Mike KD2MNR invited all those who checked into his Saturday morning ‘8:35 on the 805’ Net to comment on their ‘favorite communication device of all time’.
When it was my turn, I described what, in my mind, was the most beautiful and exciting radio I know which is a Hallicrafters Sky Champion Model S-20R, my first radio, given to me by my father when I was about 7 years old.
It sat on a table next to my bed and every night after bedtime, I’d use the headphones my dad had used as an Army pilot in WWII to listen to short wave broadcasts from around the world. Amazing!
I’ve lusted after this radio for years and as you can see, I have a copy of the original manual in preparation for some day acquiring and restoring one.
Just after this morning’s 8:35 Net on the OMARC repeater Mike came to our home under the guise of asking for my advice on ‘a couple of radios’ he had. As you can see from the picture above what he really had in his truck was a Hallicrafters Sky Champion Model S-20R that is fully operational!
When Mike heard my description, he understood how much this radio meant to me and was able to find one somewhere on the world wide web. He told me it was my Christmas and next birthday gift all wrapped up in one. The Sky Champion was born in 1939 and I came along a few years later in August of 1942. My dad gave me my first Sky Champion in 1949 and Mike has given my ‘new one’ in 2022. I’m a very fortunate and grateful guy!
More about Hallicrafters Sky Champion Model S-20r at: https://antiqueradio.org/halli10.htm.
Thank you so much Mike, you are a great friend!