AACLA Photo Gallery

One of Arthur’s early contacts

Contributed by Larry on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 - 10:15:07 PM

Found with some of Arthur's miscellaneous papers at the University of Iowa Library.
The ham shack of 9BCX - James E. Smith, 334 W. Center Street, Sikeston, Missouri.
We can see several other 9-region QSL cards on his wall. Sorry, no 9CXX is visible.
However, Arthur posted this 9BCX QSL on his wall. See: Art's 1925 Shack.
Published with permission from the University of Iowa Libraries - "Records of the Collins Radio Company" MsC 814 View full size.

1 Comment • Log in to post a comment. • 5138 Views.

Byrd Equipment: 1934

Contributed by Larry on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 06:35:37 PM

Two 150B and one 20B Byrd special-built transmitters waiting shipment from the 2920 First Avenue Metropolitan Building.
The 150B on the left appears to be the driver for the 20B (no insulators on the top) whereas the center 150B has output insulators for direct connection to the antenna - the 150B used on the “Ice Party” View full size.

Mobile Radio Propagation Study: 1927

Contributed by Larry on Sunday, February 12, 2017 - 10:22:57 PM

Summer 1927, Winfield Salisbury, Paul Engle and Arthur Collins about to leave on a 7,000 mile trip to several western states to conduct 40-20 meter radio propagation.
Arthur, 9CXX, was assigned a special call, 9ZZA, for the trip.
The project was championed by Dr. Taylor of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington to help the Navy learn and become more proficient using short wave frequencies.
Still working on the make of the van! Clues are: wooden spoke wheels, no front bumper, front leaf springs (common for the date), distinctive swirl at the top of the grill frame, the roof makes a gentle slope. I’m guessing 1926 Dodge Bros. delivery van.
View full size.

1 Comment • Log in to post a comment. • 6602 Views.

32G Production: 1938

Contributed by Larry on Sunday, February 12, 2017 - 04:50:28 PM

A number of 32G Transmitters being assembled by, what appears to be, an army of workers.
We have it from a reliable source (Milo Soukup) that there were NOT that many assemblymen employed by Collins Radio Co. in 1938. If fact, every available person was collected to populate the photo. They do have a lot of bench space however - all sturdy home-made wooden models.
This editor is thinking the photo was recorded in the factory complex directly behind the Metropolitan building - to the West. View full size.

150B aboard the “Jacob Ruppert”

Contributed by Larry on Sunday, February 12, 2017 - 09:55:21 AM

Often published 1934 photo of Guy Hutcheson posing with one of the 150B transmitters employed by the Byrd expedition to Little America in Antarctica.
Mr. Hutchenson was the Radio Operator aboard the "Jacob Ruppert" (KJTY) and Operator on the Ice Party.
The second 150B was flown in a Curtis Condor to a position on the ice near the South Pole where Guy operated the unit to communicate with the aircraft. View full size.

Arthur Relaxing

Contributed by Larry on Friday, February 10, 2017 - 07:15:27 PM

Rare photo of Arthur Collins taking a moment to rest. View full size.

Breadboard-style

Contributed by Larry on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 - 05:04:10 PM

Two of Arthur’s early transmitters, laid out in the breadboard fashion. Photographed in the attic ham shack at his boyhood home at 514 Fairview Drive, Cedar Rapids, IA. Both designs were later built into rack-mounted assembles and described in a November 1925 Radio Age magazine article. Read the article here. View full size.

ARC-13

Contributed by Larry on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 - 04:42:26 PM

Occasionally we build a product and it never makes it into production. The name tag on this unit says UNIT 1AOF AN/ARC-13 (XN-1) NXSA-67966 SER.2:COL.
This radio was a UHF COMM Transmitter/Receiver complete with a GUARD channel targeted for U.S. Navy aircraft.
The RECEIVER window shows the number 100, the EXCITER window is centered on 110, the INT.AMP. shows 320-220-110, TRANS. indicates 120 and ANTENNA is set on 70.
It has 5 Autotune knobs and what looks like a 6-position preset switch on the left.
Take a look at the comment below to see two of em under test. View full size.

1 Comment • Log in to post a comment. • 4848 Views.

10th Anniversary Dinner

Contributed by Larry on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 - 11:47:05 PM

Quoted from the October 1945 issue of Collins Column. “Collins Employees, who have been with the company ten years and longer, were guests of ARTHUR COLLINS, President, at a dinner in the Florentine Room of the Hotel Roosevelt, August 2, 1945. Ten-year pins were presented to forty-five people.” View full size.

2 Comments • Log in to post a comment. • 5073 Views.

Breaking Ground for new Engineering Building

Contributed by Larry on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 - 05:53:32 PM

Arthur Collins moving the first soil in a ground breaking ceremony at the new Engineering Building during the winter of 1953. The facility was completed and occupied in 1954 and was named Building-120.
We have that shovel in one of our Museum back rooms. It was later engraved with the details of the event. View full size.

1 Comment • Log in to post a comment. • 5058 Views.

Office Staff: Circa 1934-35

Contributed by Larry on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 - 01:40:27 PM

Nicely composed photo of eight Collins Radio Co. office workers - notice the immaculately clean desks.
This editor is guessing that we are on the ground floor of the southeast ell of the Metropolitan Building. The morning (10:30) sun is shinning into the windows at the far (south) end of the room.
We see a lot of short-sleeved blouses - it must be Summer.
Left to Right: Katherine Horsfall, Frances Power, Park Rinard, Irene Snyder, Faye Dunn, Betty Davis, Lucille Dotson, and Marjorie James. View full size.

2 Comments • Log in to post a comment. • 4859 Views.

Merle and Arthur Collins

Contributed by Larry on Friday, February 3, 2017 - 02:16:21 PM

Circa 1918. Assuming young Arthur is about nine-years-old, in this photo with his father Merle. View full size.

— — —

Content refreshed on: Wednesday, November 4, 2020 - 10:29:42 PM