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[TowerTalk] Rotators

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Rotators
From: kbalmforth@compuall.com (K. Balmforth)
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 1997 21:06:24 -0700
Regarding heavy duty rotors ...

Coal was still a primary heating fuel in Idaho during the late 60's.  My
first antenna rotator used a coal stoker transmission that a local
farmer gave me. That sucker was about 1 cubic ft, weighed 75 lbs and
would turn a house, not to mention my TH6DXX.  I wonder how many are
still around?  The transmission was bolted to the top of an 80 ft wooden
pole using 1.5" angle iron and huge thru-bolts.  A tiny sewing machine
motor was used to drive the transmission at about 0.5 rpm. 

Incidently, direction indication was implemented with a couple of
Selsyns.  I couldn't afford real pulleys to drive the rotator selsyn, so
I improvised by bolting two Mason jar lids back-to-back.  The Selsyn
drive belt was fabricated from the elastic waistband of my older BVDs. 
I had to replace the elastic about once a month; newer BVDs had better
elastic which lasted longer.  The constantly disappearing underwear
drove my Mom nuts :-)

73, Kevin N6ER (ex NC6U, WA7MPS)

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