1955 - My VERY FIRST radio: A Remco Crystal Radio (received just ONE station...WABJ in Adrian, MI) using a 50 ft long wire antenna in the backyard.
1956 - First REAL radio.... An RCA AM tabletop model using the "All-American Five" tube combination. This radio hooked me to AM DXing. As an 8 year-old living in SE Michigan at the time, I was amazed I could regularly hear Boston, Denver, Salt Lake City, New Orleans San Antonio, etc., EVERY night on this radio.... The AM band was much less crowded in those days!
1962 - FIRST General Coverage Receiver...an RCA Model ACR-111, 16 tube monster built in 1937. I acquired this from a local ham operator. This radio could hear EVERYTHING! All the Class 1-A Clear Channels could be heard nightly in Riverside, CA where I was living at the time. I also got my first taste of ham and shortwave listening during this time.
1971 - First Scanner. I was living in Indianapolis by now and bought a Regency 8-channel VHF crystal scanner. Indy Police at the time used ONLY TWO frequencies: 155.01 (East Channel) and 158.85 (West Channel). Fire was on 154.07 or 154.19 if my memory is right. I STILL HAVE THIS SCANNER in FULL WORKING order.
1975 - FIRST Ham Rigs.... I got my Novice License in early 1975 and built a Heathkit Ham station. The Receiver was an HR10B. The transmitter was a DX-60B using an HG10 VFO. After assembly, I amazed myself...Everything worked (!) and I have been an active ham ever since.
Radio has been a fascinating, lifetime journey for me. GREAT MEMORIES !!!