• Recently the AACLA was donated KW-1 Transmitter serial 139 and is currently undergoing restoration for display at the Collins Aerospace Museum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

• The Collins KW-1 Transmitter is quite rare and highly prized by collectors. Only 150 plus 2 prototypes were ever produced. All but 16 are known to exist today. The KW-1 is a plate-modulated 1-kilowatt AM transmitter for the radio amateur. It covers the 10 through 160 meter ham bands and sold for $3,850 when introduced in 1952. In 1952 you could purchase a new Ford sedan for about half that amount! The design engineer for the KW-1 was John Foster, WØYDX, a design engineer in the group led by Ernie Pappenfus, WØSYF.

• Clyde Hendrix, WØHBG, Division President of Pillsbury Mills, bought the first KW-1 off the line according to an article in the Collins Column of January 1951. Hendrix had previously bought the first 75A, 30K, and 75A-2 equipments. The HQ MARS station, located in the Pentagon, also bought an early KW-1 according to a photo article in the Collins Signal, Summer 1952.

• KW-1 serial 139 has a unique and colorful history adding to the lore of this unique amateur transmitter from the 1950's. Current information indicates it began service in a communications facility located inside Diamond Head Crater, Honolulu, Hawaii - perhaps used in a Civil Defense or Emergency Communications role. Later it was “retired” as more modern communications, such as SSB, up-grades were made.

• It next appeared in the popular CBS Productions TV series Hawaii Five-O shot entirely in Hawaii and aired between September 1968 and April 1980. It can be seen in scenes where the action takes place in the “Five-O” radio communications set.

• Serial 139 was owned by Peter Brown, KH6IRT, who as since passed away. It was then inherited by Robin Liu, AH6CP who had no room for it so began looking for a new home for it. My friend, Kimo Chun, KH7U, suggested it should go back to its origins. Robin agreed and Kimo orchestrated interim storage for 3 years, then the packing and shipping. Those folks assisting Kimo during this period were: Doug Morgan, KH6U, Mitch Pinkerton, KH6MP, and Barney Cagle, WH6K.

• Now, as we proceed into restoration and display planning, we would like to identify the Hawaii Five-O episodes in which the KW-1 appears. But there were a total of 282 episodes of Hawaii Five-O. We need your help!

• We propose to post a “Leader Board” on this web site showing the season number and episode for each person spotting the KW-1 in a scene. The leader board will look something like this:

• The episodes are available on streaming services as well as DVD's. The following table should assist those who wish to join this effort.

• Please submit your Hawaii Five-O KW-1 spots to our web master at: KW-1_Spotters@CollinsAerospaceMuseum.org