Heathkit
Code Oscillator
This is a useful thing for anyone wishing
to learn morse code. Morsecode was a mandatory requirement for
UK radio hams until an MP who wished for his son to gain a radio
amateur license (and who presumably was useless at morse) pushed
through one of those strange laws in the House of Commons.
On another occasion an MP having a collection
of old cars also managed to gain exemption from paying road tax
on his collection. To get a new law passed in this way can be
arranged if a time is carefully selected when only supporters
for the new law are present in the House.
Anyway, certain logic did dictate abandonment
of compulsory CW, because times had moved on, and the mandatory
spark transmitter on ships had been dropped (in fact the use
of spark transmissions is now frowned upon).
This Heathkit Code Oscillator had a
9 volt battery hidden inside the case. It also had a tiny loudspeaker
wedged inside that could be heard via holes in the rear panel. |
