Reasons to be cheerful...

[xelasnave]

An excellent piece of art there Col.

All I had from 13 years thru to 19 was a crystal set... I had a small reel to reel tape recorder and taped from the wires to the ear piece.

You certainly should be cheerful with such talent.

alex

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[croweater (Richard)]

Originally Posted by FlashDrive

Yah don't need them ...good longwire Aerial and a good Earth and ' high impedance Head Phones ....sit back and relax and enjoy Led Zepplin + others.....

Are they still hooked into the seventy's Col

[glend (Glen)]

Back when I was a young fellow, I built a 2 metre Heathkit amateur radio transceiver. Mostly all I ever got from it was static, probably because I had no antennae. But still it was rewarding. I went on to a career in an electronics related field, telecommunications, microwave systems, and encrypted networking for banks. Still the old Heathkit rig kicked it all off.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Originally Posted by croweater

Are they still hooked into the seventy's Col

Sometimes .... Radio Stations still play the ' old ' favorites ...

[xelasnave]

I really need to take photos before/as I am pulling things apart

I decided to shorten the shaft on my trolling motor...so simple what could go wrong?
I watched some videos ...and why do folk post a video of how to do something when it is their first time..hardly an expert...

Not only did I not take photos but took no notice of where things came from....I did put the screws in a container at least.

So cutting the shaft was easy ( you insert a metal strip so you do not cut the wires) but when I went to put it all back together it just did not fall into place and it took me ages to reassemble the thing...I suppose the good thing is it really tests your ability to work out how it all works...Anyways it is all back together and the shortened shaft length really makes sense...and man am I cheerful...assuming when I test it everything works..if not just more opportunity to build my character

This boat project has been so much fun and satisfying as there have been various hurdles to overcome.

When I went out in the boat on Sunday and when I got back to the pontoon I could not get out of the boat as my circulation in my legs was badly effected by seating on such a low seat...it would have been a sight to see me rolling onto the pontoon and crawling to a thing that I could use to stand up....so the reality seems to be that I must fit a normal chair and the resulting instability issues means I will need an outrigger and although that sounds simple it is not...Anyways the challenge of working out how to do it and make it simple and transportable will keep me occupied for a fair while I expect.

Thankfully the boat project has made it easier to accept clouds with the new Moon somehow.

alex

[xelasnave]

I went fishing today.

The seating problem is solved with tests using a simple camp folding chair..the height is not causing the issues I expected so knowing it is more stable than I expected happily no outriggers and I will just buy a suitable chair and mount it the same height as the camp chair..very cheerful as the outrigger thing although doable was just one more complication that I do not want.

I had a fantastic day...it was forecast for rain but only had a short very light shower ..only needed my jacket although I did bring my dry as a bone...

Still not enough guts to raise the sail...the storm clouds made me fearful so I copped out.

I still had to crawl along the pontoon as even though the seating is better my legs just can't hack it..I even sat there doing exercises.., but on the bright side I took knee protectors and that made the crawling easy...Anyways a small price to pay.

Tried a bait I heard about on the web...chicken breast soaked in red food colouring...I prepared it the night before and you would not believe it...the sandwich bag with chicken and a bottle of red...had a hole in it...never ever have I had a fresh/new sandwich bag come with a hole in it...anyways red all thru my fridge when I opened it this morning...
AND it got on everything in the boat..everything..it looked as though an axe murder had taken place.

However the fish went nuts for it..three good bream, lost two big ones around rocks and had 3 lines bitten thru..tailor I expect..plus 2 small Taylor and a small bream under size...it was non stop action.

So very very cheerful...and the outboard went fine as I sorted the cut out issues during the week...fish finder works more but not all the way yet.


Very cheerful.

alex

[Leo.G (Leo)]

Originally Posted by FlashDrive

I'm cheerful , as I've just finished making another Crystal Set.

Carbon fibre or fibre wrap, so 21st century, lol. It does look AMAZING!
I wouldn't even know where my sons old crystal radio set he's had for years is BUT, it never looked like yours.


I just found my old crystal radio, larger crystals I think but it does run on a 6 volt supply (quite rare). I didn't build it however, some fella named "Kreisler" did.
And yes, it's grubby, I really should take better care of my old junk but it did get a damp micro-fibre cloth wiped over it. Now I'm going to disassemble it and give it a proper clean with a compressor and maybe some polish.




https://i.postimg.cc/cJbK9Pzd/20231122-102051.jpg


I really must replace the old wax paper capacitors if I can identify them, they are not easy to identify and even harder obtaining a circuit diagram but the device is functional when a good earth is fitted, and it's short wave.

[pmrid (Peter)]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

I went fishing today.

...
Very cheerful.

alex

I am sure there are many, like me, who enjoy your nautical adventure vicariously. But I draw the line at the image your latest post created of you on hands and knees crawling along a pier covered in some blood-like goo and dragging a supply of fish behind.

It's amazing that you were not swept up by the local constablurary.

[PCH (Paul)]

Originally Posted by FlashDrive

I'm cheerful , as I've just finished making another Crystal Set.

Is that made from a kit Col, or built from scratch?

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Originally Posted by PCH

Is that made from a kit Col, or built from scratch?

Not a Kit ...... I have lots of Radio parts here...I made this from the many bits and pieces I have,

I've got so much old ' vintage ' 1920's to 1950's Radio stuff in my cupboard.

Col....

[Leo.G (Leo)]

Originally Posted by FlashDrive

Not a Kit ...... I have lots of Radio parts here...I made this from the many bits and pieces I have,

I've got so much old ' vintage ' 1920's to 1950's Radio stuff in my cupboard.

Col....

You wouldn't know where I could get a schematic for my old Kreisler would you?
I could draw the basic schematic myself but identifying the capacitors is near impossible, old wax paper stuff.
I grew up in a place with sheds and an old water tank (door cut into the thing and used for storage) full of old radio gear, tape recorders (reel to reel and wire spring) and sound gear from the early 1900s, I used to have fun playing with it all as a kid. strangely enough other than my radio gram and a few old valve mantle radios I have little valve stuff, I used to have some nice valve amplifiers back in the day, many of which I should have kept.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Originally Posted by Leo.G

You wouldn't know where I could get a schematic for my old Kreisler would you?
I could draw the basic schematic myself but identifying the capacitors is near impossible, old wax paper stuff.
I grew up in a place with sheds and an old water tank (door cut into the thing and used for storage) full of old radio gear, tape recorders (reel to reel and wire spring) and sound gear from the early 1900s, I used to have fun playing with it all as a kid. strangely enough other than my radio gram and a few old valve mantle radios I have little valve stuff, I used to have some nice valve amplifiers back in the day, many of which I should have kept.

Google the Model Number of your Kreisler and if possible the Year of Manufacture ... mention in your search 6volt powered.

Col....

[Leo.G (Leo)]

Thanks Col, I haven't had much luck doing that so far. The low voltage models weren't so common though I'd expect in regional areas they would have to be more common due to power constraints back then.

[xelasnave]

For those interested I understand Jaycar have "kit" crystal sets for under $30...I intend getting one just because...

Well I added another set of reef points to my red sail but although I went to Ballina today ( left home at 3am to launch around day break) I did not get to try the sail out...The weather man said rain all day however I had a few drops only...but on the way back as soon as I left Ballina it poured all the way to Casino and rained moderately from Casino to home.

After fishing I was just too tired to test the sail which is unfortunate because the wind was mild.

Played more with the fish finder and finally have it showing the sonar history and the chart but just can not get the A column working ( current pings)...maybe next time...

I had a great day fishing bagging 5 good sized bream and happily my new chair worked well which was a big help for my legs..I still had to crawl over the pontoon but once I reached my support thingy I was able to stand up easier...

But it was a real pain retrieving the boat as by this time a wind had picked up which made getting the boat lined up for the trailer very difficult but I stayed calm and after a few attempts lucked out and got it lined up and then out of the water...by this time I was really exhausted but somehow content that I had a great day and overcame various little issues...what gets me is my trailer backing is terrible..once I was an expert ...they must be making trailers different I guess.

So more reasons to be cheerful.

alex

[Leo.G (Leo)]

For those interested I understand Jaycar have "kit" crystal sets for under $30...I intend getting one just because...

They won't look like Cols.
I probably have everything here to build one, whether or not I'd bother.
In saying that I like my old junk, I have a matched pair of communication phones that came from the HMAS Voyager during her fit out that was her last maintenance, her first voyage out resulted in the most horrific peace time maritime disaster in Australia's history I believe.
My guardian where I grew up as a kid was a friend of the former captain who gave him the pair of magneto phones removed during the fit out to hook up between the house and his shed so his wife could let him know when it was lunch or dinner time. I ended up in possession of the units which I still have.

what gets me is my trailer backing is terrible..once I was an expert

Does your trailer have a short draw-bar?
Trailers with short draw-bars are finicky, they kick around so fast and there is no correcting the things. I've cut several from trailers over the years and welded on longer units, not only do the trailers back much easier they also tow better but that's also dependant on the placement of the axle.


I have a boat trailer here I have to fit an axle and springs on, it's a tilt trailer and originally had a movable axle system which could be unbolted and moved through a series of holes along the side rails and re-bolted in place, dependant on load. I used it for my 20 foot kayak which is too heavy to carry or lift on a box trailer racks, that always took a minimum of 4 people (it has extremely thick glass on the base to withstand the forces of the sail kit and the trampoline kit when converted to a single hull sail unit or a catamaran with a second hull). It came with it's own strap on set of wheels to move it around: I long ago gave the original trailer axle to another man in need (complete with guards attached to the axle assembly) because it had torsion bar suspension, rubber pulled through the corners or square tube with square axle within. It was suitable for a heavier boat (18' trailer) but the stiffness of the suspension was way too harsh for my heavy canoe, nowhere near as heavy as an 18' glass fibre boat. I have axles and springs here, I have appropriate gauge angle to weld up a system to allow me to make the axle adjustable as per the original design, I probably have sheet here I can bend up for guards and fit to the adjustment angle. I just have to get out and do it, one day maybe.
I have so much to do "One day". I even have a rare model Austin Healey Sprite to do a ground up restoration on one day. It has the MKII 2 square wheel arches and the front disc brakes and wind up windows of a MKIII, 1500 made. It went on the production line in Zetland as an MG midget, got re-badged and came of as a Sprite.

I don't have a garage and doing it in a sloping grass yard just won't be right.

[xelasnave]

I don't think my trailer has a short draw bar and if it does I will just need to manage as I am not going to cut and weld a thing.

Good luck with your projects.

alex

[Leo.G (Leo)]

When confronted with the problem it's usually just a matter of turning slightly less or the things spin off fast. Eventually you get used to the reversing capabilities/nuances of any trailer.