Thanks to Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, and Bob Heil, K9EID, visitors to W1AW can now see and operate the gear they (or their forebears) may have used to work the world in the 1950s and '60s.

Friday, June 18, 2004, will be remembered at ARRL HQ as the day W1AW received its Vintage/AM station. The new station, consisting of a National NC-303 receiver and E. F. Johnson Viking Valiant transmitter (along with a customized Heil microphone and other accessories), was made possible by the generosity of Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, and Bob Heil, K9EID. Although Joe and Bob were not able to be on hand, their presence was felt Friday morning, as the gear arrived via a van in the company of Jeff Wynegar, KA9TOC; Jeff Benedict, AA9JC, and Larry Yaw, W9AMR. Larry, who runs a radio repair and restoration shop in South Bend, Indiana, spiffed up the gear, which dates from the late 1950s, and the three hams drove nonstop overnight from South Bend to make the delivery.

The idea for the station arose during Joe and Bob's visit to ARRL HQ and W1AW in early March. The journey began in May, in Studio City, California. After a short trip to Long Beach, it was then loaded into WD9HHN's 18 wheeler, which travels between Long Beach and St Louis each week. KA9TOC and W9AMR took possession of the gear at the Dayton Hamvention, and after three weeks of tweaking and testing, it was ready for the last leg--the overnight express to Newington.

Following an overnight stay in the Hartford area, the three 9-landers, W9AMR, KA9TOC and AA9JC, were back for some lower-key fun on Saturday morning, providing W1AW/90 contacts on 75 and 40 before heading back to Indiana.

Next time you're in the area, stop by to see the new operating position, which can be cranked up during the normal visitor operating schedule.

Coincidentally, there's now an ARRL Web page devoted to AM--have a look!

By Joel P. Kleinman, N1BKE
Managing Editor, QST

Update, May, 2020

The National NC-303 and the Johnson Valiant are now located in the ARRL Heritage Museum room, off of the ARRL Laboratory, where they have been used by ARRL staff members and vistors to ARRL Headquarters.  Look for it during AM operating events, such as the AM Rally, AWA AM QSO Party and Electric Radio's Heavy Metal Rally

Bob Allison

WB1GCM

ARRL LAB