Very Early Yaesu Musen Co. Amateur 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.

Yaesu QSL Card showing the FLdx2000, FRdx400 and FLdx400

Shown above is another QSL Card from Yaesu Musen which was available to hams who purchased Yaesu equipment. Hams could over print their call sign and address details on the face of the card. This QSL card depicts the then new (from left to right) FLdx200 linear amplifier, FRdx400 HF SSB receiver and FLdx400 HF SSB transmitter.

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.

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 : GregWhiter@clarkmasts.net.au

Next Page - FL-50/FR-50 Magazine Review, 1968, Page 1 of 3

Other Pages at this site, include: FL-100B, the first Australian Yaesu radio, F-Line of the mid 1960's, FL-10/40 Details, FL-20 Circuit and photos, BES 1974 Staff Photo, Yaesu/VK3YS/VK3ABA QSL Cards, FL-50 Magazine Review and photos, Photo and details of Yaesu's first SSB Transceiver, the 1966 released solid state FT-100, FT-100 Trouble Shooting Guide is shown HERE, the 1968 released FTdx400, The Yaesu Museum (German Site)

Other web articles by the same author The Chronological History of the Development of Radio
Origins Of The Handie Talkie
The History Of Clark Masts
The Early History of GFS Electronics

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