Apache and one of the earliest Drake 2B’s, probably the hottest receiver
on the market in those days for the money. With the help of Silent Key W3HT....Frank Caulfield....I built a 1 KW amplifier, added a Heathkit SSB adaptor, erected a home brew tri-band cubical quad and I was ready to work the world! And it was always a thrill to work hams from all over, whether they be DX or Stateside, a one time contact or a roundtable. One of the most satisfying things I got involved with was with the Eye Bank Net. In those days before computers and instant contact became a reality, Ham Radio performed many services (as they still do) and the Eye Bank Net was one of them. Living in the Baltimore area at that time, I was part of a local team that acted as a liaison between Johns Hopkins Hospital and the rest of the country whenever corneas for transplantation were needed. As you can imagine it was much quicker to do it via Amateur Radio than any other way at that time. In 1963 I was transferred by my company to Canada, and there I became K30NQ/VE3. Unfortunately, because I was travelling all over Canada for the next 3 ½ years, my hamming slowed down considerably so I sold my gear before we returned to the States in 1967.
Located in the Virginia Beach, VA, I became active again, and although still traveling on a smaller scale, I bought a Swan 350 and a Tri-Band Jr antenna and became W4RZB. Later moved to Gwynn’s Island, VA and was one of the radio liaisons for Jamestown and the voyage of the Godspeed from Greenwich, England to Jamestown, VA in 1985. My son WA4CHQ.....Neil....was radio operator aboard for that historic voyage. Don’t do as much hamming as in the past especially since the advent of the Internet, but it’s still great fun when I do, and a very rewarding hobby.