April 2026
The Superflex
A Publication of the Alabama Historical Radio Society April 2026
NOTE FROM PRESIDENT WAG
Members,
Mark your calendars!
The date for next AHRS Business meeting would fall on Monday, May 25th, 2026, but this conflicts with Memorial Day. We’re considering alternatives and all will be updated soon. Regardless of the final plans for May, future business meetings will be held in person and via Zoom at the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86330579924?pwd=ckZLWEJMb0V2ajhBUzh0S2liQnlmZz09
Meeting ID: 863 3057 9924 Passcode: 631140
I thank VP Steven Westbrook for moderating the March meeting and minding the shop in my absence!
My wife and I took our annual trip to England, then I turned around the following day to join our eldest son and his elder son (3 generations of Richards) at WW II sites: Amsterdam and the site of Operation Market Garden, then on to Luxembourg and Bastogne—Battle of the Bulge.
Another assault on my south Louisiana food! Brioche bun? What isa Chicken Cheeseburger? The Brits, and Europeans in general, take their food allergy warnings seriously; they’re listed in the parentheses and require consulting the glossary generally printed at the bottom of the menu. All for only £25!!! At least they weren’t trying to call it a po’boy.
As you might image, we saw dozens of WW II radio items on that trip which might be a future program topic or Superflex article. (See below for an interesting find in one of our donations.)
One more shameless appeal: If you have not already done so, please renew your membership and dues for 2026 that may be paid via cash, check, and PayPal as usual.
We have engaged a recent UAB graduate as a contractor to help us complete the Harry Butler 2nd edition of on Alabama broadcast radio history. She, Lauren Kane, will formally begin on May 9th with this project. Welcome aboard!
Boyd Bailey’s next class is scheduled for Saturday, June 6th, 2026, at 9:00 AM in person and via Zoom. Topics and details will be forthcoming soon. The following link remains in effect:
https://us02web..us/j/88180351990?pwd=N2lucjB3WVhtR05nTSs5S0xGcURadz09
His class in May was held on the 2nd -- Restoration of GE HJ-618-AC AM radio and phonograph.
This radio was a wreck (my humble opinion), and most would have consigned it to the trash bin:
a. Near-demolished case
b. Phono incomplete; no attempt to restore. (It has a cutout in the back to accommodate playing 78’s and resurrecting these old record players is often impossible.)
c. Absent/missing 'unknown value' antenna coil; approach to replacing
d. Rotten dial cord, replaced
Boyd has edited and archived his classes to date; to access them, please contact him directly boyd.bailey@charter.net with your email address and he’ll guide you through the process.
We have not chosen another auction date, potentially featuring novelty radios. There are many radios and pieces of related equipment downstairs in storage and on the main floor at the shop; we encourage members to visit. If you find something of interest you’d like to acquire, talk to an officer or Board member about its availability. For a donation to the Society, you may well get your wish!
Dave Cisco is recovering from a broken kneecap and is now ambulatory and planning to attend the Dayton Hamvention the 3rd weekend in May.
Our most recent major event was the annual Legends of Broadcast program held Thursday, 16 April 2026! We hosted a full house and thank everyone who participated. Our leadoff speaker was Jeff Speegle,Sports Director and weeknight sports anchor at ABC 33/40. The event was video recorded, and it should soon be available online. If anyone has photos they’d like to share, please send them on to AHRS2000@gmail.com. We acknowledge receipt of many photographs from member Maurice Hill, which we will highlight in the next edition.
Position filled: A non-leadership member for the Finance CMTE. Welcome aboard to John Poole who recently retired from Regions Bank and will fill this position. We look forward to his expertise in financial matters and as an active member of the Society!
We expect to move totally to the online version of Quickbooks and have adopted a new checking account that is tailored to our not-for-profit status. Within the next several weeks, we anticipate having completed our updates to the Society’s financial management.
We have received several donations from members and/or their estates: Mike Woodruff’s estate, Tom Willard, Joe Veras, Billy Hunt & Reggie Olson. Robert Cain was looking over the equipment donated by the Olson estate and found one item of personal interest. It looked like an old radio or component unfamiliar to us so he web-searched based on its photo. Beneath the photo is Robert’s query to, and response from, CoPilot AI. We are exploring if it should be exhibited with our other military items.
Robt Cain’s QUERY or prompt:
I am looking at a radio. The only marking I can find is a metal tag that reads 57/APX-2. Above the dial on the front, it reads ECO. I have attached a picture of it. Can you give any information?
RESPONSE:
Your unit is almost certainly an early‑WWII U.S. Navy/Army ECO (Electron‑Coupled Oscillator) transmitter/exciter, and the tag “57/APX‑2” ties it to the APX‑2 IFF (Identification‑Friend‑or‑Foe) system. These were not consumer radios — they were military components used with radar/IFF gear, and the ECO panel you photographed is one of the sub‑assemblies.
YOU HAVE
Based on the markings visible in your photo:
1. “ECO” on the front panel
ECO stands for Electron‑Coupled Oscillator, a very stable RF oscillator stage used in WWII transmitters. ECO units were commonly built as separate plug‑in modules inside larger radio or IFF systems.
2. The metal tag “57/APX‑2”
This is the strongest clue. The APX‑2 was a WWII U.S. IFF transponder, used in aircraft to automatically identify themselves to friendly radar. The “57/” prefix is a Navy/Signal Corps nomenclature pattern for sub‑assemblies.
The APX‑2 system consisted of multiple modules: power supply, modulator, RF deck, and an ECO oscillator unit — exactly what your front panel resembles.
3. The controls match IFF oscillator modules
Your panel has:
- XTAL jack
- KEY jack
- ECO tuning control
- Monitor/Trans switch
- A small CRT‑style indicator window (used for tuning/monitoring)
These are all consistent with oscillator/exciter sections of IFF or radar equipment, not with a broadcast or communications receiver.
WHAT THE APX‑2 WAS
The APX‑2 was a Mark III IFF transponder, used from roughly 1942–1945 in U.S. aircraft. It responded to radar interrogation pulses by transmitting coded replies. It was paired with airborne radar sets and was considered essential equipment on bombers and fighters.
Rarity and value
Because these were modular components, many were stripped from aircraft after the war and sold as surplus. Surviving ECO modules are uncommon but not extremely rare — collectors of WWII avionics and radar gear value them more than general radio collectors.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
While not a “radio” in the entertainment sense, your unit is historically important because:
- It was part of the first universal Allied IFF system (Mark III).
- It represents early high‑frequency oscillator design using CRT indicators for tuning.
- It was used in many iconic WWII aircraft (B‑17, B‑24, P‑38, P‑47, etc.).
The Joe Veras estate donation included a very nice Hallicrafters SX-28 which is now on exhibit at the Shop. It replaces a similar unit that is much less “museum quality”. We can look to include history about this model and the unit specifically in a future newsletter.
Let me thank a wonderful friend of the Society, John Green (who restored the Hallicrafters SX-88 donated to us and subject of its restoration presentation) for giving the first half of his talk on radio astronomy. It was delivered via Zoom at the last business meeting on Monday, 27 April 2026, and we will present the second section at an upcoming meeting.
We recently were visted by two engineers from the MOVE Community Outreach, an IEEE Initative. The organization provide communication and other service during disasters
In closing, I wish a wonderful Memorial Day weekend to all and a recognition of what the holiday commemorates as we approach our country’s 250th or semiquincentennial.
These are photos I took on the trip a month ago with my eldest son and elder grandson.
Respectfully submitted, I remain
President Wag, AHRS
American Radio Propaganda During World War II
Radio propaganda played a crucial role in World War II, serving as a powerful tool for influencing public opinion, boosting morale, and conducting psychological warfare.
The Role of Radio in Propaganda
Key Techniques and Strategies
- Emotional Appeals: Propaganda broadcasts often employed emotional messaging to resonate with listeners, aiming to instill feelings of patriotism and urgency.
- Targeted Messaging: Different broadcasts were tailored to specific audiences, including enemy populations, to undermine their morale and encourage surrender.
- Entertainment and Information: Programs mixed entertainment with propaganda, making them more appealing. Shows like "Command Performance" and "Mail Call" featured popular entertainers and were designed to keep troops and civilians engaged.
- Clandestine Broadcasts: Some broadcasts were made to appear as if they were from within enemy territories, aiming to create confusion and distrust among enemy forces.
Notable Programs and Figures
- Voice of America (VOA): Established by the U.S. government, VOA aimed to provide accurate news and counter enemy propaganda, broadcasting to both domestic and international audiences.
- Tokyo Rose and Axis Sally: These were infamous figures in radio propaganda, broadcasting messages aimed at American troops to demoralize them.
- Edward R. Murrow: A prominent American journalist, Murrow's broadcasts from London during the Blitz were pivotal in shaping American perceptions of the war and bolstering British morale.
Impact and Legacy
In summary, radio propaganda was a vital component of World War II, demonstrating the power of mass communication in shaping public consciousness and influencing the course of history. Its legacy continues to resonate in contemporary media and political communication strategies.
Quotes of the Month
Quotes from Helen Keller
On Vision and Purpose:
- "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."
- "Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows."
On Love and Connection: - "I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light."
- On Character and Growth:
- "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and
- suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."
- "A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardship.
Remember our Lending library in the basement is a wonderful asset available to all members.
Occasionally we receive radios and radio related items from donations that are stored in our basement, but do not make it into an auction. If you are interested in any of these items please discuss them with Tom Killian or Ray Giles.
We meet every Saturday (unless a Holiday weekend) at 8:30 A.M. until around 11:30 A.M., at the one-story AHRS Shop at the corner of 8th Avenue North and 18th Street, (1801 8th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203). Please use the rear (Southeast) entrance.
The Shop is open on Tuesdays at 8:30 A.M. until around 11:30 A.M. Note that parking can be a problem on Tuesdays, so you may have to find street parking occasionally.
Regular monthly members meetings are on the fourth Monday night starting at 7:00 PM with the Executive Meeting starting at 6:30 PM
Please come join us!
The electronics classes are generally on “Zoom” and “in-person” at the AHRS Shop, typically the first Saturday of each month (except when something special is taking place, then we agree on an alternative Saturday)
Check your emails for the schedule and how to participate.
We start from the beginning Ohms Law, inductors, resistor and Capacitors color codes, as well as what each component does within the radio circuits. We also teach how to use test equipment used in the repairing of radios. We teach troubleshooting radio troubles, as well as how to read a radio diagram.
Currently the class is studying advance topics relating to troubleshooting and project radio repair. We are retooling our website in hopes of archiving prior classes for those who may have missed a prior class. Email will provide timely details on date, topics & links.
There are coil winding classes, and one-on-one repair help. Come join these classes!
Membership dues are $25.00 a year, payable beginning in January. If you have questions about your dues, you can contact Treasurer Michael Spanos at 205-540-2523. Dues can be mailed to AHRS at P.O. Box 131418, Birmingham, Alabama 35213 or paid on-line at https://alhrs.org
Be sure and check out our website at https://alhrs.org, which has copies of all newsletters from 2006 to the present (click on News), videos, photo galleries, museum, Old Time Radio columns, Projects, Reading Rooms, Archives, and Contact Information. Within the next few months we hope to update our website and add additional content and new capabilities
President – Richard “Wag” Waguespack
(205) 531-9528
drminims@aol.com
Vice President – Steven Westbrook
(205) 305-0679
spwestbro@bellsouth.net
Recording Secretary – Grady Shook
(205) 281-3007
gshook@bellsouth.net
Treasurer – Michael Spanos
(205) 540-2523
michael@mspanos.net
Boyd Bailey, Member and Instructor
(334) 412-6996
boyd.bailey@charter.net
Newsletter Editor/Webmaster – Steven Westbrook
(205) 305-0679
spwestbro@bellsouth.net
Web Address:
https://alhrs.org
E-mail Address:
ahrs2000@gmail.com
Youtube Channel: Alabama Historical Radio Society - YouTube