I had this weird friend (later re-named a 'nerd') when I was in 9th
grade in high school, who owned a Hallacrafters SX-99 reciever. He also
owned a Gonset Communicator, the origional gray one with the usual 2E26
final.

My dad bought both for me and I earned my novice license and went
quickly to general.

My chief band was 2 meters and I wound up with a 5894 amplifier (A M)
crystal controled rig.

The last reciever I used with that set-up was a National NC-303 with a
417A converter in front of it.

The antenna was an eight ofer eight Telerex set-up.

I got out of school and started working. Ham radio just went away.

I moved to Ohio.

My dad died and I came back to Pennsylvania.

I got an add from the ARRL about re-joining.

I did.

I got back on 2 meters.

I found out that what used to be a "band opening" was now all the time
with the advent of SSB.

At first I had a Zeuss 200 watt AM transmitter with another NC 303
reciever.

Then I got a Swan TV-250 for sideband.

2 meters opened up.

I got a Drake R4-B with matching transmitter.

Then in an article [HR magazine in 1970] I read about an 8877 amplifier
for 144 MZ. that ran at 2 KW submitted by Eimac Corp.

I was in communication with the author of the article and he sent me blu
prints.

With the help of a metal bender from RCA, who still had a plant in
Camden, N.J. at the time, I duplicated the amp. :-)

2 KW? That ain't the half of that tube. :-)

I never got the SWR of my antenna system down fat enough due to it's
relative in-accessability and burned off several terminations. :-)

I finally gave up none cold winter day and sold the whole Swan/amplafier
thing to W3BHG who prompty put it on moon-bounce and increased his
states worked total.

He later sold it to someone like Dick, W8MQS, or someone like him. :-)

As far as I know, that amp is still chewing up 8877's. :-) [some 30
years later]