Tube Type CB Radios

[JoeBusDriver2]

I had a Comstat 25 as a kid! Picked it up at Lafayette Radio on Fordham Road in the Bronx, in the middle of a snowstorm. It had a 100 mw switch, so you could still operate on the channels where the FCC didn't allow talk between stations of different licenses! I think the FCC calls that I finally got were KOD 6*** or something. There were so many CBers on the air back then, that all I needed to do was throw a long wire out the window, and I could reach about 15 of them! When I finally put up a used Antenna Specialists Magnum half wave antenna, I was shocked at how many people were on the air. That antenna actually lasted over 30 years, and never caused one bit of TVI! Used it on 10 meters as well when I got my ham ticket. Those were the days!

That was my era. And my area !! I used to live up in white plains NY and I used to go down to the Lafayette stores in Yonkers, in The Bronx and New Rochelle. There was also another small electronics store across from the Lafayette on Central Avenue in Yonkers that sold CB and Ham gear. That's where I bought some of the parts to build my tone generator/encoder and decoders. I can;t remember the name of the store. Yeah, CB was packed in those days. Lots of good electronics stores back in those days. Also some good hamfests and... CB "coffee breaks"... the CB version of a ham fest (well sorta)...

 

[TheSpaceMan]

That was my era. And my area !! I used to live up in white plains NY and I used to go down to the Lafayette stores in Yonkers, in The Bronx and New Rochelle. There was also another small electronics store across from the Lafayette on Central Avenue in Yonkers that sold CB and Ham gear. That's where I bought some of the parts to build my tone generator/encoder and decoders. I can;t remember the name of the store. Yeah, CB was packed in those days. Lots of good electronics stores back in those days. Also some good hamfests and... CB "coffee breaks"... the CB version of a ham fest (well sorta)...

Interesting! I actually live quite close to White Plains now, in a town on the water (LI Sound). I think you may be referring to CRS electronics, run by a guy named Joel. He was right near Tuckahoe Road on Central Avenue, and he had a store filled with CB goodies! I bought quite a few microphones from him, as well as meters and coaxial cables. I think he might have been the guy who "peaked" my HR 2510, unless it was John "The Doc" from Parkchester in the Bronx. I remember the Coffee Breaks at the Cross Country Shopping Center and at the Adventurers Inn in Yonkers and in Whitestone Queens just over the bridge, and also at the White Castle restaurants both on Fordham Road and on Allerton Ave. in the Bronx. Do you remember any of the guys who were on the air back then? I still have a bunch of QSL cards from those characters, starting from the 2Qs, and 11Ws, and going through the KBGs, KBIs, KKDs, KMDs, KODs, and then on to the ones who eventually just used their CB handles. Brings back a heck of a lot of memories!

 

[JoeBusDriver2]

Interesting! I actually live quite close to White Plains now, in a town on the water (LI Sound). I think you may be referring to CRS electronics, run by a guy named Joel. He was right near Tuckahoe Road on Central Avenue, and he had a store filled with CB goodies! I bought quite a few microphones from him, as well as meters and coaxial cables. I think he might have been the guy who "peaked" my HR 2510, unless it was John "The Doc" from Parkchester in the Bronx. I remember the Coffee Breaks at the Cross Country Shopping Center and at the Adventurers Inn in Yonkers and in Whitestone Queens just over the bridge, and also at the White Castle restaurants both on Fordham Road and on Allerton Ave. in the Bronx. Do you remember any of the guys who were on the air back then? I still have a bunch of QSL cards from those characters, starting from the 2Qs, and 11Ws, and going through the KBGs, KBIs, KKDs, KMDs, KODs, and then on to the ones who eventually just used their CB handles. Brings back a heck of a lot of memories!

Yeah, I remember Joel from CRS. Matter of fact originally CRS was in the Bronx and back then Joel had an assistant who went by the handle of "Lucky" or "Mr. Lucky" or some name like that. Then he moved to Tuckahoe Road in Yonkers. The place on Central Ave across from Lafayette was called "Four-bee's Electronics". They later went to Yonkers Ave.
I used to keep a log book of most of the stations I heard or who talked to me then. There were so many back then. There were a lot of kids on back then who lived in the rich sections of Scarsdale, Yonkers, and New Rochelle. Then there were lots of older folks. There was a large crowd in downtown Yonkers and around Lockwood Ave. Then there were lots of people in the Bronx. I remember in particular one crowd in the Bronx that used to hang out on Channel 7 all the time. Then there were the "Monster stations" out in Bensonhurst and Coney Island Brooklyn. Some of them must have been running high power, they would come in here like locals. Can't remember any of the "handles" they used back then. Gotta give that some thought and maybe I'll recall a few names.

 

[TheSpaceMan]

Yeah, I remember Joel from CRS. Matter of fact originally CRS was in the Bronx and back then Joel had an assistant who went by the handle of "Lucky" or "Mr. Lucky" or some name like that. Then he moved to Tuckahoe Road in Yonkers. The place on Central Ave across from Lafayette was called "Four-bee's Electronics". They later went to Yonkers Ave.
I used to keep a log book of most of the stations I heard or who talked to me then. There were so many back then. There were a lot of kids on back then who lived in the rich sections of Scarsdale, Yonkers, and New Rochelle. Then there were lots of older folks. There was a large crowd in downtown Yonkers and around Lockwood Ave. Then there were lots of people in the Bronx. I remember in particular one crowd in the Bronx that used to hang out on Channel 7 all the time. Then there were the "Monster stations" out in Bensonhurst and Coney Island Brooklyn. Some of them must have been running high power, they would come in here like locals. Can't remember any of the "handles" they used back then. Gotta give that some thought and maybe I'll recall a few names.

That's right! CRS Joel was originally from the Bronx, but I don't remember where. Some handles I remember were... Sidewinder, Night Owl, Night Flyer, Star Man, Power Man, Tony the Pizza Guy, Newcomer, Gunner, 514, Master Blaster, Papa Bear, Big Sickle, Silvano, Little Steve, Ladybug, Thumper, ... I could go on and on. I have an old logbook somewhere as well, if I find it I could probably give you over 100 others!

 

[mike_gain]

I still have a Robyn T-123B tuber somewhere. I bought it new in 75, I think. It may be in the basement of my parents house. I would like to find an old Hygain 623. I think it had tube finals.

 

[JoeBusDriver2]

That's right! CRS Joel was originally from the Bronx, but I don't remember where. Some handles I remember were... Sidewinder, Night Owl, Night Flyer, Star Man, Power Man, Tony the Pizza Guy, Newcomer, Gunner, 514, Master Blaster, Papa Bear, Big Sickle, Silvano, Little Steve, Ladybug, Thumper, ... I could go on and on. I have an old logbook somewhere as well, if I find it I could probably give you over 100 others!

I remember "Blondie", "The Set Up Man", "Smokey (the Fireman)", "Running Bear", "Van Cort", "Carmella", "Green Hornet", "Cookie Monster", "Red Hot Chili Pepper", "Maniac", "Lady be Good", "Hungry Jack", just to name a few. But there were many more. Some of the ones you mentioned sound very familiar. If you find that logbook I'd like to hear some of those names. I might be one of them but I mostly listened and experimented with tone encoder/decoders.

 

[TheSpaceMan]

I remember "Blondie", "The Set Up Man", "Smokey (the Fireman)", "Running Bear", "Van Cort", "Carmella", "Green Hornet", "Cookie Monster", "Red Hot Chili Pepper", "Maniac", "Lady be Good", "Hungry Jack", just to name a few. But there were many more. Some of the ones you mentioned sound very familiar. If you find that logbook I'd like to hear some of those names. I might be one of them but I mostly listened and experimented with tone encoder/decoders.

I remember Blondie, Green Hornet, and Cookie Monster! There was kind of a clickish group that hung on Channel 7, and then you had a younger group who hung on Channel 10 and 11. The Spanish group hung on Channel 9, and we could hear them shouting "Cambio Nueve" all the time! There were a whole bunch of CBers who were located on Pelham Parkway, and then in Co Op City when that development opened, with their mobile antennas and 9 foot whips mounted on the terraces. I can remember "Hondo", who used to live in 187 St. near Arthur Ave. by Fordham Road, and then moved to Co Op City, and a high school girl named "Blue Eyes" who lived there too. Then there was a girl named "Green Eyes" who lived in Little Neck Queens! I had a 2 year CB "romance" with her, which turned out to be quite a hot fling during the Summer of '71! Everyone used to say that the CB YLs were dogs, but this "Green Eyes" was just a total knockout. I almost flipped out when I saw her for the first time! She actually tracked me down after a 2 year CB and phone fling, and one day just drove over and knocked on my door!!

 

[SteveInOregon]

reply > I'm seeking vintage SSB gear

I have a large collection of tube type radios and I mean large. I've been collecting for over 15 yrs and some I've had since the 60s/70s. If anyone has an interest in what I have ask for a brand/model and I'll look. I'm working on a list, All are in working order and have done some restoration. I've looked on ebay and I don't see many tubers.

Hello, I don't think there is a PM / private message capability here. I am looking for Swan 500 and 700 tube gear, or Palomar Skipper CB and associated amp's, and non tube old Stoner & CPI accessories , if You have those old timers please let me know.

regards
Steve

 

[ridgez28]

I do have a Palomar Skipper and in great shape. It looks new chrome case has no rust and no wear on panel

 

[TheSpaceMan]

I do have a Palomar Skipper and in great shape. It looks new chrome case has no rust and no wear on panel

Is it for sale? How old is it?

 

[N0ZQR]

Remember "hot" wiring the Johnson Messenger I's , II's and 223's ? Also what about using "black" tubes in place of the rectifier tube.

Ron

 

[MissouriRiverRat]

Whats the chances of you having a Regency Imperial II stashed away somewhere? I have 5 Johnson 223's and 5 blackfaces and a Courier 1M.Im looking for an Imperial II.

 

[peterwo2e]

yonkers crs cb store

That was my era. And my area !! I used to live up in white plains NY and I used to go down to the Lafayette stores in Yonkers, in The Bronx and New Rochelle. There was also another small electronics store across from the Lafayette on Central Avenue in Yonkers that sold CB and Ham gear. That's where I bought some of the parts to build my tone generator/encoder and decoders. I can;t remember the name of the store. Yeah, CB was packed in those days. Lots of good electronics stores back in those days. Also some good hamfests and... CB "coffee breaks"... the CB version of a ham fest (well sorta)...

i could remember Joe from CRS on Tuckahoe Rd, Yonkers. if still alive he sales on e bay now. joe would work on cb radios and sales all kinds of radios and linears. and the way he talk and explain things was really unique of this guy , lost a lot of weight by the end of the 80s. cant forget joe. nice guy. anybody out here has any news on CRS joe?

 

[TheSpaceMan]

i could remember Joe from CRS on Tuckahoe Rd, Yonkers. if still alive he sales on e bay now. joe would work on cb radios and sales all kinds of radios and linears. and the way he talk and explain things was really unique of this guy , lost a lot of weight by the end of the 80s. cant forget joe. nice guy. anybody out here has any news on CRS joe?

Went to CRS on Central Ave. many times! Bought a few microphones and antennas from Joel, and I think he modified my Uniden HR-2510. He was actually on the air often, and would talk to the locals in the Bronx and southern Westchester! I think he still buys and sells radios via the internet. Lafayette Radio on Fordham Road was where I got my walkie talkies and first new radio (Comstat 25) back in the late '60s!

 

[Robinsmark]

Comstat 25B

As a kid I had a Lafayette Comstat 25B - was a great radio. Combined
with the Sheakspear Big Stick antenna on the house roof was hard to beat.
I later used the antenna for 10 meter ham with a tuner.

YEP I remember the Laughing -Yet Comstat 25B. It used something called Heising Modulation in the transmitter. I still have my Shakespear Big Stick. It spent the past 9 years in my garage but I recently put it back up and did what you did, tuner on 10 meters. SWR on 11 meters is still good after all these years, but I plan on coating it so that more of the fiberglass does not peel away.

 

[TheSpaceMan]

As a kid I had a Lafayette Comstat 25B - was a great radio. Combined
with the Sheakspear Big Stick antenna on the house roof was hard to beat.
I later used the antenna for 10 meter ham with a tuner.

YEP I remember the Laughing -Yet Comstat 25B. It used something called Heising Modulation in the transmitter. I still have my Shakespear Big Stick. It spent the past 9 years in my garage but I recently put it back up and did what you did, tuner on 10 meters. SWR on 11 meters is still good after all these years, but I plan on coating it so that more of the fiberglass does not peel away.

I think Shakespear still makes the "Big Stick" antenna, although it is now advertised for marine use and is a lot more expensive!