(Cover Kelly Freas)
Analog - Apr 1969
Letter
Analog Brass Tacks Section
Dear John,
This will amuse you.
Rather too many years ago, when I was running to New York during the Second World War you talked to me about what was then a fascinating novelty—radar. You found it amusing that one of the most important components-—the wave guide—was plumber’s work, not that of a highly qualified electronics technician. Somehow that little piece of information stuck in my memory.
A few days ago, in Burnie, Tasmania, my highly qualified young gentlemen were clambering around the platform between the Samson posts on which the scanner is located, servicing the motor of same. One of them contrived to clutch the wave guide and, a foot-long section came away in his hand. (There was evidence of an old fracture, which would account for the faulty performance of the equipment in the past.) There is no radar technician in the port of Burnie, and, as the vessel was due to sail in a few hours, there was alarm and despondency among my officers, who came with very long faces to tell me the sad story.
I said, "Send for a plumber."
"Send for a plumber, sir?"
"You heard me."
The radar is now working really well.
A. BERTRAM CHANDLER