Yes, I think the Webster Bandspanner was probably the
first manual commercial "sliding selection" type of antenna.
I think we are talking about the same antenna, but
maybe not. The spanner was slim and had a white
coil, not transparent.
But Swan electronics made one, too, and the coil was
bigger, and looked pretty sturdy. Had the bands marked
on the large coil.
A friend of mine had one with a Swan 350 in his car.
I had a Bandspanner in good condition but traded it
a couple years ago, after I decided no more HF mobile
might add longevity.
73.
John, K4AVX
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 09:09:58 -0600
From: "Bob McGraw - K4TAX"<RMcGraw@Blomand.net>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment"<tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] 160 M antenna
Message-ID: <493C1163840146CC86EFA61E668D69E6@FAMILY>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
The earliest version of the "screwdriver" antenna as I recall were actually
manual tuned devices. I recall them being sold under the name of Bandmaster
or Super Bandmaster. Basically described as a short mast, followed by a
long coil with a sliding roller which shorted out the turns to change band.
This coil as I recall was some 2" to 3" in diameter and some 18" in length.
It was then attached to a 4 ft to 5 ft whip extending out the top. Changing
bands was a matter of sliding the rod with the roller attached up or down.
The shaft of the roller assembly was marked generally in bands to aid in
quick band changes. Today's antenna simply adds a DC motor and controller
to remotely change the tuning or bands.
A friend had one mounted on the driver side rearview mirror frame attached
to the door of his van. He operated CW with a Galaxy V as I recall. He
would change tuning or change bands while driving. Talk about "distracted
driving" Wow, that was way before the cell phone rage of today.
73
Bob, K4TAX
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