From: "George Gingell" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: Re: Memory Lane Not [OT] Date: Saturday, December 01, 2001 4:23 AM Hi Ken, I see that you are getting a few responses to your Query already. First off, it is 624 Kits, Not 642 Kits. I can not recall the Genltemans Name and/or Call Sign right now, But I am sure I have his Catalog and other Details stashed away Somewhere in the Library File Cabinets. 624 Stood for 6/2/440 Meters Kits He began building RF AMPs for those Bands and later branched out into Qrp Stuff. I have a couple of his kits stashed away also. Seems like he was in NC or VA. Bruce Williams,WA6IVC, as Bruce Muscolino mentioned Made and Sold the MXM Receiver Kit. I have one of those also. As I recall, I had a problem with it, which Bruce fixed and Returned to me (NO CHARGE). I think it was a circuit board trace, but could be mistaken, It was quite some time back now. Bruce is a (SK). Doug DeMaw, W1FB Did have his own Operation and Sold a few Small Kits, and Information Packets. He sold out to Oak Hills Research, who merged his small product line with their Transceiver line. They have since been sold to MorseX, N1FN, Marshall Emm. Who Incedently carries many other Small QRP Specialty Products from other Vendors as well as the Oak Hills and MorseX Product lines of Transceivers, Wattmeter, Keys, and Morse Code Software and other items. I just purchased one of the "CHRISTMAS KEYS" from him. Only 200 Made. They may actually all be sold by now, They were going like hot cakes! Last that I heard. Bet he wishes that he would have made the Number 500. :^} Maybe you other guys and gals can get on the list for 2002 :^} I got # 73, Eat your heart out. :^} OBTW I saw a "MXM" advertised for sale here on QRP-L yesterday. Tejas Kits, K5BDZ were a nice clean design. I have one or two packed away in the MDmW Museum Library also. Seems like I also recall a Little Wattmeter Kit Also. Bill is active here on the list and can give you details I am sure. I vaguely Recall Digitrex. I recall them at Dayton one year. WB8VGE might have had one. No, Someone else there in DAYTON, OHIO area had one. His Call Slips my mind just now, but he was another of the Ohio Good Guys. I camped out at his house one year. Seems like i recall a Digital Readout Display on the rig. I can almost picture it, but sorry I can't recall the details. I believe there were some Board only Kits for a couple of the rigs. Like Radio Kit and one that was a knock off of Dave Bensons SWL Rig. One of our parts suppliers had a big of parts and pcb for Daves Kit. If you bought Daves Kit, It worked right off, no problem. The Knock off kit did not work. It had at least one error on the pcb. Maybe more. I don't recall the details. I do recall hearing someone complaining that it did not work and Dave Benson Fixed it for him. NO CHARGE, and it wasn't even his kit. An UNAuthorized Version. I don't have the details, But I definately believe the story. Also the Boards for the Radio Kit were available from Far Circuits I believe. Rich Littlefield Designed the Rig. Micro-20 ? I think there was also a 15 Meter Version. The Article Appeared in Ham Radio Magazine. There were a few others not mentioned, I may dig around a bit and come up with more details. I had one that Was an 80 Meter TX with built in Power Supply and Keyer. Little Company up in PA. I traded it to the Gentleman that Origionally Designed it for his personal Collection. He also had a keyer kit which he sent to me. There was also Small Parts Center, Chris Hethorn, KM8X. He did Parts and several Simple but well done kits. Diode Detector Wattmeter, Twofer II, Micro-30, and some Simple Converters for HF using NE602's. Chris Sold out to OHR in December of 1990. OHR also Bought Doug Demaws Operation around the same time. Dick Witzke, KE8KL was the Owner of OHR at that time. I got the Doug Demaw QRP Design Notes from him at that time. Some time later OHR was sold to Marshall Emm,N1FN where it resides now. 624 Kits was Pat Bunn, N4LTA of Spartanburg, SC in 1991. Several of his kits were improvements on some that appeared in QST and other places. I recall a Universal TX Kit what was nicely done. Also likely in hiding down in the museum. Well, I guess that is enough Memory Lane for me tonight.. It is now 4 am and I should have been to bed hours ago... That's the trouble with this stuff, one little peek in the cabinet and there goes the time... A lot of things started happening in the past ten-fifteen years in QRP, Look at all of the wonderful stuff that is available today as a result of that simple beginning. Now we have K1's, K2's, SWL+, RHR, OHR, Sierras, and untold other odds and ends. Even the Big Companies are falling in line to make and sell QRP Stuff. That's because We are where it's At ! The Real Fun in Ham Radio Begins Right Here... May the Force {QRPp} be with you all, GN Sir George, The First :^} 72 ES QRP DX TU (C) 1986, G. "Danny" Gingell, K3TKS@ abs.net Former QRP A.R.C.I. Net Manager and Board of Director Member. Gingell & Company, Ltd. Small Business Telephone Systems Commercial Locksmith Services (301) 572-6789 Office & Fax George D. Gingell, Jr. 3052 Fairland Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904-7117 Maryland Milliwatt Club QRP Reference Library, (301) 572-6789 IQRR #1 Maryland Milliwatt Club Founder and Trustee of Club Station - WQ3RP - Grid Square FM19mb 76.94 W - 39.06 N Silver Spring, MD 20904 QRPea.A. Collector of Quartz Crystals and Telegraph Keys. "72" = "Wishing You Good QRP" (C) 1991 Oleg Borodin, RV3GM