Sept. 9, 1996 - It was my first trip to the MECCA of old radio. And I wasn't disappointed, unless you count not having enough money to spend. What ever you wanted in old radios, it was there. Parts, tubes, books, magazines, radio sets: Crystal, Regenerative, Super-regenerative, TRF, Superhetrodynes (old and newer), Ham Transmitters and Receivers.

Among the Ham standouts in the flea-market were: a HT-9, many early Hallicrafters receivers, Hammarlunds, Nationals, several Home-brew transmitters: 1930 Breadboard (like new), 1930's 4-tube 46'er (I got this), Globe, one early National transmitter (pre '41), early kit radios, Johnson Viking's I, Ranger I and II's.

At the communications auction on Thursday morning, low prices were offered and radios were sold at fair-to-low prices. Some of the radios were very nice sets. (Click here to see the Auction Report by Ludwell Sibley.)

The tube auction was also interesting, a DeForest Audion with one good filament going for $11 hundred. (Click here to see the Auction Report by Ludwell Sibley.)

I didn't stay for the Friday afternoon early wireless equipment auction as I was out of spending money. But for those who did stay, there was a very nice selection to choose from. There were early Crystal sets, Loose Couplers, WW-I military radios, Morse keys and sounders, and battery sets from many major manufacturers as well as some very rare sets. Bidding was active and the sale lasted until after 4:30 p.m. - (Click here to see the Auction Report by Ludwell Sibley.)

My bring-home treasurers were:

• (biggie first) an early 1930's transmitter using (I beleive) four #46 tubes; Osc, Buffer and two in parallel for the final. It is built on a small wooden frame with three horizonal wood panels. I was told it is called a "46'er" and was in a 1930's QST. It has all the original parts. The only two broken parts are two of the 5-pin Pilot surface mount bakelite sockets. Of course the old plywood needs to be reglued and pressed together. But other than that, it should work as-is; and I can't wait to get it on the air!

• A Spark Condenser in a wooden box. The plates are lead sheets separated by thin glass, coming out to two terminals.

• A small home made Crystal set.

• Four nice old speakers, including one totally made of wood with a driver in it's base and a Crossley Cone speaker. The two others were more common speakers.

• A box containing 45 QST magazines from the 20's.

• A box containing 75 Radio News magazines from the 30's.

• A 1929 Pilot Radio Catalog showing the Super-Wasp and parts.

• 1937 Montgomery Ward Electronic Catalog showing parts and Ham Radio Sets for sale.

• Very old General Radio Wave Meter (for my Wave Meter Collection).

• Ten Radio Design Magazines (by Pilot Radio Corp.)

• Five nice old books to add to my collection including a first edition Drake's Cyclopedia.

• Three WD-11 tube sockets, (one) to repair my 1920-21 John Reinartz receiver.

• A late 1920's Oak Battery Box, complete with 24 glass cells with hard rubber or bakelite tops.

• An early American Microphone catalog.

The crowd was pleasant and knowledgeable. More were over 60 years of age than under, I beleive. (Of course I'm only 4 years away from that myself!) I passed up microphones, keys, sounders, and just about everything a collector of radios would like to have. (There's always next year.)