Just turned 60. Still can't believe it.
Got my ticket in 1959 or 1960. My first rig was an S38 receiver and
the transmitter was a home brew 6AG7 and 807 built from scrounged TV
parts. When I got my general I cathode modulated it with the power amp
of an old Broadcast radio.
Next was an ARC5 on 40 meters. I got a Knight T50 somewhere in that
time period too.
I put the ARC5 on DSB and got hooked on side band.
Then I built a phasing type SSB exciter and various amps. Still in
high school and no money.

The S38 I had didn't come with an RF gain control so trying to copy CW
on it was next to impossible as it would overload. Added a pot in the
IF cathode for IF gain. Made a new receiver out of it. Later added an
old beacon receiver tuned to the IF for a Q5R. Then added an ARC5 vfo
to use as the master oscillator. Then I had a very stable and
selective SSB receiver. I called it my "S line receiver".
As a kid that's all I could afford.

My first commercial side band transmitter was a Central electronics
10B then a 20A.
I built a converter for a BC453 and had a better SSB receiver then.
I still have a 20A that I put on once in awhile but it is not the
original one. I have owned several over the years and have traded them
for something.

I still have the BC453 and have revised the converter several times.
The rig now has avc and product detector. I drag it out every few
years and make a few improvements on it then put it back on the shelf.

I didn't get my first "real" Collins S line until around 1976. I think
I still have that too.

I do have modern gear but still collect and like the old stuff.

73
Gary K4FMX