Early Yaesu Musen Co. SSB Ham Radio Equipment in Australia

In order to help promote their F-Line product range, Yaesu Musen Co. made available to hams who used their equipment a QSL card which could be over printed with that person's call sign.

JA6ELZ's QSL card is an example of the card that Yaesu Musen made available to ham's who used their equipment.

Shown above are both Fred and Jim Bail's amateur radio QSL Cards. Prior to getting involved with Yaesu Musen Co., Jim and Fred had been very active amateur radio operators, Fred having gained his license in 1938 at age 20. During the early years after the Second World War they pioneered 166 MHz, 144 MHz and 50 MHz operation around Victoria, as well as both being actively involved with the Wireless Institute of Australia. In 1954 Fred Bail became Federal Councillor for the Victorian Division of the WIA. During the period 1955 to 1956 Fred held the WIA Victorian division office of Secretary, then in 1957 to 1958 he was elected President. Fred then went on to hold the Vice-Presidency from 1959 to 1962. In the late 1950's, around the 1959 Geophysical Year, he often opened up his amateur radio station to the wives and families of Australians stationed at the Antarctic, who could then talk to their loved ones via ham radio. Fred Bail passed away on the 26th of May 1979 following a massive heart attack.

In or around May 1966 Fred Bail, VK3YS, displayed some of Yaesu's new SSB equipment at the Wireless Institute of Australia's Gosford (NSW) field day. The FL-50 SSB transmitter and its FV-50 VFO, having just been released by Yaesu Musen, took pride of place on the display stand. Also seen at the back is Fred Bail's own original FL-20 crystal controlled SSB transmitter, and to the right, an FL-1000 linear amplifier. This particular FL-20 was the very first piece of Yaesu equipment to operate in Australia when Fred Bail brought back to Australia from Japan following a holiday he had there in 1963.

	Shown at left are Fred Bail, VK3YS and Jim Bail, VK3ABA. At right are depicted various Bail logos.

Fred Bail passed away in the late 1970's, Jim Bail passed away in the early 1980's. Following Fred's passing their company was sold to Stan Roberts of Teletramel, who continued to run Bail Electronic Services into the early 1990's from the Victorian country town of Wangaratta.

The author would be happy to hear from anybody who has very early Yaesu equipment, such as FL-20 Mark's 1 and 2, or FL-100B Mark's 1 and 2. By way of some background information on the author, Greg Whiter was employed by Bail Electronic Services (see 1974 staff photo) from the late 1960's through to 1977. Following this period he formed the company GFS Electronic Imports, of which he is still a director today.

Any comments on this web site should be directed to the author, Greg Whiter at : gfs@alphalink.com.au

Copyright © Greg D. Whiter 2011 - All rights Reserved

This page was last updated 01-07-2011