October 2026
The Superflex
A Publication of the Alabama Historical Radio Society October 2026
NOTE FROM PRESIDENT WAG
Members,
Mark your calendars!
The date for next AHRS Business meeting is 7:00 PM on Monday, November 23rd, 2026, in person and via Zoom at the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86330579924?pwd=ckZLWEJMb0V2ajhBUzh0S2liQnlmZz09
Meeting ID: 863 3057 9924 Passcode: 631140
NOTE: The Executive CMTE meeting (in person by invitation only) will be at 6:00 PM that evening.
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Boyd Bailey’s next class is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, 9:00 AMin person and via Zoom. We will be sending out new link and password shortly, since our system was recently hacked during a Birmingham Amateur Radio Club monthly meeting:
Topics will include:
1. Restoration with multiple challenges on a 1938 Zenith table-top model 5R216. The biggest issue was transformer replacements: power and output
2. Transformer basics
3. Other issues like speaker cone repair and volume pot repair.
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We are planning for the Montgomery Hamfest https://w4ap.org/hamfest on November 14th, at which we will have five tables and plans to devote one to radio history. Doors open to the public at 8:30 AM CT; grand prize drawing at 1:00 PM CT. Location: Alcazar Shrine Temple, 555 East Blvd., Montgomery, Alabama 36101. We will load the vehicles at 1:00 PM at the Shop on Friday and congregate at the site at approximately 7:00AM on Saturday to unload and setup.
BARC (Birmingham Amateur Radio Club) hosted its 100thanniversary observation on Sunday afternoon, October 25, 2026, at the Trussville, Alabama, Civic Center. There were approximately sixty attendees. Many attendees have been hams for 50+ years. Food and drink were provided along with good fellowship. Our own historian, Dave Cisco, presented a program on the general history of radio in Birmingham and BARC, in particular.
The Alabama Broadcasters Association (ABA) Birmingham reception will be on November 18 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort and includes the installation of Joe and brother Duke Rumore into its Hall of Fame. AHRS is invited to attend and plans a display of mid-20th Century microphones, radios, and related posters. Mr. Rumore’s studio is part of our permanent exhibit at the shop. See the ABA website for further information including registration: https://al-ba.com/wp2/aba80th/
We have convened our Nominating CMTE to choose candidates for officers (all of whom serve one year terms but are eligible to be renominated again for 2027 should they chose to do so) and those board members who rotate off their three year terms at year’s end. Of the Board members whose terms expire in December, Dave Cisco and Charles McCrary have decided to decline re-nomination. Thus, we have two open Board positions. If anyone wishes to volunteer to serve in a leadership role, please make this known to an officer or Nominating CMTE member: co-chairs Dave Johnson and John Herndon; members Maurice Hill, Ray Giles, and Ken Smith.
We will send details as we get closer but save the date for our year-end meeting and Holiday social at which voting occurs: Monday evening December 28, 2026.
We are always looking for volunteers to provide a program for our monthly business meetings. At the September’s, we presented a YouTube video on the history of tubes: “The Technology We Killed in the 1960s is Now Worth $3.3B” - let Steven W. or me know if you have something in mind. In the same vein, we continue to ask for members to volunteer for outreach efforts to the community as well as our membership, especially focusing on the history of radio in Alabama. Lastly, if anyone wants to contribute to the Superflexnewsletter, eg, an article or a synopsis of a recent book they have read relating to radio history, please let us know!
For those using the shop repair stations, let us know if anything is amiss or we need parts. A gentle reminder to please not tie up workstations for long term projects, especially if you are not actively working on it weekly!
Already…? It’s that time of year when we begin to ask members for next year’s $25 dues, payable in December and into 2027. We accept cash, check, and Paypal, thought or website at alhrs.org ([However, currently we are having trouble with PayPal and are working to resolve; let Steven Westbrook know if problems persist.)
Our archivist, Lauren Kane has completed the consolidation of drafts of Harry Butler’s book on Alabama broadcast radio history. We now will have our subject matter experts review the content, then plan the printing and distribution of this 2nd edition.
My brother sent me an interesting read about a WWII and post-war historical radio site in the UK, now abandoned and a potential investment opportunity: “Part of the station, named Shortwave A, is now on the market for £495,000 [about $664K) - though neither the original radio equipment nor the station's distinctive 600ft (182.9m) towers remain.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckpqg2g857j5o?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
FROM LAST MONTH’S ISSUE: This is a screen shot of the lair of villains from Republic Pictures 12-part 1952 serial Radar Men from the Moon. Missing is Captain Cody, the hero who saves the earth. What vintage radio, with matching speaker, is largely hidden in the bottom left in the photo (white arrow)? Extra credit for anyone who can identify other equipment here.
Alas, I am unaware of any guesses about the identity of the boat anchor, nor of the other visible equipment made by Earthlings. The alien villain is speaking on an equally alien device to his moon-based boss who is scheming to conquer our planet (red arrow).
The radio in question is a Hallicrafters SX-42 (Left below) and not the SX-43 (Rig.
I attended my national academy recently and staff brought selected museum items, including this early tube audiometer, a Western Electric 6BP, also available as a portable model.
A brief search online revealed an entry on Radio Museum: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/western_el_audiometer_6bp.html#images
There is also information for converting this unit to an audio amp: https://mellowgroovy.blogspot.com/2022/10/western-electric-6BP-95A-part1.html
We use AI to generate the first iteration of minutes of both our business and EXEC CMTE meetings. The former is integrated into ZOOM that is activated during Boyd Bailey’s hosting. Zoom AI has really improved in recent months, but we still review the text in view of potential misinterpretation, eg, "AHRS mentioned a potential field trip to the Singles Museum in Huntsville….” In the spirit of our business meeting discussion, we do want to consider an AHRS trip to the Signals Museum in Huntsville; anyone interested in such a venture, please send an email to AHRS2000@gmail.com including your preferred timeframe, eg, day of the week, etc.
Respectfully submitted, and welcome to fall,
President Wag, AHRS
Joe Rumore — Birmingham Radio Legend
Joseph John “Joe” Rumore (July 17, 1920 – December 20, 1993) was a pioneering Birmingham radio personality whose 41-year career helped define the city’s broadcast history
Early Life and Education
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, on July 17, 1920, Rumore grew up between the city and a farm in Huffman. He graduated from Ramsay High School in 1941 and studied speech and radio at Birmingham-Southern College. His first radio experience came at age 7 on WJOE, where he improvised a microphone from a tea strainer and cigar box.
Radio Career
Rumore’s professional career began in 1941, starting with WJLD-AM in Bessemer, then moving to WSFA in Montgomery, and returning to Birmingham in 1943 at WAPI-AM .. Under the persona Hillbilly Rose, he hosted the Saturday “Round-Up” and “Yawn Patrol” morning show, plus numerous programs such as Golden River Boys, Mid-Morning Melodies, and Accent on Rhythm. His shows were so popular that he received thousands of letters weekly, which he used to connect listeners with “shut-ins” in the community.
In 1948, he joined WVOK-AM, the state’s first 50,000-watt station, expanding his reach statewide. He recorded live daily Birmingham programs with a studio audience and taped Montgomery broadcasts for delivery by bus. His brother Duke Rumore filled in during his absences until Joe secured his own show on WSGN-AM ..
Other Ventures
Beyond broadcasting, Rumore opened Rumore’s Record Rack in 1954 and later built a 1 his radio debut. He also studied operatic singing, performed in local productions, and was active in choral societies.
Legacy and Honors
Rumore retired from WVOK in 1982 after 41 years. He was inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame (1999), the Alabama Music Hall of Fame (2003), and the University of Alabama School of Communications Hall of Fame (2012). His home studio equipment is preserved at the Alabama Historical Radio Society.
Personal Life
He married Angie Rumore in 1948. Rumore died on December 20, 1993, at age 73. He is remembered as a beloved figure in Birmingham radio, a community connector, and a pioneer who shaped the city’s broadcast culture for over four decades.
-Copilot
Quote of the Month
There will come a time when it isn't 'They're spying on me through my phone' anymore. Eventually, it will be 'My phone is spying on me'. - Philip K. Dick
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. - Aldous Huxley
The true delight is the finding out rather than in the knowing. -Isaac Asimov
Remember our Lending libraryin 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 on 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 from 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 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 advanced 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
Vice President – Steven Westbrook
(205) 305-0679
Treasurer – Michael Spanos
(205) 540-2523
Recording Secretary – Grady Shook
(205) 281-3007
Boyd Bailey, Member and Instructor
(334) 412-6996
Newsletter Editor/Webmaster – Steven Westbrook
(205) 305-0679
Web Address:
https://alhrs.org
E-mail Address:
ahrs2000@gmail.com
Youtube Channel: Alabama Historical Radio Society - YouTube