An update of what we used to call a 'spudzooka,' or 'potato gun,' this air cannon fires a projectile trailing a monofilament line. The idea is to get the projectile up and over a tree (or the like) in order to raise an antenna for amateur radio use. Works like a champ!

Wollensak T-1515, Post-recap, post failure, on bench. Shows test leads on output from power transformer, power on, and result. Not good. But, in that mess, is there a jumper missing because the motor is not plugged in (separate chassis)? That's my only hope. If the tranny is dead, my only option is to try to get a parts machine, cheap on eBay. This one came from a hamfest, years ago. I paid $10!

Black wax record played on Edison Home Phonograph. 1905 Harlan and Stanley.

A response to incivility in politics. My personal irresponsibility act, recorded live to disc with a Recordio A-72. The disc cutter is seen pictured, a still shot. It's really about the so-called 'music.'

A DATED political bedtime story in retro-tech. Karl Rove? Really? And we thought it would be smoov sailing after all of that! But the tech stunt remains appealing (to me).

Groovin' with kit synths and the Arturia BeatStep.

Barn Radio, pre-finish, front view. Restoration of a radio found in a barn, cabinet destroyed by weather. Radio re-housed in fresh hand-made cabinet.

Restoration of a radio found in a barn, cabinet destroyed by weather. Radio re-housed in fresh cabinet, inputs brought to terminals on rear, new PM speaker mounted in cabinet.

Very rare (psychedelicized, unfortunately) footage of Sal playing his instrument, the SalMar Construction. In the period of 'LGA.'

It was good while it lasted. Failure occurred again not long after this video was made; smoke, smell, power down. The power amp, 2 12BA5s, is down. No B+. Possible transformer failure. If so, that's a total bummer. Clunky though it may be, I like these machines. Might have to re-think it. It's a death trap anyway.