[TenTec] 160 M antenna

[Ken Brown]

I recall that Swan made a motorized version of the sliding contact in 
the coil antenna. I saw one in the '70s. The Swan used a vertically 
sliding contact, not one that rotated around the coil to get fractional 
turns of the coil like a High-Q antenna.  Pretty sure the Webster 
Bandspanners predated the Swan, as did Master Mobile which I am pretty 
sure also had a moving tapped coil, but not motorized.

DE N6KB

On 11/24/2013 5:05 PM, John Farler wrote:
> 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 at Blomand.net>
>> To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment"<tentec at contesting.com>
>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] 160 M antenna
>> Message-ID: <493C1163840146CC86EFA61E668D69E6 at 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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