The Early W6YX

10 July '76

Stanford Amateur Radio Club
Durand Building, Rm. 202
Stanford, California 94305

Gentlemen:

When he sent me a W6YX QSL card covering our QSO of 8 January 1975, Mike [Heideman] (WA7MQX) printed on your card, "The Club would really appreciate it if you could send some info on the early Club." So I looked around for whatever things I still had that harked back to that period. And found that apparently someone had chucked them all out. So... all I have are memories. But they are somewhat still lucid, so here goes for whatever its' worth at this date:

The "shack" (Fall Quarter, Winter Quarter year 1929; Spring Quarter 1930) was right near the Fire Station. I don't remember what kind of antenna, but probably was a vertical, with counterpoise. (I believe the Club started about 5 years earlier.) There were only a handful of fellows who operated, including -- as I remember, -- W6CZ of whom I make a B&W photo but it's been removed from my old album and is nowhere to be found. A pity! W6CAE (Larry Higgins) was there. Larry graduated (6/16/30 Engineering) and wound up in Rhodesia (U.S.N. work). CW (code) was the only means by which "intelligence" got outside the club's doors. Believe a mercury vapor rectifier tube got the AC out, and think a 50-watt UV 203-A was the "final." (There was nil else, just the exciter, of course). Circuit used was a Tuned Plate Tuned Grid affair, using copper tubing in the tank circuit. The receiver was, I believe, some sort of "National"; regeneration with a stage of audio amplification.

My first call (6CEY) and then 6DAA soon thereafter, were used in Long Beach after 1924. While at Stanford, I wheedled W6HQ out of the gal at the SF office of the Dept. of Commerce (?) people. During the Depression, sold the gear and dropped W6HQ. Got back a few years ago as WN6MDR; then got the K6Waltzing Lion presently used. I got out of S.U. 16 June '30; worked for years as a private secretary in various jobs; then in Douglas A/C during WWII; then in 1945 formed a small company to distribute picture postcards (Mike Roberts makes one of the Stanford Chapel's mosaic front); I shoot the color views, write captions, and my wife & I (she's from San Bruno) invest in press runs of the postcards, which I handle distribution of to retailers between Malibu and San Clemente, plus Orange County and part of L.A. County.

I can use 10, 15, 20,m 40 & 80 meter bands (at least have the Yagi and Inverted Vees for same), but don't spend much time in the shack. Just don't seem to "Get Around To It" like I should; am still involved, self employed. However, recently got something from a friend that allowed me to "get around to it" and write you this letter. Am sending a copy of what my friend sent me. Perhaps someone in the Club can use it to help him get "around to it."