KT-135

 Readers Comments!

 

Subject:  We all got a start some place, Mine was in SWL land !

 

Carol - Seeing your KT 135 brought a tear to my eye.  I built one in 1970 after finding a partially assembled one in the garbage!   Some parts were missing but at  the  time I was living in the Bronx, New York City, and Lafayette still had a store there so I was able to get the missing parts and order the cabinet .   The original cabinet was  not as nice a cabinet as yours.  I recall it was gray - a fabric covering? Occasionally see a KT 135 on ebay.  Anyway, thanks for sharing your KT 135 with us. Jack  <swlr at att.net>

 

Hi Carol - That was also my first receiver circa 1959. I've been trying for years to remember what it was but the picture reminded me. I remember hours
of listening to that new-fangled duck talk.
Cliff

 

Hi Carol - This is a great article. Thanks for writing it and making it available. The fascination of antique radios is difficult, if not impossible to explain to those that have no interest. To own one is to be taking an active part in appreciating the genius of Morse, Farnsworth and Armstrong. Thanks again for the great input you continually provide to the group - far beyond "owner/moderator". Vy 73,

Bill - K6WWH

 

Hi Carol - Great job on the KT-135 website! I love it. The Explor-Air was my first kit and mine probably did look like a caveman built it! I remember that we had to make a special trip out to get some rosin core solder. All my father had was the acid core stuff for plumbing, and it was about 1/8" thick. I was about 12 years old. Looking back, I haven't really made all that much progress from those days...hi. Still doing basically the same stuff.
No problem with your linking to my site. I appreciate the exposure even though I can't even keep up with the work now! I would like to put in a link on my site to yours if you don't mind, next time I do an update.
73, Russ WQ3X
 Relic-Tronics

 

Hi Carol,  I just got done reading your article about the little Lafayette radio and Howard Armstrong.  It was wonderful.  I grew up along about the same time as you did (born in 48, but that’s close) and could really appreciate what you had to say.  You continue to enlighten me daily with all of your knowledge.  Keep up the good work and thank for all of it.  John Thompson  KB9TPG 

 

I had to comment on the KT-135 website.  I had one too--in about 1959.  After two weeks of waiting--honest, I could hardly sleep, it finally arrived on a HOT July afternoon.  I unpacked it and started putting it together on our screened in back porch.  At 2 o'clock in the morning it was just too much and I finally conked out.  I was back at it when the birds started singing.  I did NOT leave the porch where it was being built!  After a couple of parts not quite in the right place--it came to life!   Not wanting to cut corners, I sprung for the 'leatherette' case.  I can still remember the smell.  Then over the months I started modifying it--little by little.  I drilled a hole in the lovely leatherette case to put a whip antenna and a handle.  Now it was a field radio.  Of course you recognize that this was an AC/DC radio which resulted in some thrilling moments when reaching around the back and I being well grounded! But then the winter nights in the basement.  Too cold for the summertime porch.  Radio Moscow, our arch enemy, was there playing 'Midnight in Moscow' and my favorite show--Moscow Mailbag.  VOA and the CBC was there also.  And on and on.  The QSL cards started rolling in.  At that time Popular Electronics magazine had an official shortwave listener's club.  You even got a call sign!  Mine was WPE0AXY.  What a thrill.  Well, until I heard the hams on 3982 MHz SSB.  The regen worked fine for that.  And I was hooked on a ham.  Another story.  But it was that little radio that gave me everything I have now.  I became a ham and I spent my years in broadcasting---and still am.  Thanks for the website. Thanks KT-135! DE Dennis, W0QR (aka WPE0AXY)