(the January 2005 AWA Journal (Vol. 46 / #1) was launched as the AWA quarterly bulletin successor following the 45-year run as The Old Timer’s Bulletin with its first issue in January 1960 as Volume 1, No. 1)
The AWA Journal is AWA’s quarterly publication mailed to dues paying members. Its content is a mixture of columns, radio related news and feature articles on many different facets of communications history, personalities and technology. The Autumn issue features a discussion of upcoming AWA on-air events along with a review of past events; the Winter issue contains a retrospective of the AWA Annual Conference, with the Summer issue containing full details for that event.
From the Editor
Brrr! It was a chilly Saturday morning on May 2nd for the annual AWA Spring Meet. My first, actually. Early enthusiasts were greeted with a 37-degree temperature but the skies were generally clear and sun shine largely prevailed. The day did get (slightly) warmer. Coffee would have been a “hot” seller.
What could I easily see? On my 0700 arrival…cars, trucks and vans were already populating the parking lot of the Bloomfield Annex (formerly the AWA Annex) at the entry to the Village-owned spacious Veteran’s Park parking lot. The cars flowed in. Trunks were opened. Tailgates dropped. Tables were deployed. Collectables appeared.
Soon boxes, storage containers and vintage radio consoles and other larger items popu lated the parking lot as well. People too. The best estimate is that there were more than two dozen vendors in the lot. Several vendors were assisting with the disposition of estate sale items. Worthy causes for sure.
What could be found? Test equipment. Radio chassis. Collectables of all kinds. Vintage radio gear. Phonographs. Horns. Speakers. Books. Amateur radio gear, of course, including receivers, transmitters, linear amplifiers, transceivers, crystal sets, home-brewed gear, regen sets, parts, com ponents, antenna coupling units and so much more. Don’t forget the All-American Five radios dispersed across the tables and trunks. Table top and portable AM radios. Let’s not overlook the 4-, 6- and 8-transis tor radios. And tubes too many to count.
In the Annex, there was more to discover. Multiple tables were arrayed with boxes of attractively-priced AWA surplus books of all sizes and vintages. AWA smaller surplus flea market finds too numerous to count were nicely displayed on a long row of side tables. And there were three long rows of tables supporting some 130 AWA surplus items for the forthcoming Auction at 1300. The morning provided a grand opportunity to warm-up inside and peruse, examine, consider and photograph items under bid ding consideration just a bit later.
The day ended for most with the conclusion of the afternoon auction. But there was still work to be done. What could I not see? The dozens of AWA volunteers who deployed (and undeployed if that’s a word) the tables and chairs at the Annex. The volunteers who inventoried and carted the flea market and auction items to the Annex. Those who braved the morning cold and day-long chill to welcome the visitors at the entry “gate.” Those who were stationed at the AWA Communication Technology Museum for the 10-5 Museum open hours. The dozen or so volunteers who staffed the auction. And there were those who remained to perform the closing cleaning.
The Spring Meet was another proud ex ample of an uncounted and arguably underappreciated array of volunteers who helped to provide a day of fellowship, friendship, festivities and a measure of commerce for so many.
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