Shopping for a New HI FI

Midi playing is "Mona Lisa;

        Being in the market for a new Hi Fi,  I went to see Herb Kannegiesser, VE3BGU at HK Electronics on Cassells Street in North Bay, Ontario and had taken Heather Ann ( 3 years of age at the time) along to keep her out of Chris's way for a while. While looking over the various makes and models, I had decided on a Zenith Hi Fi with AM/FM Tuner and turntable for 78, LP and 45 rpm records.

        Here we see Heather Ann.

       Cute! Huh? That look always spelled mischief......

        Suddenly, Herb looks down and addresses Heather Ann " Yes, little one, what is it you want?" Heather Ann was tugging at Herb's pant leg to get his attention. The following exchange ensued.....

HA " Does this Hi Fi have an RF  amplifier ?"

HK " Yes, in fact it does have an RF amplifier"

HA " Does it have an IF amplifier stage?"

HK " It certainly does, why do  you ask?"

HA " Just wondering...... it must have a mixer stage also"

HK "Yes, it does" By this time Herb is looking at me with a surprised look on his face. I don't say anything, just shrug and wait to see if there are more questions from Heather Ann. Interesting to see Herb at 6 foot 3 or so looking down with interest at this 3 year old who is only knee high to a grasshopper asking technical questions.

HA " If it has a Mixer stage and IF amplifiers it has to be a Superhetrodyne circuit then, right ?"

HK " Right. It also has a powerful Audio stage with Stereo Speakers"

HA " That's good"  Heather Ann then took off to examine other Hi Fi's and TV's  in the show room.

              Ted at his workbench in 1963

        Herb was really amazed at the questions asked and the level of knowledge she had about basic radio circuits. I explained to Herb that Heather Ann would stand on a stool beside me at the work bench as I repaired radios and TVs for hours on end. She was constantly pointing at various tubes and components asking "what's that, what does it do? why does it do it?" I always answered her as if she were an adult and with the proper answers to her questions. There was never a dull moment with her around asking questions and picking things off the workbench to examine.

        By the way, Heather Ann sort of followed in dad's footsteps as she is a Certified Electronic Technician and works for ZEROX, troubleshooting all kinds of copiers, fax machines and whatever else needs fixing. Never went for her Ham ticket yet.......