Remembering Fielden FarringtonAuthor, announcer and long-time CBS writer Fielden Ward Farrington was born July 4, 1909 in Clinton, Indiana. He was my great-uncle; the younger brother of my grandmother, Thelma (Farrington) Stone. Two weeks prior to his birth, his older brother Leo passed away with scarlet fever. Fielden's father Harry, a talented carpenter, built the house in which he was born. I have several fine pieces of furniture Harry had built, and I treasure a little wooden box he built for me when I was very young. Fielden's tiny mother Metta (Nolan) Farrington also loved to write, and had a twin sister, Mitta. Fielden was of English and Irish heritage. Thelma, my grandmother, recalled the day Fielden was born when she was nearly six. She was directed by the family to stay alone in the back yard, while grownups from nearby houses mysteriously went in and out of her house. Finally, she was ushered in the house after Fielden was delivered, and she fondly remembered holding her brother for the first time.
After a short time at Indiana State University, he dropped out; his sister said he was bored after consuming all the resources of the English department. A professor on the university staff, a Dr. Miller, encouraged Fielden to pursue writing. Also on the staff was a young tenor: Burl Ives. Burl had two or more 15 minute spots where he would sing, accompanying himself with a ukalele. Fielden often had station staff in and out of his parents' home - where he still lived at the time - but never invited Burl. Burl was not meticulous in his personal hygiene. Fielden's first big break was at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair: "A Century of Progress." His proud mother and sister drove up to Chicago to see him announce the displays at the Ford building exhibits. After the fair, he announced at several Midwestern stations. Fielden could be heard announcing radio programs such as The Green Hornet, The Romance of Helen Trent and Just Plain Bill. His velvet voice was also heard in commercials. Click here to listen to a Fielden Farrington commercial for Hopper's White Clay Pack: "If you long for a lovelier, more alluring complexsion, give yourself a home facial tonight with Hopper White Clay Pack." I have a number of pictures and recorded information related to me by his sister, my grandmother. Grandma was proud of her brother: "Never did a sister love her brother more than I loved Fielden." She said that they never fought or even argued, and I believe it. I also have a lot of material written by Metta, Fielden's mother, that I need to go through. (11/10/2018) The excellent RUSC Web site has 26 radio shows in their catalog involving Farrington, including two Theatre Five episodes, Just Plain Bill and The Green Hornet as well as his CBS Radio Mystery Theatre work. (11/10/2018) The complete 1972 movie The Strangers in 7A is available here on YouTube. radiofarrington.com domain procured for a future web site devoted to Fielden and his accomplishments.
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![]() Nets
Posted: 01/20/2020
Comments: 0 |
Favorite VHF Nets
VHF NetsNet NameDayTimeFREQ/ModeEast Central Indiana 6M NetSunday8 PM EST50.140 MHz /USB... READ MORE |
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Posted: 10/27/2019
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K5LYN's SB-10/Collins 310B/DX-60 Experiment
Below is a picture of my latest project. After doing the transceiver thing, with a CE20A, mated to a SX-115, then the next transceiver project, a 10A mated to any Drake R4 series receiver, I had an idea. Those transceiver projects have a lot of oscillators, and even the crystal oscillators can drift as they warm up, which requires re-zeroing the transmitter to the receiver from time to... READ MORE |
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Posted: 08/29/2019
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Favorite HF Nets
All times are in Eastern unless otherwise indicated. Frequencies are in Megacycles. Recommended HF NetsNet NameDayTimeFREQ/ModeSwan Technical NetWednesday2200 UTC14.2925 +/- /USB3938 Traders NetWednesday8 PM3.938 / LSBBoatanchor NetWednesday7:30 PM CST3.870 / LSBWA9ZTY Vintage AM GroupSaturday7:30 AM3.885 / AMMidwest Classic Radio NetSaturday8:30 AM3.885 / AMSwan Technical NetSatu... READ MORE |
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Posted: 04/30/2019
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W1LSB Finds an EBay Treasure
I was first licensed as a novice in 1958, and the WRL catalog was really dominant in those days, with the Globe King, Globe Champ, and all of the lesser models gracing its pages. I had a Globe Chief 90 and often dreamed of owning the bigger iron in those pages. I have since collected most of the WRL catalogs from 1954 to 1964, and the last one turned out to be an interestin... READ MORE |
![]() Crazy EBay Prices!
Posted: 03/22/2019
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Crazy EBay Prices!
Below are some screen shots of incredible prices demanded by some EBay vendors. Since posting an auction is free as long as the item is not sold, it costs nothing for the unscrupulous vendor to display their (unremarkable/filthy/nicotine-caked) wares as if they were priceless artifacts of distinction, having immense value. It is truly within this online marketplace where prod... READ MORE |
![]() The Radio Shack
Posted: 12/21/2018
Comments: 0 |
Swan Twins: 600-T, 600-R Custom, 600-S
These excellent examples of the Swan Twins are from the estate of John Thuren, AA5T (SK) of Houston, Texas. John had checked in to the 20M Swan net with these very desirable "big Swans" until a few years ago. A big thanks to Eddie, NU5K, who handled John's estate and placed these on EBay. He packed them well, knowing they are indeed an important find. ... READ MORE |
![]() SDR for Vintage Radios
Posted: 08/09/2018
Comments: 1 |
SDR techniques for Boatanchor Radios
W9RAN started playing with RTL-SDR dongles about 6 years ago, and knew they were going to have a big impact on the radio hobby. But since these $15 receivers only tuned the VHF and UHF bands, he designed a wideband upconverter to make HF coverage possible, and described how it worked in an article in Jan. 2013 QST "Cheap and Easy SDR". The "RANVerter" as... READ MORE |
![]() Activities
Posted: 03/04/2018
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2018 Cave City Hamfest
Barry, AC9NK and I attendended the 2018 Cave City hamfest, which was awesome this year. The facility was packed, with lots of vendors. We enjoyed the company of my friend Tom, N4LID for dinner the night before. Tom, who is blind, had not been able to get to the hamfest for many years. You will find more pictures at the Kentucky Phone Net site. A big thanks to Rod, N4ZIF, fo... READ MORE |
![]() Vintage Manufacturers
Posted: 02/22/2018
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Remembering the Electra Company
For nearly five years, spanning 1978 - 1983, I worked as an Electronics Technician in the original Bearcat manufacturing and service facility in Cumberland, Indiana. Electra was one of the best places I've ever worked, and were among the many innovative consumer electronics companies which sprang up in and around Indianapolis. Al Lovell, a former employee of Regency (also in ... READ MORE |
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Posted: 02/08/2018
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Heath Tube-Type LMO Repair (PDF)
The tube-type Linear Master Oscillators (“LMO”) used in the Heathkit SB-Line equipment is a very stable and accurate means of controlling the frequency in the equipment. Unfortunately, as the units age, many LMOs develop a “warble” when tuning. This “warble” usually stops when the frequency control knob is not rotated. However, accurately “zero-beating&rdq... READ MORE |