September 2026
The Superflex
A Publication of the Alabama Historical Radio Society September 2026
NOTE FROM PRESIDENT WAG
Members,
Mark your calendars!
The date for next AHRS Business meeting is 7pm on Monday, October 26th, 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 (by invitation only) will be at 6:00 PM that evening.
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Boyd Bailey’s most recent class was Saturday October 5that which he discussed the following topics: More troubleshooting a Philco 70, Ohm’s law review, and repair of the Killian family Simpson, that required replacing resistors and use of CRC contract cleaner for wafer switches (that proved more effective than DeoxIT).
His next class is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, 9:00 AMin person and via Zoom. Topics will be sent closer to the date and the following link remains in effect:
https://us02web..us/j/88180351990?pwd=N2lucjB3WVhtR05nTSs5S0xGcURadz09
Boyd has edited and archived his classes to date; to access them, please contact him directly boyd.bailey@charter.netwith your email address and he will guide you through the process.
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Remember, there are many radios and pieces of related equipment downstairs in storage and on the lower floor at the shop; we encourage members to visit. If you find something of interest you would like to acquire, talk to Tom Killian, Ray Giles, or another officer or Board member about its availability. For a donation to the Society, you may well get your wish! While you’re down there, don’t forget to visit the lending library downstairs.
We are planning for the Montgomery Hamfest https://w4ap.org/hamfest on November 14th, at which we will have five tables and plans to re-emphasize 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.
Works has continued on the upgrading and resetting of the museum in the Alabama Power atrium. All the faded display cards have been replaced and cards added were needed. We are gathering information on the most efficient manner to install VU blocking film to the tops and possibly the sides of the cabinets. We are also working to replace any original printed material and photographs with high-quality reproductions.
BARC (Birmingham Amateur Radio Club) will host its 100thanniversary observation on Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Trussville Civic Center. https://w4cue.com/
The Alabama Broadcasters Association (ABA) Birmingham reception will occur on November 18 and includes the installation of Joe 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.
As we approach autumn, we have convened our Nominating CMTE to choose candidates for officers (all of whom serve 1-year terms but are eligible to be renominated again for 2027 should they chose to do so) and those board members who will rotate off their 3-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 2 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 detail the process and set the date for our year-end meeting and Holiday party at which voting occurs.
We are always looking for volunteers to provide a program for our monthly general business meetings. We have one upcoming on the history of tubes; 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 efforts to outreach to the community as well as engage our own membership, especially focusing on the history of radio in Alabama. Lastly, if anyone wants to contribute to the Superflex newsletter, eg, a synopsis of a recent book they’ve read relating to historic radios or radio history, please let us know!
For those using the shop repair stations, let us know if anything is amiss or we are low on parts.
Already…? It’s that time of year when we begin to ask members for next year’s dues, payable in December and into 2027. We accept cash, check, and Paypal.
Our archivist, Lauren Kane is completing the consolidation of drafts of Harry Butler’s book on Alabama broadcast radio history. The next step will be reviewing the content by our subject matter experts, then planning the printing and distribution of this 2nd edition. Lauren is beginning her master’s in library science but will help us develop our strategy to catalog and archive the library, equipment, and other historical material accumulated since 1989. We wish her the best in her continued studies.
The Board and Officers held their semi-annual meeting on October 6th with only one Officer and a Board member unable to attend. CMTE reports were reviewed including the work by Museum CMTE members on the cabinets and items in the Alabama Power atrium. The Board approved the Nominating CMTE slate mentioned earlier that will consider candidate openings. Other discussion included a pricing policy for certain shop parts and newly acquired speaker kits, technology projects (Zoom account, password manager), a renewed push to emphasize history in our public outreach, and the society’s strong financial position. One decision was the acquisition of alabamahistoricalradio.org as a domain to link to our current website alhrs.org
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My wife, middle son, and I took a trip recently to Maine and stayed in a quaint hotel in Camden. We encountered this Clarion console, but it didn’t appear plugged in nor did I try to peek at the innards. Does anyone know about this radio who could send a brief history of the model & manufacturer for next month’s issue?
Respectfully submitted, and welcome to fall,
President Wag, AHRS
Baker Knight
Thomas Baker Knight Jr. (July 4, 1933 – October 12, 2005) was an American songwriter and musician. His best known compositions were "Lonesome Town", "The Wonder of You", and "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time". His songs have been recorded by Ricky Nelson, Paul McCartney, Dean Martin, The Cramps, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Mickey Gilley, Sammy Davis Jr. and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Life and career
He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, to Thomas Baker Knight Sr. and his wife Mary (Obear) Knight. His father died in 1939 at the age of 32, and because of his mother's poor health Knight was raised mainly by relatives. He learned to play guitar while serving in the Air Force, and after his discharge entered the University of Alabama, where he wrote music in his spare time. In 1956 he founded a rockabilly group, Baker Knight and the Knightmares, with Shuler Brown (bass), A.D. Derby (keyboards), Bill Weinstein (drums), Glenn Lane (sax), and Nat Tortorici (sax). Their debut single, "Bop Boogie to the Blues", was released on Kit Records that year. The next release, "Bring My Cadillac Back", was a local hit and was picked up for national distribution by Decca Records, but radio stations refused to play it as it served as unpaid advertising for Cadillac cars. Decca held on to Knight and had him release three solo records featuring arrangements by Ray Ellis: "Reelin' and Rockin' (Bippin' and Boppin' Over You)", "Just a Little Bit More", and "Love-A Love-A Love-A". None sold well, and Decca dropped his contract soon afterwards.
Knight moved to Hollywood in 1958 in hopes of pursuing a career in acting, but was unsuccessful. He became friends with Eddie Cochran and Cochran's girlfriend, songwriter Sharon Sheeley, who had written "Poor Little Fool" for Ricky Nelson, and they helped him find work as a songwriter. Knight wrote "Lonesome Town", which became a hit for Nelson in 1958, as did the B-side, Knight's "I Got a Feeling". Nelson continued to record Knight's songs, many of which became hits, including "Never Be Anyone Else But You", "Sweeter Than You", and "I Wanna Be Loved". However, he refused to let Nelson record his tune "Just Relax", which he instead released himself as a solo single in 1959, with Cochran on guitar, for Coral Records. Neither this nor the next, "Pretty Little Girl", sold well and Coral dropped his contract.
Knight then wrote "The Wonder of You" for Perry Como, but Ray Peterson recorded it instead at the behest of Como's arranger Dick Peirce, and the song became a hit in both the U.S. and UK. Elvis Presley later recorded it with even greater success. Knight continued to record solo with RCA, Chess, Reprise, and Challenge, but never with much luck. He pursued his movie career, but he only appeared on screen once, in the 1966 B-movie, Swamp Country. He had a small part as a strolling minstrel and sang several of his own songs.
In 1966, Dean Martin picked up "Somewhere There's a Someone", the first of eleven of Knight's songs he would cover. Frank Sinatra recorded a handful of Knight tunes, including "Anytime at All". Knight also wrote psychedelic music for the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band in the late 1960s.
In 1971, he teamed with producer Jimmy Bowen and singers Kim Carnes and Mike Settle to create the bubblegum pop studio group The Sugar Bears. An album, Presenting the Sugar Bears, and three singles were released with one song, Knight's "You Are The One", reaching #51 on the Billboardcharts.
Knight turned to country music in the 1970s, writing songs for Ernest Ashworth, Hank Williams, Jr., Jerry Lee Lewis, Dave & Sugar, and Mickey Gilley, whose No. 1 hit "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time" won Knight the Academy of Country Music's Song of the Year in 1976.
In 1985, Knight returned to Birmingham, suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome and agoraphobia, and his output decreased considerably. In the 1990s, he set up his own home studio and self-released several solo albums through his website, including The Way I Hear It, Music Is My Woman, and Music for Romantic Dreamers, the last one all instrumental. Knight published a memoir entitled A Piece of the Big-Time (my songs - my success - my struggle for survival) in 2005 just before his death.
Thomas Baker Knight Jr. died in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2005 at the age of 72. He was survived by his daughter, singer-actress Tuesday Knight, and his son, Dr. Thomas Baker Knight III.
-Wikipedia
Quote of the Month
You can not do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth.”
― H. L. Mencken
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 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