[bars] Recap

[Andy Wallace]

Hi Bammi. I’d never flame anyone! But yes it is primarily nostalgia. I think that era of National radios were very handsome in the grey hammertone. 

Good that you understand the theory. I have used tube rigs since getting into SWL and hamming in the 70s but never really did serious repairs or design. 

To me (maybe John and Jim would agree) using a tube rig occasionally is like owning and enjoying a vintage car. You have to accept the flaws and limited performance in some cases but I get a lot of pleasure out of hearing signals from afar on a radio desined and built in the days of slide rules. Perhaps for John and Jim it is also a connection to a previous owner of the rig - especially if it came from a relative. 

I also like using something made in the USA. 

The sound is sometimes better than modern rigs. 

My dad (W1HH) loved his Collins 75A-4 back in the day but his main ham station was always current technology so the Collins got pushed aside when things like Kenwood and Yaesu rigs became better than even Collins. 

In fact I enjoy my one year old IC-7300 very much and wish he was still alive to see it. He might call it a 75A-5 given how configurable the filtering is and how helpful the waterfall is. 

But using an old radio - like driving a Model T with two clutch pedals perhaps - causes you to slow down, fiddle with fewer controls, and just enjoy the experience. 

I guess that sums it up for me!

Perhaps you could write a few paragraphs for the newsletter about what tube concepts you have learned? Hand written diagrams would be fine. 

Take care!
Andy


On Jun 12, 2020, at 10:47 AM, Jwahar Bammi <jbammi at mac.com> wrote:

Andy,
Can you explain what makes at the NC-125 so revered. It was before my time, but i did get a chance to sit at one for an extended play, have to admit i didn’t “get it”. I love playing around with tube equipment and understand tube circuits, but don’t get their value beyond nostalgia - which i admit is perfectly legit, and totally get the pride of owning one of these beauties in prime shape, but performance no.

donning fire suit in anticipation of oncoming flames,

73 de k1jbd
bammi


> On Jun 12, 2020, at 9:32 AM, Andy Wallace <soldersmoke01 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Jim, did you get a helpful response?
> 
> Folks on this list are probably evenly divided between knowing about tube radios and never having seen or heard one. Folks, google the National NC-125. :) I do not have one, but have one in similar size and circuit: the NC-98. 
> 
> Replacing capacitors and aligning the set is not a beginner’s job. 
> 
> I would suggest exploring this site:
> 
> www.antiqueradios.com/forums/index.php
> 
> There you may find people willing to help. 
> 
> Also, the local antique radio club is NEVEC and (pre COVID) meets four times a year. See www.nearc.net
> 
> Good luck and I hope someone can assist!
> Andy
> KA1GTT
> 
> 
> On Jun 9, 2020, at 1:50 PM, Jim Fraser <jcfraser at att.net> wrote:
> 
> Hello,
> I’m an old new ham. Formerly K6LOW, In Los Angeles now KC1GGT in Acton
> 
> I’m looking for someone to recap my ca. 1955 National NC-125 receiver and align it. I will pay, of course.
> 
> Jim Fraser
> KC1GGT
> jcfraser at att.net
> 978 263 5546
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
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