Progress Reports

8-17-10 - My research is going really well. Lots of doors opening. I have a third article in the works for Fall publication, tentatively called "Cold Warriors." It's about the role of the WJ-8617 and WJ-8618 series in the Cold War and the development of these fine receivers. A fourth story will follow in the Spring about other receivers used in Cold War applications.

8-16-10 - I'm discontinuing the WJ facebook page for former employees and sales representatives. Linked In has a connection for WJ alumni. Besides, only a handful of people signed up for the facebook page.

2-24-10 - I'm still here, though slowed by a home remodeling project that got out of hand and an injury in the family. Thanks to all the former CEI and WJ employees who have been contacting me. Sorry I haven't had time to follow through with interviews. I'll be back on track soon. I added a facebook link below for former employees who may be interested. Just an experiment because so many of you inquire about former co-workers. I know loud and clear that it was a special place to work and that feeling was reflected in the products emerging from your work.

11-8-09 - Barry Narod, Adjunct professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences University of British Columbia donated a collection of early Watkins-Johnson component catalogs from the West Coast operations. They will be filtering onto the site as time allows. These are for VCOs, mixers, YIGs and other parts made in Scotts Valley, San Jose and/or Palo Alto. The first one, a VCO catalog, can be found on the Site Document Index.

8-30-09 - A RARE FIND ADDED - full service manual for the Mason A-3B suitcase countermeasures receiver. See the Site Document Index page in a section called Other Manufacturers.

8-30-09 - I decided to add watermarks to all the documents on this site. I have never liked to see them on other sites but I now understand. It takes tremendous time, energy and a certain amount of money to locate these documents, pictures and information. The internet may appear to be free and many people feel they can freely use things with no attribution, but someone does the work and someone deserves the credit even when they do not charge for their efforts.

2-1-09 - WJ-8617B high frequency extension (HFE) manual supplement added. See the Site Document Index page.

1-28-09 - Sales brochure for the Mason A2 Receiver System have been added, courtesy of Jon L. Williams. See the Site Document Index page in a section called Other Manufacturers.

1-26-2009 - Thanks to all the readers sending notice of damaged links. I'm correcting them as fast as I can. Please let me know if you see any dead or incorrect links.

1-21-2009 - User manual for the Mason MPR-1b Mini Probe suitcase receiver has been added. See the Site Document Index page in a section called Other Manufacturers. Mason equipment is very scarce and documentation even more so. Have anything to share? Please contact me.

1-7-2009 - I just completed a major internal restructuring of the site. If you notice missing pictures, dead jumps or anything goofy, please let me know. The site is now over 200 MB and has hundreds of files. The restructuring was necessary to avoid the incipient chaos of managing a growing site.

12-22-2008 - Military service manuals for the ACL R-1524 have been added (courtesy of W2HX). See the Site Document Index page in the section called Other Manufacturers .

12-15-2008 - I regret that most updates to this site are now limited to manuals, catalogs and other pre-printed material. My original writings on company history and equipment are being plagiarized by uncooperative people who deliberately ignore my copyright. For a private individual, copyrights are essentially unenforceable, so I am left with no choice. This site arises from twenty years of work. I have too much time and money invested to put my work where it is easily stolen. I invite linking to this site because I retain control of my work. All other uses require my written permission via postal mail. New original material will be added after being printed elsewhere and with the publisher's permission.

11-17-2008 - My research is expanding well beyond WJ and CEI as I meet engineers, technicians and other staff who worked for other companies. I am contemplating creating a new site to accommodate this material. Unlike CEI and WJ, many of their competitors vanished and manuals can be posted without copyright restrictions. For the short run, this material will reside in a section called Other Manufacturers on the Site Document Index page.