I have always been labeled as a dreamer and my family would joke about how I spent all my time looking at books and catalogs and dreaming up these big projects that I would build or make if I could afford to. But I memorized every catalog I could get my hands on. Radio Shack Sears, Penny's and the big one Heatkit ....
I have had the "Radio Bug" since I was a young boy around 6-7 years old as I recall. Because I was born in 63 and we left our farm in 1970 when my parents divorced. Leaving me to be around 7 years old. And this occurred while we lived in the 3 story brick farm house. Near Lockbourne Ohio, which is just south of Columbus Ohio where I was born.
My half brother would go and visit his real dad on weekends etc, And his real father Jack Lozier of lockbourne Ohio, was an avid camper. And Jack had gotten a CB radio for his camper at some point. And my brother Kim was 5 years older than me...
Well upon my brothers returning from one of his visits he brought back a set of walkie talkies, then later he brought home one of those toy CB's. The ones that were basically a walkie talkie in a plastic housing to look like a real CB. (see pic below). And like the walkie talkies of the day they operated in AM mode on a frequency of 27.1250 mhz. (CB channel 14). They were crystal controlled and sometimes you could change the crystals and thereby change the frequency or channel. Some of them even operated on 27.1450mhz. this frequency fell half way between CB channels 15 and 16 and was allocated as an experimental frequency.
This add is actually from Radio Shack catalog of a similar era. The radio was basically the same design as the R.S. walkie talkies and was sold to be used with them. (Clever marketing for the time).
OK, On to catching the "Bug". My brother had this radio set up in our 3rd floor attic which we rarely went into due to us being told it was haunted by a previous owner who committed suicide by hanging in that attic. And I recall it being a spooky place as well. It was a finished attic that was mainly used for storage. He had the little radio set up near a window and also had the walkie talkies as well. I remember he sent me down to the yard outside with one of the walkies, And as I recall I was looking up at that 3rd floor attic window (halfway expecting to see that ghost). I could see my brother in the window and also at the same time I heard his chattered raspy voice echoing from the walkie talkie in my hand. Well it was that very second when something in my mind went "CLICK" !
It is one of my first known memories. And about the only one I have from that house. Other than the horrible fighting between my mother and father. And the few times the sheriff had come to separate them and prevent a shooting. But that is a whole other blog to write.
At this same period my parents divorced and Kim went to live with his real father and step mother. So there were many years that I hardly ever seen my brother. Christmas or holidays maybe the rare visits when he would come stay with me my mother / sister and my new stepdad.( that too is another blog to be written)...
Fast forward to 1974 or 1975, My brother had gone to live with my grandparents whom I spent every possible minute with. I stayed there all summer every summer, and anytime I could be there I was with my grandpa and grandma on the farm. So once again we were living at the same place and were together a lot.
Looking back I realize that Grandmas was my safe place. because I knew my grandma would walk through hell on Sunday before anything or anyone would hurt little Matthew. I had seen my dad try to shoot my mother, seen her beaten to within an inch of her life. Seen my stepfather go to prison for life, Witnessed things no adult should witness out alone a young confused boy..
During this time Kim was old enough to work and drive and he was heavily into the CB radio craze (as was most of the country!) It was the internet of it's day. I helped put up so many CB antennas, towers etc that it was just a weekend activity to stand a 60' tower with a 6 element moon-raker one weekend. Tear it down and put up something else the next weekend. As bad as I wanted a CB of my own my mom was dead set against it. The internet of it's day also had it's predators the same as the internet today. And she thought it was something evil I guess, but it contributed to one more thing my brother could have or do that I could not !
Well as is inevitable Kim eventually had a girlfriend and she really took a liking to me, remember I was still only 11-12 years old. She took me everywhere with her, bought me clothes and things because new clothes were very rare in those days and much needed for me. Anyway one year for Christmas she and Kim bought me a walkie talkie. Not just any walkie talkie either. But a "Two Channel" one that I could change or add crystals to get any CB channels I wanted. And would output 100 milli-watts.
And I wanted worse than anything to have channel 1. Why ? Because Kim was a channel 1 CB'er and there was a whole family of those guys that were always around and it was like an exclusive club of some kind. So I saved me some money and sometimes I would go with him to Radio Shack, A young dreamers paradise. And eventually somehow I got the required crystals and installed them in my channel 2. Of course one channel was furnished with the old standard channel 14 like all walkie talkies of the time. I carried that thing everywhere and talked to anyone I could, eventually talking my childhood friend Mike into getting his parents to buy him one like mine. Mike had the advantage of his family being much better off than we were and he could get about anything it seemed..
Isn't she a beauty !!
I have as usual drifted way off the original subject here but I wanted mainly to share where my love of radio had originated. It is strange the way our minds work isn't it ? I mean of all the things that happened during my young life, this memory is etched in my mind....
To my brother I say Rest In Peace and send me a QSL from wherever you are now......
"73" N8ZW de N8QZH
