On behalf of a friend, I’m trying to find someone who has the details of a transmitter known as the Cannonball, produced by SSB Products of Derby.
Sphinx Transmitter
Back in the 1960s, Norman Birkett G3EKX, created a range of products for the radio amateur. Most were available as kits and ready built. He had an interest in Egypt and named his products accordingly:
- ‘Sphinx’ – an SSB/AM/CW transmitter for 160, 80, 40 and 20m. It had a built in power supply and ran 75w PEP.
- ‘Pyramid’ – linear amplifier for the HF bands using 4 x 6HF5s, with built in power meter and housed in a ‘Sphinx’ cabinet.
- ‘Scarab’ – crystal filter kit, including carrier crystal on 436Kc/s
- ‘Napoleon’ – SWR bridge in hammer blue finish
He also made the ‘Cannonball’ transmitter which was an AM, SSB and CW transmitter for ‘Top Band’ 1.8 to 2 Mc/s. It measured 8″ by 6″ by 6″, requiring 6v at 1.5 amps for the heaters and 260v at 70mA for the HT. It featured a crystal filter and ‘Direct Frequency Calibration’. 80m and 12v models were available to order too.
The products were all listed in Short Wave Magazine during the years 1966, 1967 and others.
My friend has a pre-drilled chassis and new front panel for the Cannonball, and would like to know more about it…hopefully a copy of a manual and circuit diagrams. Pictures of the parts he has are at the bottom of the page.
If you’re able to help, could you drop me a line via the contact page or my e-mail address on ‘qrz.com’ and I’ll pass it on.
Cannonball Chassis
Cannonball Front Panel