[Boatanchors] Opportunity to help - AM at it's finest

[Bill Carns]

We wanted to let all of you know that the Collins Collectors Association, in
alliance with the Antique Wireless Association, has formed the Collins Radio
Heritage Group.

In May of this year, after making a (what we considered a long shot)
proposal to the government to have them donate one 22 ton Model 821A-1
Collins Radio 250 KW AM (That's 1 megawatt PEP) HF Autotune Shortwave
transmitter from the (to be demolished) Delano California Voice of America
station, we were awarded the transmitter. We had saved it, it seemed.  All
we had to do was get it out of the facility in 2 weeks from the time we were
notified.

Well, a team of CCA, AWA and retired Collins Radio engineers did it. 12
people - 2 weeks and we did it.

The transmitter, as well as the entire 20 foot wide "U" shaped Analog
control board, has been packed up, trucked to the AWA museum in Bloomfield
NY, and stored there. NOW, we have one year from last June to get it on
display in the museum, or we could lose it.

Why did we do this?  Not only did we feel like the technology was worth
saving and putting on display, but we have a plan...  A plan to use it, and
other technology from Collins, to leverage some dynamite STEM program plans.
We are going to tout this, the VOA story, and other technology from Collins
like their Gemini, Mercury and Apollo moon comm gear, as well as their
amateur radio line, to do free download apps for the kids smart phones and
iPads or Kindles. This will present them with fun technology puzzles and
rewards that expose them to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Maybe, just maybe, we will have some statistical significant impact on the
educational direction of our kids and thus the competitiveness of our
country.

You can help. We hope you will help. The expansion of the AWA museum to
house and display this monster and the VOA / Collins Radio display is
costing us just over $400,000.  We have already raised about $150,000. You
can read more about this on the AWA website or the Collins Radio Heritage
Group Website listed below. Just looking at that transmitter is worth the
look. The PA tubes weigh about 100 pounds each. The plate transformer comes
in at about 6000 pounds.

Please note:  You can help us..  Every small to large amount helps. We have
started a IndieGoGo fund raising effort and it is up and running. We ask you
to consider the future impact of what we are doing and go to  (this is where
you can help):
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/awa-museum-voice-of-america-250-kw-statio
n-display 

Read and Consider.  There is not a lot of room on Indiegogo for background
info so also go to:
http://www.collinsradio.org/821A/   on the Collins Collectors Association
http://www.collinsradioheritagegroup.org/?page_id=37  on the Collins Radio
Heritage Group website   or
http://www.antiquewireless.org/voa-delano-station.html  on the AWA website

This is a worthy effort where we all can make an impact. This is a chance to
make your hobby help in more ways than can be counted here..  We are going
to generate some - maybe a lot - of new hams along the way, you can bet on
that..  Take a look. As you can see from the proposal, the extraction plan,
the success, as well as the budget and effort so far, we are deadly serious
about making it all happen.

Regards, and Happy Holidays...  Join us, won't you and let's give some kid a
present of a new exciting future that he, or she, does not know about yet.


Bill Carns, N7OTQ (Trustee K0CXX)
Past President, Collins Collectors Association
Founding Board, Collins Radio Heritage Group
Editor, Signal Magazine
Wimberley, TX
512 618 2762  (Cell)
512 847 7010  (Home)