133 N. 4th Street, Reading, PA

Civil Defense communications were discussed.

Mar 1952 TVI problems were discussed. Frank Williams, G2OMS, spoke about communications in

England during the Second World War.

Sep 1953 A special meeting was held on the 6th floor of the Court House to discuss a Civil Defense incident coming up known as operation PLYMOUTH.

Feb 1954 Jim Cochran, W3MLY, showed slides of his visit to ARRL headquarters and of the WIAW station.

Mar 1954 M. Hall of Western Electric spoke about transistors. Two ARRL films were shown, PERIODIC FUNCTIONS and AUDIO OSCILLATORS.

Apr 1954 Ed Clammer, W3BDI, and Phil Catona gave a demonstration of amateur radio teletype.

May 1954 Harry Hackerty, W3BOL, gave a talk and demonstration of Single Sideband operation.

Oct 1954 No meeting due to Hurricane HAZEL.

Dec 1954 Bell Telephone films SONAR and RADAR were shown.

Jan 1955 Two Films: AIR FORCE OPERATOR and IWO JIMA were shown.

May 1955 Meeting was held at the Reading Brewery, S. 9th and Laurel Streets, followed with a tour.

Jun 1955 Powder Puff Derby communications discussed.

Sep 1955 Jim Marx, W3BN, described what he saw during the flood in the East Stroudsburg area.

Oct 1955 Sam, W3AXT, of Lancaster spoke on DX-ARAMA and displayed a lot of DX awards.

Nov 1955 W . Mill of the Reading Company spoke on radio equipment used on the railroad.

Dec 1955 Meeting was held at the N. 12th and Bern Sts. Headquarters of the Organized U. S. Army

Reserves followed by a tour.

Jan 1956 Meeting was held at the Sunshine Brewery, West Elm and Gordon Streets, followed by a tour.

Feb 1956 Reading Railroad film was shown, STOP LOOK AND LISTEN.

Apr 1956 Met Ed film was shown, NEW POWER FOR AMERICA.

Jun 1956 Met Ed film was shown, OCTOPUS IN THE HOUSE.

Jan 1957 Civil Defense film was shown, ALERT TODAY, ALIVE TOMORROW.

Feb 1957 Meeting was held at the Bell Telephone Building at 4th and Washington Streets, followed by a tour.

Mar 1957 General Electric film was shown, THE ATOMIC AGE.

Apr 1957 Harry Hackerty, W3BOL, and Otto Kosa, W3OXW, gave a talk on MATCHING OF ANTENNAS.

May 1957 Meeting was held at the TITUS plant of Met Ed followed by a tour.

Jun 1957 General Electric film was shown, PIPELINE TO THE CLOUDS.

Sep 1957 No meeting was held because of the death of Stanton "Ben" Bast, W3CCH.

Oct 1957 Meeting was held at the West Reading Democratic Club.

Nov 1957 Meeting was held at the new Met Ed Auditorium.

Dec 1957 Meeting was held at Civil Defense headquarters in the Berks County Court House.

Jan 1958 Harry Hackerty, W3BOL, and Otto Kosa, W3OXW, gave a demonstration of AM and SSB wave form interpretation.

Feb 1958 No meeting because of a snow blizzard.

Mar 1958 Dick Pomeroy, K3RP, of Western Electric spoke about the MAGNETRON.

Apr 1958 Gordon Greene, W5WQW, spoke about 10 meter activity in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

May 1958 Clarence Frey, W3KFQ spoke on his DX activity.

Nov 1958 Bell Telephone film was shown, THE DEW LINE.

Feb 1959 David Linz of Globe Electronics gave a demnstration of HY-GAIN 20 Meter Trap Antennas.

Mar 1959 Mr. William Hall of RCA spoke on the type 7094 tube

Apr 1959 Meeting was held at the Reading Municipal Airport followed by a tour of the FAA control Tower.

May 1959 Jesse Bleberman, W3KT, spoke on the operation of the OSL bureau.

Sep 1959 Harold Landis, W3LP, showed slides of his trip around the world.

Nov 1959 Meeting was held in the Lancaster station WGAL-TV followed by a tour of the facilities.

Jan 1960 Harold Landis, W3LP, and Charles Merritt show additional slides of their trip around the world.

Feb 1960 Meeting was held at the Laureldale plant of Western Electric followed by a tour.

Oct 1960 Jim Marx, WBN, shows family slides of his trip to the Island of Hawaii.

Nov 1960 Color slides were shown of the National Boy Scout Jamboree in Colorado.

Jan 1961 Motion pictures were shown of the weather satellite TIROS and LAND OF WHITE ALICE.

Feb 1961 Western Electric film was shown of SECONDS FOR SURVIVAL

Mar 1961 Color Motion picture was shown of Japanese TOSHIBA.

Jun 1961 Harold Landis W3LP and Charles Merritt show additional slides of their trip around the world.

Nov 1961 Harold Landis, W3LP, and Charles Merritt show additional slides of their trip around the world.

Jan 1962 Beryllium Corp. representative gave an illustrated talk

Mar 1962 Philmont Mobile Radio Club film was shown on HAM RADIO.

Apr 1962 FAA film, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL was shown.

May 1962 Wstern Electric films, THE BIG BOUNCE and PROJECT MERCURY were shown.

Jul 1962 Leroy Flamm, K3MNI, demonstrates his amateur television equipment.

Sep 1962 Allen Breiner, W3ZRO, ARRL SCM E.PA. spoke to the club.

Oct 1962 Western Electric film, IN YOUR DEFENSE was shown.

Nov 1962 Dr. Lee Terry, W3BFK, spoke about his 50 years in amateur radio.

Jan 1963 Western Electric film, TELSTAR #1 was shown.

Feb 1963 Phil Laser, W3WNS, spoke about DC to DC Converters.

May 1963 Pagoda Award No. 100 was presented to Joe Welch, W3UQV.

May 1963 Meeting held at the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, followed by a tour.

Jun 1963 Western Electric films, MISSILE NAMED MAC and KRYSTALLOSIS were shown.

Jun 1963 Tour of Television Station WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, Pa.

Sep 1963 The film PROJECT HOPE was shown.

Nov 1963 Harold Landis, W3LP, and Charles Merritt show additional slides of their trip around the world.

May 1964 1964 NEW YORK WORLDS FAIR film was shown.

Jun 1964 POWER TUBE STORY and LIGHT AND ELECTRONS films were shown.

Sep 1964 Eugene Lavery spoke about PROJECT APOLLO.

Nov 1964 Gilbert Crossley, W3YA, ARRL Atlantic Division Director spoke and had slides of WIAW.

Feb 1965 Phil Laser, W3WNS spoke about DIODE VARIABLE CAPACITORS.

May 1965 TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE film was shown.

Jun 1965 Lee Aurick, W1RDV from ARRL spoke about the history of amateur radio.

Aug 1965 Meeting was held at the Bell Telephone building at 4th and Washington Streets, followed by a tour.

Oct 1965 Meeting was held at the Carpenter Steel Company, followed by a tour.

Jan 1966 Allen Breiner, W3TI, spoke to the club.

Feb 1966 Harold Landis, W3LP, started the Reading Chapter of QCWA.

Mar 1966 Motion picture, ALASKAN EARTHQUAKE was shown.

Apr 1966 Motion picture, NAVY BLUE ANGELS was shown.

Jul 1967 FranK Esseluhn, K3MGO, shows slides of EXPO 67 and Montreal, Canada.

Mar 1968 Albert Brailer, W3UQC, shows slides of the PHILIPPINES.

May 1968 Motion picture shown, CLARENCE THE CROSS EYED LION.

Aug 1968 Tour of the new FAA Tower and communication equipment.

Nov 1968 John Freeman, K3CBE, shows slides of the ARECIBO ANTENNA.

Jan 1969 Fred Davidson, W3UCA, demonstrates 2 meter repeater operation through the 34-94

Harrisburg 2MFM repeater.

Feb 1969 Jack Wilson, K2BW, of the E. F. Johnson Company spoke at the meeting.

Apr 1969 Tour of the Met Ed TITUS power generating plant.

May 1969 Motion picture WAVE BEHAVIOR was shown.

Jun 1969 Mr. & Mrs. Stratton Karahalias spoke about the Pennsylvania Dutch Travel Association.

Jul 1969 The motion picture THE PRINTED CIRCUIT STORY was shown.

Oct 1969 Arthur Gantert, W3OLG, showed slides of APOLLO II and MEN ON THE MOON.

Apr 1970 Leroy Flamm, K3MNI, shows "homebrew" slumber inducing film on CAt4DY MAKING.

May 1970 Rich Ahrens, W3WJC, shows slides of Jim Lorah's new home in Florida.

Jul 1970 Motion picture HAMS WIDE WIDE WORLD was shown.

Sep 1970 Philmont Mobile Radio Club brought their bus to the club meeting at the new Met Ed

building.

Oct 1970 Tour of Eastern Area Civil Defense Headquarters at the Hamburg State School,

Hamburg, Pa.

Dec 1970 FranK Esseluhn, K3MGO, shows slides of German amateur radio operators DL2EA and

DL1QK, Karl Schultheis, president of the DARC, visiting his home in Wyomissing, Pa.

Jul 1971 Rich Ahrens, W3WJC, shows slides of his trip to Bermuda.

Oct 1971 Slides of the 6 meter FM repeater were shown.

Apr 1972 Doc Hottenstein, W3DEJ, shows slides of his travel to Germany.

Jun 1972 Russ Nagel, WA3BHF, spoke about MARS activities.

Jul 1972 Greg Weiler, K3MGQ, spoke about COUNTY HUNTING.

Nov 1972 Leroy Flamm, K3MNI, spoke about his transmitter hunting antenna.

May 1973 Charles Hummel, K3BFA, spoke about the new 2 meter FM repeater.

Jul 1973 Jim Stamm, WA3KBH, shows slides of his trip to Florida.

Aug 1973 John Freeman, K3CBE, shows slides of the damage caused by Hurricane Agnes in June,

1972.

Sep 1973 Jim Stamm, WA3KBH, shows slides of his trip to Hawaii.

Nov 1973 Frank Esseluhn, K3MGO, shows slides of his trip to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and

Holland.

Jan 1974 Bob Plummer, W3RP, and Lloyd Hartman, K3RQL, spoke about TVI and associated

problems.

Feb 1974 Allen Monahan, WB2YVC, spoke about the Binary System and Logic circuits.

Mar 1974 Allen Monahan, WB2YVC, spoke about transistor circuits.

Apr 1974 Charles Brownmiller, K3PCX, spoke about RTL, DTL and ECL circuits.

May 1974 Motion picture, PLANAR EPITAXIAL TRANSISTOR was shown.

May 1975 Mrs. Osman, Civil Defense Director, spoke at the meet ing.

Aug 1975 Mrs. Osman, Civil Defense Director, spoke at the meet ing.

Jan 1976 Leroy Flamm, K3MNI, demonstrates his color television system.

Jun 1976 Ed Clegg, W2LOY, spoke and displayed his Clegg product line.

Jul 1976 Ralph Bailey, W3GWX, showed his LAUREL AND HARDY movies.

Aug 1976 Charles McCreary, K3DTD, spoke about the ARRL convention.

Sep 1976 American Bank film, "BERKS COUNTY REFLECTIONS" was shown.

Jan 1977 Elmer Worth, K3YNN, spoke about the 10-10 (10 meter band) Net.

Feb 1977 Bob Marzari, WA3AVX, demonstrated the Harrisburg amateur RTTY repeater use.

Mar 1977 Frank Moyer of Western Electric showed slides.

May 1977 Surprise visit of Connie Mac, W3SW, ARRL Atlantic Division Director.

Jul 1977 Norm Williams, K3NW, spoke about his DX trip to Curacao.

Feb 1978 Walt Winters, Manager of the Heathkit Store, spoke at the meeting.

Mar 1978 Don Anlauf, W3KGW, spoke about his windmill project.

Jul 1978 Verna Resch, W3RVU, showed slides of her trip to Alaska.

Aug 1978 Dorothy Singleton spoke about Solar Energy.

Sep 1978 Bill Rosser, K3FOL, spoke about antennas and tuners.

Feb 1979 W . Chulick, Civil Defense Director, spoke about the river watch net.

Mar 1979 Motion Picture film THE HAPPY FLYERS was shown.

Apr 1979 Frank Esseluhn, K3MGO, demonstrated Slow Scan Television.

Jul 1979 Dick Zigenfus of Met Ed spoke about HAIR PIECES.

Jan 1980 W. Chulick, Civil Defense Director, spoke at the meeting.

Mar 1980 Michael Panebianco of Radio Shack spoke about computers.

Apr 1980 Joe Martin, the new weatherman, spoke at the meeting.

May 1980 Alex Polityka, W8FLA, spoke about the Federal Communications Commission.

Jun 1980 Bill Rosser, K3FOL, spoke about speech processors.

Sep 1980 Charles Obold, WA3AWA, spoke about the Civil Air Patrol.

Nov 1990 Jesse Bieberman, W3KT, ARRL Atlantic Division Director, spoke at the meeting.

Feb 1981 Ken Silagy, N3ARl, displays his bicycle mobile radio on 2MFM.

Mar 1981 Bob Miller, Pennsylvania Deputy Game Protector, spoke about their radio network.

Apr 1981 Jim Miller, KA3BMO, gave a RTTY demonstration.

May 1981 Larry McKinney, WB3FJO, spoke about short wave listening.

Jun 1981 Charles McCreary, K3DTD, spoke about proper Field Day operating.

Aug 1981 Frank Eichhorn of Western Electric gave a talk and showed slides of INVENTIONS.

Sep 1981 Motion pictures about WAVE MOTION, IMPEDANCE MATCHING, STANDING

WAVES, TRAVELING WAVES, RESONANCE and DAMPENING were shown.

Jan 1982 Steve Dobbs, NE3F, shows slides of Quito, Ecuador.

Feb 1982 Russ Lamm, NN3Q, spoke about ARRL's operating guide.

Mar 1982 Motion picture shown of DX trip to Nigeria.

Apr 1982 Ken Silagy, N3ARI, spoke about revitalizing the Fuse Blowers Award.

May 1982 ARRL slides shown of OSCAR S.

Jun 1982 Russ Lamm, WB3CAC, and Al Zimmerman, K3WGR, spoke about Field Day operations.

Jul 1982 Max Blackwell, K3PZS, spoke about Army MARS.

Sep 1982 Bill Rosser, K3FOL, spoke about nvilti-track recording.

Nov 1982 Dave Hill, WB3AAK, and Ken Silagy, N3ARI, demonstrated the Sinclair Computer. Dave Swartz, WA2DLH, spoke about TV channel 51 subscription TV.

Jan 1983 John Hilbish, W3UM, spoke about Propagation, Ionosphere, UV Radiation From Sun, Sun Spot Cycles and Solar Flux.

Mar 1983 Russ Lamm, WB3CAC spoke about Receiver Dynamic Range, Automatic Gain Control, Circuits, Filters, Selectivity, Sensitivity and Internal Noise.

Apr 1983 Russ Lamm, WB3CAC, spoke about Antenna Systems, Antenna Frequency Angle of Radiation, Horizontal vs Vertical Polarization, Transmission Lines, Tuners and Antenna Gain.

May 1983 Roy Bradley spoke about and demonstrated the Apple II E Computer System.

Aug 1983 Edward Gurtowski, W3BHS, spoke about his experience as Chief Engineer of Radio Station WRAW.

Sep 1983 Rich Ahrens, W3WJC, spoke about the future Space Shuttle and the first amateur radio operator in space, Dr. Owen Garriott, W5LFL.

Feb 1984 John Hilbish, W3UM, spoke about DX operating and his DX trip to the Clipperton Island.

Mar 1984 Al Zimmerman, K3WGR, spoke about 80 Meter and 40 Meter antennas.

Apr 1984 Rich Ahrens, W3WJC presented a discussion and slide program on the OSCAR program from 1961 to the present.

May 1984 A video tape, THE SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM, was shown.

Sep 1984 The ARRL Video Tape, WIRE ANTENNAS, was shown.

Feb 1985 Al Zimmerman, K3WGR, presented slides on last October PA QSO PARTY, also his trip to a state park in Adams County.

Mar 1985 Al Z immerman, K3WGR, presented slides of his trip with John Hilbish, W3UM to the

island of Montserrat in the Caribbean Sea.

Sep 1985 A video tape, TRANSMITTER HUNTS IN CHINA, was shown.

Nov 1985 Roy Bradley of Computer Source and Rolland Reinheimer of Apple Computer presented a demonstration.

Jan 1986 A video tape, CONTEST NITE, was shown.

Feb 1986 A video tape, produced by the Kansas City DX Club, was shown.

Mar 1986 John Hilbish, W3UM, spoke about CQ World Wide contest he worked while in Belize, British Honduras.

Apr 1986 Dan Devine, WA3FYL, and Bob Herbein, K3JYN, presented an on-the-air packet radio demonstration.

May 1986 Hugh Turnbull, W3ABC, ARRL Atlantic Division Director, spoke at the meeting.

Jul 1986 A video tape, PILE UP BUSTERS, produced by the Kansas City Area Radio Club, was shown.

Sep 1986 John Hilbish, W3UM, spoke about the upcoming PA QSO Party.

Jan 1987 Rich Ahrens, W3WJC, spoke about the history of FM communications in the Reading Radio Club.

Feb 1987 Don Miller, KA3AXN, demonstrated his new HeathKit HT and docking cabinet.

Mar 1987 Video tape was shown of slow scan TV experiments conducted between amateur ground stations and the Space Shuttle.

Apr 1987 Brian Beitler, KC3QB, discussed his Commodore 128 computer. Paul Rittenhouse, WA3TIU, demonstrated his Kantronics All Mode Decoder.

May 1987 A video tape, AMATEUR TV, SLOW AND FAST SCAN, was shown.

Jun 1987 Jim Nicholas, WA3FYR, presented slides about past RRC Field Days - 1957 to 1986.

Jul 1987 A video tape by Kantronics on PACKET RADIO COMMUNICATIONS was shown.

Oct 1987 A video tape, THE NEW WORLD OF AMATEUR RADIO, was shown.

Nov 1987 Roy Bradley and Ronald Reinheimer of COMPUTER BAY, demonstrate the Apple 2 G S Computer system.

Jan 1988 Rich Ahrens, W3WJC, gave a demonstration of the new Reading Radio Club Repeater which now has the ACC RC-850 Controller and Digital Voice Recorder.

Mar 1988 Richard Christ, of Met Ed, spoke about Electrical Safety and a film ELECTRICAL SAFETY FOR FIREMEN, was shown.

Apr 1988 Kay Craigie, KC3LM, ARRL SCM E. PA., spoke about the duties of her new position and related responsibilities.

Jun 1988 Jim Nicholas, WA3FYR, presented slides of Past Field Days.

Sep 1988 Joel Dennis, KS3F, spoke about the proper way to send QSL cards.

Oct 1988 A video tape, AMATEUR TV IN AUSTRALIA AND ATV REPEATERS, was shown.

Nov 1988 Kay Craigie, KC3LM, ARRL SCM E. PA., introduced Tom Teel, KB3UD, ARRL E. PA. Traffic Manager, who spoke about PACKET COMMUNICATION.

Jan 1989 Craig Breneiser, communications manager of Berks County, spoke about the Advanced 911 Communications System presently being installed for Berks County.

Feb 1989 John Hilbish, W3UM, spoke about the ten times he "contested" in foreign countries.

Mar 1989 John Obradovich, W3IS, former FCC employee, Land-mobile Dept., Gettysburg, and a former chairman of FCC National Industry Advisory Committee, spoke about the ARRL Official Observers Program.

Apr 1989 A video tape, WHAT CAN THE AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR DO TO HELP THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TRACK TORNADOS, was shown.

May 1989 Harry Hoffman, W3VBY, spoke about licensing of amateurs by the Federal Government from 1920 to the present.

Jun 1989 Jim Stamm, WA3KBG, presented a videotape of a Channel 51 program where Jeffrey Miller interviewed Steve Dobbs, NE3F, and Al Zimmerman, K3WGR, about ham radio.

Jul 1989 A video tape from the North California DX Foundation, a travelog to 4J1FS on an island

between Russia and Finland.

Nov 1989 Jon Geirsson, KZ3R, U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Staff Officer, Communications Division, spoke about the mission and the local activities of his organization.

Mar 1990 Robin Staebler, NN3L, spoke about the new FCC proposed COMMUNICATION CLASS license for those persons not interested in the morse code.

Apr 1990 Field trip to Television Channel 8 WGAL-TV Studios, Lancaster, Pa.

May 1990 Bruce Smith, NK3Z, presented slides of his recent visit to ARRL Headquarters and the W1AW station in Newington, Conn.

Jan 1989 Craig Breneiser, communications manager of Berks County, spoke about the Advanced 911 Communications System presently being installed for Berks County.

Feb 1989 John Hilbish, W3UM, spoke about the ten times he "contested" in foreign countries.

Mar 1989 John Obradovich, W3IS, former FCC employee, Land-mobile Dept., Gettysburg, and a former chairman of FCC National Industry Advisory Committee, spoke about the ARRL Official Observers Program.

Apr 1989 A video tape, WHAT CAN THE AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR DO TO HELP THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TRACK TORNADOS, was shown.

May 1989 Harry Hoffman, W3VBY, spoke about licensing of amateurs by the Federal Government from 1920 to the present.

Jun 1989 Jim Stamm, WA3KBG, presented a videotape of a Channel 51 program where Jeffrey Miller interviewed Steve Dobbs, NE3F, and Al Zimmerman, K3WGR, about ham radio.

Jul 1989 A video tape from the North California DX Foundation, a travelog to 4J1FS on an island

between Russia and Finland.

Nov 1989 Jon Geirsson, KZ3R, U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Staff Officer, Communications Division, spoke about the mission and the local activities of his organization.

Mar 1990 Robin Staebler, NN3L, spoke about the new FCC proposed COMMUNICATION CLASS license for those persons not interested in the morse code.

Apr 1990 Field trip to Television Channel 8 WGAL-TV Studios, Lancaster, Pa.

May 1990 Bruce Smith, NK3Z, presented slides of his recent visit to ARRL Headquarters and the W1AW station in Newington, Conn.

Jul 1990 A video tape about the excavation of a hole for a 95 foot self-supporting (unguyed) tower was shown.

Aug 1990 Paul Hoffman, NK3M, spoke about his trip to Quito, Ecuador and his work at the world famous radio station there - HCJB.

Nov 1990 A video tape was shown of a Berks Cable program "BITS & BYTES" aired in July, 1990.

Feb 1991 Steve Dobbs, NE3F, spoke about how he handles QSL cards via the Cumberland County Amateur Radio Service (CCARS).

Mar 1991 Allen Hill, son of David Hill, WB3AAK, demonstrated his Enviro-Center Products which included water and air filters.

Apr 1991 John Hilbish, W3UM, spoke about his activities in the PJ1B expedition to Bonaire Island, which is part of the Netherland Antilles group of islands.

May 1991 A video tape of Steve Dobbs' NE3F amateur radio station including equipment, towers and antenns was shown.

Jun 1991 A field trip to the Berks County Court House was conducted to inspect the new County Communications Center on the 18th and 19th floors. The RRC at one time used a room on the 17th floor where Russ Frederick, W3CDS and others conducted code and theory classes. It also had it's weekly CD net station W3PFT using a "Gooniebox" on the 19th floor.

To be continued through the year 2000, the final year of the 20th century and the 2nd millenium.

 

APPENDIX D

APPENDIX E - REPEATER LOG

Jan 1976 The repeater was in operation at the Reading Municipal Airport under

the supervision of Harry Hackerty, W3BOL. The 450 MHZ control

link was being worked on.

Apr 1976 The Board of Directors authorized use of the repeater as available for Civil Defense net operation when it is required.

Apr 1976 The Civil Defense Net was changed from the frequency of 145.40 MHZ AM to the repeater frequency of 146.31 (R) / 146.91 (T) MHZ FM.

Jun 1976 The 8080 microprocessor autopatch was expected to be operational by December, 1976.

Jun 1976 The antenna was installed on top of the 100 foot tower.-

Oct 1976 The telephone line was installed for the repeater autopatch.

Mar 1977 The telephone audio coupler was installed.

Aug 1977 The battery was installed for emergency power.

Jan 1979 The interim auto patch, constructed by Rich Ahrens, W3WJC, was placed in operation.

Jul 1978 Robert Plummer, W3RP, became the trustee of the W3BN repeater. The license of WR3ACX was no longer valid.

Sep 1979 First meeting of the Repeater Technical Committee.

Nov 1979 The new Hustler antenna was installed.

Jan 1980 The new auto patch decoder was installed.

Mar 1980 The new decoder module was installed.

Apr 1980 The telephone line was repaired.

Jan 1980 Second meeting of the Repeater Technical Committee.

Mar 1980 Third meeting of the Repeater Technical Committee.

May 1980 Fourth meeting of the Repeater Technical Committee.

Jun 1980 The latch relays were replaced. The audio problems were corrected.

Jul 1980 The audio distortion problems were corrected.

Jul 1980 5th meeting of the Repeater Technical Committee.

Aug 1980 A circuit was installed to indicate autopatch status.

Oct 1980 6th meeting of the Repeater Technical Committee.

Dec 1980 The duplexer cavity resonators were removed and taken

to Phelps-Dodge for retuning.

Jan 1981 7th meeting of the Repeater Technical Committee.

Feb 1981 The repeater was back in operation.

Mar 1981 The autopatch access code was changed.

Apr 1981 8th meeting of the Repeater Technical Committee.

Jun 1981 A new Hustler antenna was installed.

Jun 1981 A total of 54 trips have been made to the repeater site

since May, 1976.

Jul 1981 9th meeting of the Repeater Technical Committee.

Sep l981 10th meeting of the Repeater Technical Committee.

Mar 1982 The autopatch access code was changed.

May 1984 Problems develop in the transmitter RF amplifier.

July 1984 A violent storm passing through Berks County damages the

repeater antenna.

Aug 1984 The new receiver pre-amplifier was put into service.

Sep 1984 The new RF power amplifier was installed.

Nov 1985 "PROJECT 86" was announced by the Board of Directors.

Mar 1986 The advantages of purchasing an Advanced Computer Controller

(AAC) RC-850 repeater controller was discussed.

May 1986 The 2 meter repeater is 10 years old.

Sep 1986 The Board of Directors authorized the purchase of an AAC RC-850

repeater controller.

Jan 1987 The new Advanced Computer Controller RC-850 was on display

at the meeting for the members to examine.

Apr 1987 The REPEATER USER MANUAL was first issued by Rich Ahrens,

W3WJC, and distributed at the meeting.

Apr 1987 A special design aluminum cabinet which provides 100% RF

shielding for the ACC RC-850 repeater controller was fabricated

and furnished by Robert Wagner, W3GII.

May 1987 The new ACC RC-850 repeater controller was installed.

May 1987 The GE Master Progress Line receiver and transmitter

was installed.

May 1987 The recently upgraded Falcon power supply was installed.

Oct 1988 Trouble developed when water entered the base of the

Hustler antenna.

Nov 1988 The Digital Voice Recorder has been updated with new

software and now can handle voice mail messages.

Jan 1989 The repeater was experimentally linked with the 6 meter repeater in Flemington, N.J. the 6 meter repeater in the Poconos and the 1 1/4 meter repeater in Allentown, Pa.

Nov 1989 Trouble developed in the Sola 10 amp constant voltage transformer causing the repeater to be out of service for about 23 hours.

Nov 1989 11th meeting of the Repeater Technical Committee. Eight years and

two months had elapsed since the 10th meeting.