Radio Equipment Nostalgia

My first radio system was a used Controlaire six channel reeds system, which was really only three functions. This system was out of date when I got into RC in the 1970's. The receiver contained a "reed bank" that consisted of metal strips that would vibrate a certain tone and the corresponding servo would move. Receiver had to be placed in the plane a certain direction for the receiver to operate.

The radio worked pretty well until one day it quit working right after take off in a Midwest Esquire. When the tank ran out, the plane was so high you could not see it. A farmer found the plane several miles away a couple of weeks later. His cows had done some damage to the wings but I repaired the plane and put in proportional radio equipment.

I later sold the plane for someone to learn on. Another guy sold him a radio and helped him fly the plane. When the owner of the plane got in trouble, he handed the transmitter to the instructor and the plane crashed. The instructor looked at the transmitter and the power switch was off. He asked the student why he shut the switch off and he said, "when you are operating power equipment and there is trouble, the first thing you do is shut the power off." Not a good idea with RC equipment.


My first radio, Controlaire reeds, outdated at the time.	Receiver was in a metal case.	Servos did not come with the transmitter and receiver, were purchased from another company.
	Reed equipment was not proportional, moving the spring-loaded toggle switch on transmitter started servo moving in one direction until the switch was returned to neutral, then the servo returned to neutral. Throttle servo did not return to neutral but stayed at the position it was at when the toggle switch was returned to neutral. Only one function could be performed at a time. There was no trim or servo reversing.
Side view of transmitter.		Reed bank inside of case.
	Radios in the 1970's had cases that were mostly metal. Servo reversing was not available.
My second radio control system was a World Engines Blue Max 4 channel proportional system. It was purchased as a semi-kit, the wiring between circuit boards had to be completed. Suggested retail was $219, but sold for less mail-order.		Futaba radio from the 1980's I believe.
	Blue Max receiver and servos above - two circuit boards inside case, servo wires plugged into plugs on wires coming out of receiver.
JR Circus IV radio had a plastic case.		The last radio before I quit the hobby for ten years was a Kraft. Once the most popular radio, (at least that what was on the box it came in).