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Getting my first amateur license,
(Novice KN8SMC) in January of 1960, I like most never
thought of taking pictures every time one rebuilt their radio shack or
moved. My first radio station consisted of a Heathkit DX-20,
Halcrafters S-38E and an 80 Meter folded dipole, equipment was setup
in my bedroom on Pleasant Street in Jackson, MI. One year later
I got my Technician, (K8SMC) and really got involved with six meter AM.
Moved to our basement with lots of different equipment, even built believe it or not a pair of 813s on
six meters. Before going into the Navy my last rig on six was a
homemade plate modulated 4-400 driven with a LW-51.
While in the Navy I got my
General and operated in Puerto Rico as KP4ATQ. Picture (1) was
at our club station in an abandoned control tower over
looking the runway and mountains at Roosevelt Roads where I was
stationed. The station consisted of a HQ-170, HT-37 and 813's.
I owned a National NCX-3 but had very little time to use it as my
parents had moved to Kennedy Street in Jackson while I was still in
the Navy.
When I got out of the
service in 1967 and now married, we bought a house on Fairview Drive
SW of Jackson. Equipment then was a Hallicrafters HT-37, SX-110,
some dipoles and a homemade 15 meter 3 element beam.
One year later we moved to
a new home on Viking Drive east of Jackson. Picture (2) is of
radio shack upstairs after I had been set up in the basement for
awhile. From this point on I'll skip the equipment info and
antennas unless some description is necessary. Keep in mind I've
owned equipment from almost every manufacture except Collins and
Signal One. My antennas were too many to mention over the years,
from big mono-band and tri-band beams to many years of monster
quads. (See Quad Antennas)
Picture (3) is first shack
at Concord, MI at back of house in 1979, see picture (5).
Picture (4) was a temporary shack in
den as the old shack became a pantry and bathroom at the back of the
house. Picture (6) is one photo I could find of the contest
building converted from a 12 by 20 chicken coop in 1981.

In 1987 I moved
back into the house so I didn't have to keep a wood stove going.
Pictures (7), (8) and (9) were of the now remodeled den, ham-shack in
the front of the house.

In 1989 we moved
to the present QTH here on Dalton Road and my first station was setup
in the basement. Pictures (10), (11) and (12) were of the shack
in 1990.

Picture (13),
upgrade of shack in 1991. Picture (14) was 1993 upgrade with
everything built in. In 1998 my last of four children moved out
and I wanted to try having my station on the main floor, Picture (15).

It only took
about a year and my wife Mary said it was too much noise, so back to
the basement where I plan to stay now. Picture (16) 2006 was new
added radio shack to the front of old which is now my workshop.
Later in 2006, (17), all amplifiers were moved out of the shack behind
radio desk to eliminate noise and heat (18).

By the end of
2007 I sold all the amplifiers and equipment, keeping only one
IC-756PROII and other essential equipment. The moneys all went
into a brand new kitchen for my wife.
At the end of March I
started my 2008 rebuild and picture 19 shows the shack back in
operation on April 3rd, 2008. In over 48 years of amateur radio I have rebuilt my
shack on the average of once a year, probably more, but this I also
feel is part of amateur radio. Pic 20 was last update to
incorporate features to make my shack
comfortable and easy to use chasing DX and rag chewing, also great
high definition TV when the bands are dead.
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