At Camp Highfield, we bivouacked in four man, U.S. Army World War II, tents built on wooden flooring. Although we had electricity for lights, no radios were allowed. Except, in my case, I was allowed to keep my radio when the counselors at the camp discovered I'd built it myself, it could only be heard through headphones, and provided I would allow other kids to listen occasionally. Later, I discovered another reason. One of the counselors was a Ham and taught a Ham radio course. He wanted to interest kids in building electronic projects, and my radio was a perfect advertisement for him.
         I was assigned to a tent with another kid who happened to see my Regen. He told me his father had something to do with magazines about radios. That fact meant nothing to me at the time. A month later, however, it was parent's weekend at the camp. Parent's weekend allowed parents to visit their kids to see if they were still alive. One afternoon, an older man came by asking for his son, my tent mate, who had gone off somewhere. As I was telling him that his son would be back shortly, he noticed my Super Regen.
      

"This is beautiful," he said, eyes sparkling. "You know," he continued, "I made a similar receiver using the first triode vacuum tube many years ago. May I listen to it?" 

      He was as excited as a kid on Christmas morning, and away he went tweaking everything that moved. When his son returned, the father barely noticed as he kept tuning around for more signals. The man finally took the headphones off, and introduced himself. He was Hugo Gernsback, a person more than merely interested in radio and science. He then quizzed me about my Super Regen and other things I had tried to build. He wanted to know my thoughts about where we came from and for what purpose. I was awe struck with the conversation. Hugo was instantly able to answer any question I had. He thoroughly explained his interests through his questions. After 20 minutes, he said he was late for an appointment and would have to leave. He asked for my mailing address and told me he was giving me a free subscription to Radio Electronics Magazine. He then talked to his son about sundry things and zoomed away in his fancy Essex.  I still remember our conversation. In a few minutes together, we spoke to one another as equals, discussed the galaxy, planets, governments and radio fun without any inhibitions. It was a magnificent moment in the afterglow of that intimate conversation that I knew science and electronics would be my purpose in this short life on this planet in this galaxy. It's mysterious and interesting how a chance meeting, or was it chance, between a true teacher and a hungry student can affect the course of a person's life. At our meeting, I didn't know this man's fame, position or notoriety, but I knew he respected my curiosity and intuitions regardless of my age. To me, he had the energy and charisma of an Angel.       Hugo Gernsback Links   A   B  C  D

    February 7, 2004   My current buddy who I thought I met in the 1980's  Pete, W1VZR Limerick, Maine  just called me on the phone to tell me that he just read this article and He worked at this camp in the early 50's. I met him shortly in 1953 in his shack about 80 feet straight down the hill towards the lake and was in awe about all his home brew equipment. Pete was 7 years my elder. As I was just starting in electronics I planned the entire winter to corner him my last summer with this super Regen receiver and 10,000 electronic questions. Sadly when this last year arrived in camp in 1954 he no longer worked at the camp. Tears came into my eyes as I knew I had missed a special older young man who knew almost everything about electronics. One knew he was a Genius as none of my ham neighbors back home had their home brew 75 meter transmitter laid out on so many multiple shiny chassis along the entire wall on many narrow wooden shelves. Maybe we can get some more info out and a picture from him about this unique transmitter ? ETC.