What the heck is a Space Spanner? Would the starship Enterprise be considered a space spanner? Maybe, but since there is no such thing except in the minds of would be space travelers, there is little point to the question. Answer however you wish because whatever the answer, it makes no difference.
Getting back to the real Space Spanner, here is what it looks like.
It is a regenerative receiver marketed in kit form by Knight-Kit in the early 60’s and late 50’s of the last century.
I have an interest in it because I became the proud owner of such a radio on Christmas morning 1959. It marked the start of my interest in Amateur Radio and relsoved my desire to find a better receiver.
At the time I opened the Space Spanner kit, it was all I had. Luckily the kit contained a roll of solder because I had none. The fact that I did not have a soldering iron either did not delay its assembly. I merely found a large screwdriver which I heated over a gas flame and used to make the solder connections. It was not until much later that I owned a soldering iron. This way I was listening to shortwave on Christmas Day eve.
I lost interest in regenerative receivers soon after that Christmas in 1959. Their successful use required a skill level I did not posses and had no desire to acquire.
Think about it. How would you react to receiving resume from someone claiming to have skills in the use of a regenerative receiver?
This link will take you to a site that has more information on the Space Spanner. It should help explain why I began searching for a better solution.
What a coincidence, it was my Christmas present in 1959 as well. Also the start of my ham radio career. I was one up on you, I had a wood burning iron, which soon found itself being used as a soldering iron. Worked quite well, as did the Space Spanner. I also became quite adept at making the regen function, although I never put that fact on a resume.
73,
Barry – W1HFN