The last time I owned a T1154
was a long long time ago. I bought it from a small government
surplus shop in Brownlow Hill, Liverpool and, if I recollect
correctly, it cost me 30/- which in today's monopoly money is
£1.50. I remember buying a large Mars Bar before carrying
the thing to the bus stop. I've never been a heavyweight and
when the T1154 was handed over I almost collapsed in a heap.
The bus stop was maybe 100 yards away opposite Lewis's Department
Store (still displaying its bomb damage) and I don't know how
I managed to get there. I vaguely remember my arms being almost
pulled out of their sockets and making it as far as the seat
nearest the platform when the No 72 arrived for Hunts Cross.
At the other end I only had to stagger another 50 yards before
making it home. The Mars Bar was essential for the extra energy
and it cost 4 pence (4d is less than 2p). Today a small Mars
Bar, the equivalent of my large one is around 50p so reflects
an increase of 30 times. That old T1154 which was £1.50
should therefore be £45. No such luck... more like £400,
an increase of about 270 times. Alas, most WW2 radio equipment
has followed this sort of price increase.
Back in 1955 or 1956 I hadn't much idea
what to do with the T1154. In those days I used to build simple
receivers from surplus parts, so armed with a screwdiver and
sidecutters my transmitter was butchered. If I examine the contents
of various boxes in my workshop I still find echoes of the original
T1154 from the 50s in chokes, large green resistors and tuning
condensers. I vaguely remember swapping the brightly coloured
dials with a schoolfriend for an old battery triode (a gold-coloured
PM2DX) and sundry useful bits. |