I was on the verge of not going to the Vienna Wireless Society's Winterfest Hamfest this year. We had just returned from a long trip. I was tired. Armand WA1UQO bailed due to a family obligation. But, since this is about the only hamfest that regularly attend, and because it is only about 5 miles down the road, I went.
As soon as I got there I started wondering if I should have stayed home. Here's why: Hallicrafter S-38s. Just about everywhere I turned, there were S-38s. I had never seen so many of these EVIL AC/DC trandformerless widow-makers. I watched in horror as innocent hams reached into their wallets and bought these little monsters. "Does it work?" asked one victim. "Well," said the seller, "it hums like crazy when you turn it on." Yea, I'll bet it does. (The guy bought it.)
It was kind of a Hallicrafters day. I even saw an Hallicrafters TV! See above.
Nothing big followed me home. I got a couple of nice variable caps (one with a reduction drive). A Radio Shack speaker. Some coax. A project box of BITX40 size. A Weller soldering gun slightly less beat up than the one I've had since age 13.
I got to meet Richard Choy of Midway Electronics. He has a business out in the Shenandoah Valley and is selling a neat little 2 watt CW transceiver kit. Go to midwayelecrronics.us/qrp for more info.
Oh yea, I got a kick out of this ENORMOUS BFO. I almost bought it for Pete (who is so fond of tiny little oscillators). This is a real Boatanchor BFO. I wonder how many Si5351s you could put in that box?
Thanks to VWS for putting on the 'fest. In spite of the S-38s, I had fun.