VK6VF Beacon
The old photograph is of the original 
VK6VF beacon on 50.002 Mhz.

It consisted of a 6AC7 oscillator/multiplier, second valve multiplier and 807 power output valve, with a wattmeter driven keyer wheel with P.E. cell.
An earlier version of this beacon using a mechanical keyer driven by a gramophone motor was housed at the QTH of VK6HK for a while. Dates to the late 1950's

This beacon was built by the late Don Brown, VK6ZAV who was a signwriter with the old WA Railways.    He practiced his skill with the brush by writing the callsign on the bottom front of the transmitter.    This can just be seen at the bottom of the photo.     This beacon was housed at Don VK6HK's residence for a while.     The beacon used amplitude modulation tone keying with screen modulation from a neon tube oscillator.
Current -1999- practice in VK6 has been to use all solid state keyers and transmitters.
The latter are based on modified versions of the Philips FM828/880/814 series of transceivers
between 50 and 432 MHz, with locally constructed equipment on higher frequencies to 10GHz.

Beacons index