@tom30519
The S-meter is original, the radio was junk. I've done a number of mods, including a preamp stage using an ECC-83 tube, and god knows what else.

Got my Novice ham radio license few years later in the US and then went from Novice to Extra in one go when my ride threatened to leave me if I didn't take all the exams. That's my proudest ham moment, and I brag about it shamelessly 😊. I think I was in the local news that day, too. Let the FCC license expire though, because ... life