The George Batterson 1935 QSO Party
The George Batterson 1935 QSO Party is a CW event where participants build their own transmitters using the designs, techniques, and tubes that were available up to and including 1935, then put those classic transmitters on the air and try to contact as many other 1935 stations as possible. Commercial transmitters manufactured during 1935 and earlier are also allowed. The event is sponsored in memory of George Batterson W2GB, who along with Bruce Kelley and Linc Cundall formed the Antique Wireless Association in 1952.
Objective: Contact as many 1935 stations as possible. Contact exchange consists of: RST, NAME, QTH, STATE / PROVINCE, last two digits of the YEAR of the transmitter's design, TRANSMITTER TYPE such as Hartley, TNT, TGTP, MOPA or Colpitts and INPUT POWER.
Rules: Transmitters must be 1935 or earlier types of self-oscillators such as the Hartley, TNT, PP tuned grid tuned plate, MOPA, Colpitts, or crystal oscillators that are appropriate for the period of 1935 and earlier. Tubes must have been available up to and including 1935. Tubes noted being used in RF service by amateurs were: 2A5, 10, 24A, 24, 27, 35, 36, 37, 41, 42, 45, 46, 47, 53, 56, 57, 59, 6A6, 71A, 89, 203, 211, UX-250.
Individual stations can be worked only once on each band over the course of two weekends. You can use any vintage or modern receiver that you wish. The event is open to all 1935 stations.
Input Power: Transmitters are limited to a power INPUT of 25 watts or less. Multiply Plate Voltage x Plate Current to get your input power.
Bands: 160, 80, 40 and 20 Meters. Typical frequencies are between 1800 to 1820 kc, 3550 to 3570 kc, 7050 to 7070 kc, 7110 to 7125 kc, and 14060 to 14070 kc.
Scoring: Just add up your total number of legitimate 1935 QSOs. Remember that contacts with modern or high-power stations do not count. If you are contacted by a modern or high-power station, be polite, mention the George Batterson QSO Party, then move on.
Dates: April 5th 2300Z through April 7th 0300Z, and April 12th 2300Z through April 14 0300Z 2025. This could change for future events.
Logs: Blank log forms may be obtained here.
Submit completed logs to Gary Poland, 3347 SR 28, Midland Ohio 45148, or email to [email protected]. Logs must be received no later than May 31st.
This page will be maintained for information on the coming QSO Party. I would be happy to also post pictures of any new construction related to this particular activity or pictures of transmitters / receivers that you might plan to use.
Newcomers are invited to join the Groupio AWA Builders found here.
Here is a link to the Gallery of 1929 Transmitters, also eligible for the George Batterson '35.
The1935 Radio Amateur's Handbook can be a great source of building inspiration. As well, it will give you an indication of what tubes were popular at that time and earlier. The '35 Handbook can be found here.
Note that all of the Frank Jones push-pull oscillators were popular at the time. Here is some information on my own experiences with it. Note that although the 6A6 is legal for 1935, the 6L6 is not, so a tube substitution would be need for this popular circuit.
The 53 (6A6) was also a popular oscillator / doubler tube with enough power to be used stand alone on-the-air. Here is my own version of a 53 transmitter for 20, 15 and 10m only.
