Yet another story "from the old days"

[67Dart273]

Fall of 1968, and I'm new at Navy electronic technician "A" school, Treasure Island, CA. The Navy wasted NO time trying to get our minds on safety. After all "back then" especially much of the gear was still vacuum tubes, and with either com gear, you could see transmitters with several thousand volts inside, or with RADAR, 10's or "twenties" of thousands of volts, on top of the usual 120V AC AND METAL EVERYWHERE

So the instructor was talking about removing jewelry and your watch, and working with one hand in your pocket, or behind you.

At the break, a classmate (I'd like to find by the way) from Detroit, named "Grote?" Was telling me, "you wonder why I wear my watch on THIS hand?"

He showed me his left wrist, a great big scar where his watch band should have been. Told me he'd gotten that on a "brand new" Delco alternator, his watch band had contacted the output stud and ground, and WELDED there, melted into his wrist.

Our "ham club" building at TI. Alcatraz off to the right behind, if you could see it, Golden Gate out there in the fog

On the 120' tower at K6NCG, TI

Stopped for a visit on the way from N Idaho to Miramar, spring of '70

 

[Frankie]

Is that a 62 (???) Chevy, Impala?

 

[barbee6043]

so maybe disconnect the battery before working on that car!!?? that's why I don't wear a watch!!???
I like this old time stuff. but I guess some of the younger guys still wonder how we drove cars across the country with points, bias tires, no cell phones, or computers. and just a road map!!????? ha

 

[67Dart273]

Is that a 62 (???) Chevy, Impala?

63 SS, 327 ??250?? hp? and P slide. Bought it spring of '70 in N Idaho, drove to San Diego, and had over winter. Heater core died. Even in San Diego, sometimes it gets cold LOL. Next spring I traded it to a guy who had bought a 69 RR for his kid and the kid "had not been good." The Dad wanted something a bit slower for his kid. It was all downhill from there LOL