2014 at the Hammond Barn

[RHClarke]

Wet, wet and more wet. It was -1oC and raining when I got to the barn this morning and it was raining when I left the barn this evening. Most of the activity was inside the barn. Grant was busy at home, as was Bob. Our first task of the day was to break through the ice that had built up near the stream that runs under the road to the barn. It clogs up some times, so Bob dumped a load of road salt onto the top layer. We managed to break through three layers of ice, but the water level had not dropped off when we left it. Bob headed out for more domestic chores. He had to move a mountain of cat crap so he headed off with the trusty tractor to do so. I headed to the barn as the temperature broke into the postive value zone.

After lunch, Bob joined me at the barn to work on an old snowblower that was giving me some trouble. Bob and Grant repaired the broken shear pin and adjusted the drive train so that both wheels turned when in gear. Today's project was to repair the "fuel pump" - a plastic housing with three hose ports and a diaphram inside. There are replacements available, but we like to get max value out of our machinery, so we did a small repair on the housing. It was left to dry off near Lucifer and we will test it at a later date.

We had two visitors this afternoon. Bob's neighbour Bruce, stopped in with a friend to see if Bob could press out some bushings from a set of lower control arms. While Bob played with the press, I worked on my Pilot Model HUP running boards - see the new post under the Pilot Model Resto thread. This took up the afternoon, and as the day darkened, I splashed my way home. When this stuff freezes tonight, there are going to be problems. I am keeping my fingers crosssed.

Photos:
1 - Hammond weather report - ignore the days indicated - the forecast is the same for the remaining days of the week.
2 - Ice has formed on top of everything.
3 - The barnyard is a skating rink.
4 - Bob inspecting my welding - passed this time!

[RHClarke]

This weekend was a bit different. Bob decided that he would invite anyone who was interested in WS19 sets to join him on Saturday in the firing up of his radio set, and to talk about related issues.

The attendance was sparce, but those who did show up were treated to a very interesting session. And of course, when Bob hosts an event, he does it right. We had snacks throughout the afternoon and a few brown pops.

Stuart F, Grant, and I were treated to a tube testing session where Bob made good use of his test kit. Once a tube was identified, Bob went to the guide in the test kit and made the requiste switch settings. Most of the tubes tested were usable, but a few had deteriorated.

Following the tube testing, Bob fired up his WS19 set and tested the mic and earphones. There were some technical issues that were sorted out thanks to Stuart's original pocket guide checklist. Having a licensed radio operator handy ensured that we were not doing anything untoward with the spectrum. Other issues were beyond our capabilities. However, it was pleasant way to spend a snowy afternoon at the Hammond Barn.

Photos
1 - Bob holding court at Chateau Hammond in his newly appointed radio shack
2 - Tubes for testing - the big tube was not tested
3 - Stuart waxing eloquent on things tubular
4 - Grant eagerly awaiting Bob's first call
5 - The tube test set can be seen in the background

[Jon Skagfeld]

Originally Posted by RHClarke

This weekend was a bit different. Bob decided that he would invite anyone who was interested in WS19 sets to join him on Saturday in the firing up of his radio set, and to talk about related issues.

The attendance was sparce, but those who did show up were treated to a very interesting session. And of course, when Bob hosts an event, he does it right. We had snacks throughout the afternoon and a few brown pops.

Stuart F, Grant, and I were treated to a tube testing session where Bob made good use of his test kit. Once a tube was identified, Bob went to the guide in the test kit and made the requiste switch settings. Most of the tubes tested were usable, but a few had deteriorated.

Following the tube testing, Bob fired up his WS19 set and tested the mic and earphones. There were some technical issues that were sorted out thanks to Stuart's original pocket guide checklist. Having a licensed radio operator handy ensured that we were not doing anything untoward with the spectrum. Other issues were beyond our capabilities. However, it was pleasant way to spend a snowy afternoon at the Hammond Barn.

Photos
1 - Bob holding court at Chateau Hammond in his newly appointed radio shack
2 - Tubes for testing - the big tube was not tested
3 - Stuart waxing eloquent on things tubular
4 - Grant eagerly awaiting Bob's first call
5 - The tube test set can be seen in the background

2. the big tube, more properly referred to as a valve...why didn't you test it?

It's only an 807.

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Jon

Now I get it..... the big tube was the beer bottle behind the tube set... I mean the valve set.....

Wish we had your expertise closer to us..... do you make house calls.

I recently acquired a military Hickok TV 7 A/U ........ circa late 40s specifically to use on the old army radios. Similar model were used in Canada sold by Starke but made by Hickok.

It has been recently calibrated and tested with special calibration tubes I purchased seperately ... 6L6 and 12XA7.

The only component I cannot, yet, test is the little red can EF50 which I can find in my data sheets.... in fact not sure if it is proper to call it a "valve".

Found some NOS E1148 in TO with the box marked as for WS 19 sets....

Every tube/valve from the WS 19 sets are still available on EBay..... a lot of ot is still made fresh from Serbia, Russia, Lituania..... but I am limiting myself to US/CDN made new old stock.

All and any advice is welcome...... now I wished I had listened more attentively when you gave a presentation on the 19 sets at one of the Convoy gathering.

Bob C.

[RHClarke]

Just a quick note to say that we spotted the elusive Carriere in his natural habitat yesterday. It is alive!

[Grant Bowker]

As it starts to feel as if the never-ending winter might be coming to an end here are a few photos. The snow splitter on the barn roof seems to have worked, the collar around the stovepipe stayed in place in spite of the snow loads and freeze/melt cycles with snow alternately building up and sliding off the roof. Recovery season is on the way (I think) and there are already a couple of parts trucks lined up to pick up so the trailers have been more or less dug out. One good thing about the snow buldup, it makes it easier to get to the roofs of the containers without ladders.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Grant

Couple of good ideas in your last post, like the snow splitter, my furnace stacks on the garage and barn are located about two feet from the peak and for the first time the ice and snow mix formed a solid collar around them and when the snow started to creep of the metal roofs it tried to pull them off. Will have to follow the idea in the spring and add a splitter.

The second great idea is the giant beer coolers, put a couple of sheets of 2" Styrofoam insulation over the snow, and the beer should stay cool through the end of July.

Cheers Phil

[charlie fitton]

Originally Posted by RHClarke

.....were treated to a tube testing session where Bob made good use of his test kit. Once a tube was identified, Bob went to the guide in the test kit and made the requiste switch settings. Most of the tubes tested were usable, but a few had deteriorated.....

I used to do this with my dear ol' Dad many years ago. We'd take a whack of tubes to the corner store, use every trick to find the serial numbers, cross reference to the catalogue, set the machine, test the tube, label and pack them away.

fond memory - thanks