{"id":50930,"date":"2021-11-19T09:43:45","date_gmt":"2021-11-19T13:43:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=50930"},"modified":"2021-11-19T11:49:07","modified_gmt":"2021-11-19T15:49:07","slug":"aga-nostalgia-trip-haluk-soon-to-be-reunited-with-his-childhood-radio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/11\/aga-nostalgia-trip-haluk-soon-to-be-reunited-with-his-childhood-radio\/","title":{"rendered":"AGA Nostalgia Trip: Haluk soon to be reunited with his childhood radio"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Haluk Mesci, who shares the following guest post:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

AGA is the agha of radios\u2026<\/b><\/h1>\n

by Haluk Mesci<\/strong><\/p>\n

Full disclosure: Contains nostalgia of \u2018my parent\u2019s radio\u2019 and some 36 \u2018and\u2019s\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n

I was born and raised in Turkey. Throughout some part of my primary and secondary school years–between 1960 to 1968–we enjoyed listening to an AGA tube radio in the family room.<\/p>\n

Although AGA is mainly Swedish as far as I know, I re-discovered a stock photo of it on agamuseum.nl<\/a> which is Dutch:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Ours had a \u2018magic eye\u2019 just above the tuning knob on the right<\/p><\/div>\n

I remember, at age 9, trying to listen to a live broadcast of a soccer match between Fenerbahce–my favorite team–and the French team of Nice: There was a \u2018Nis\u2019 -Turkish spelling- on the MW screen, so there had to be a broadcast, right?\u00a0 Wrong.<\/p>\n

I learned much later that it wasn\u2019t that easy on radio. (Alas, my team was devastated 5-1 anyhow.) Similar \u2018search\u2019 for \u2018Russian Sputnik sending messages to the world\u2019 yielded nothing but strange sounds like \u2018a diesel engine working loudly\u2019\u2026 I wasn\u2019t a silly kid, but nobody taught us basic radio then.<\/p>\n

Years passed and my family relocated to Samsun, another city by the Black Sea, because of my father\u2019s work. I was about to graduate from ODTU and there was the famous leftist\u00a0(anti-US etc) \u2018boycott\u2019s of 1968 and later, I had to go live with my parents while my\u00a0 university courses remained suspended.<\/p>\n

Ironically, the city had a US radar base; the base had a low power MW radio station broadcasting news and music -rock and country etc- 24 hours in English to the base staff: AFRTS 1590 kHz.<\/p>\n

Shortly thereafter, the base was closed and the radio station went off the air, maybe because of the boycotts and the political winds in Turkey, so I had to look up another such station.<\/p>\n

A family portable (another simple looking but mighty transistor radio but cannot remember the brand name, might be Ve-Ga or something) came up with three main treasures:<\/p>\n

Arne Skoog\u2019s weekly \u2018Sweden Calling DX\u2019ers<\/em>\u2019, a Radio Nederland program on shortwaves which sent out basic introductory brochures on shortwaves, and a strange station playing heavy rock and identifying itself as \u2018Radio Europa Libera\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I figured out very quickly that R. Europa Libera was in Romanian, run by Americans (viz. CIA) and that there were similar transmissions in other languages directed to other Iron Curtain countries.<\/p>\n

I started to sending reception tips to Arne Skoog at SCDX, catching stations like ETLF and HCJB on the portable.<\/p>\n

But hang on, this is not about me getting the SWL bug. It is about the AGA.<\/p>\n

So, the university still closed, up came the family AGA, glowing in the long hours of the night and I started hearing places like Radio New Zealand! The antenna? My mom\u2019s array of zinc (?) wires hanging out of the long balcony overlooking the Black Sea, brought in to my room and attached with an alligator clip to the radio!<\/p>\n

Anyway, the boycotts end. I manage to graduate doing three non-stop terms in a row!<\/p>\n

I move to Istanbul and start working in advertising. My parents eventually move to Istanbul too, but AGA is no more. I hate that I was too busy to find out what happened\u00a0to it.<\/p>\n

Well, I manage to get someone to bring me a SONY ICF-6700W from Germany, and I start DX\u2019ing more easily and seriously, QSL\u2019ing Radio Sutatenza\u2019s, Ecos del Torbes, Radio Brasil,\u00a0 from S. America; Benin\u2019s, Mauritanie\u2019s and Rwanda\u2019s, Tchad\u2019s from Africa\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

More years passed and I retired, relocate to Canada but continued teaching advertising and creativity in a Turkish university, got more serious as well with vintage receivers, joined a small Whatsapp and Slack group of Turkish SWL\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Yes yes, coming to AGA\u2026<\/p>\n

We do a podcast with the admin of the group on how\u00a0I started in the hobby, where I describe my AGA exhilaration in detail.<\/p>\n

A couple of more weeks go by and my friend Sahin Korkmaz–an avid listener and collector of radios–from the group directs my attention to an AGA on a Turkish second-hand site:<\/p>\n

It is in fact the AGA model I kept mentioning, sharing photos!<\/p>\n

I urge Sahin to buy it for me (and keep till I make it to Turkey) at the price he sees fit if the radio is \u2018clean\u2019 and revivable. Not only he buys it bargaining a bit, but he also gets a local old master of vacuum tube radios to look to diagnose: \u2018It is very clean, all original parts, and it works. Only one certain amplifier tube needs to be replaced.\u2019 The two small bulbs that light the dial should be renewed but that is nothing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sahin searches and finds out that that tube is a universal one and found easily. Well, he doesn\u2019t like over-spending so he figures out that the old Master has some tubes at home. He drives the master, finds the tube (master cannot see that well anymore) and a couple of spares too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Voila! The AGA of my childhood and youth becomes alive, warping an immense span of time, becomes \u2018My AGA\u2019 as Sahin tests it for MW and SW with his random wire, flooding me with videos of reception and sound quality from Kayseri, Turkey where he is right now. Meanwhile in Canada, where I am, my laptop screen becomes hard to see because of the tears I shed.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/vimeo.com\/647719046<\/p>\n

https:\/\/vimeo.com\/647719158<\/p>\n

https:\/\/vimeo.com\/647718643<\/p>\n

https:\/\/vimeo.com\/647719764<\/p>\n

https:\/\/vimeo.com\/647720559<\/p>\n

I am currently stuck in Canada, not travelled for almost two years, but with the first chance I get to go work at Izmir University of Economics, I will get my hands on \u2018my parents\u2019 AGA\u2019 that Sahin brought back to life\u2026<\/p>\n

Once a copywriter always a copywriter, I will wrap up this nostalgic story with the historic AGA slogan used in Turkey:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Read \u2018AGA is the agha of radios\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thank you for reading and 73\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Haluk Mesci<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Haluk Mesci, who shares the following guest post: AGA is the agha of radios\u2026 by Haluk Mesci Full disclosure: Contains nostalgia of \u2018my parent\u2019s radio\u2019 and some 36 \u2018and\u2019s\u2026 I was born and raised in Turkey. Throughout some part of my primary and secondary school years–between 1960 to 1968–we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2262,3,305,43,5,4796],"tags":[9546,4342,9545,4122,4767],"class_list":["post-50930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-listener-posts","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-shortwave-radio","category-swlers","category-vintage-radio","tag-aga","tag-guest-posts","tag-haluk-mesci","tag-listener-posts","tag-shortwave-listener-posts"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-dfs","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":59203,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/haluk-spots-a-braun-t23-on-facebook-marketplace\/","url_meta":{"origin":50930,"position":0},"title":"Haluk spots a Braun T23 on Facebook Marketplace","author":"Thomas","date":"March 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Haluk Mesci, who writes: I recently bought a Braun T1000 in unbelievably good condition. And today I noticed a Facebook ad for a Braun T23, on sale here in Toronto. Judging from the photos, it is obvious that there is an 'Eton E1 -\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/426327261_7119608631468195_1429383702152539170_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/426327261_7119608631468195_1429383702152539170_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/426327261_7119608631468195_1429383702152539170_n.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/426327261_7119608631468195_1429383702152539170_n.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65667,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/haluk-spots-this-mystery-radio-in-a-vintage-turkish-film\/","url_meta":{"origin":50930,"position":1},"title":"Haluk Spots this Mystery Radio in a Vintage Turkish Film","author":"Thomas","date":"March 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Haluk, who writes: Hello. I was skimming through a very old Turkish film. Lo and behold, a maid turned on some (!) radio to provide music in a party... The receiver looks serious but doesn't look familiar, at least to me. Regards, Haluk Thanks\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Turkish-Film-mystery-radio-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Turkish-Film-mystery-radio-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Turkish-Film-mystery-radio-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Turkish-Film-mystery-radio-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Turkish-Film-mystery-radio-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43290,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/listener-post-mike-stutzers-love-of-radio-began-with-a-hallicrafters-s-120\/","url_meta":{"origin":50930,"position":2},"title":"Listener Post: Mike Stutzer’s love of radio began with a Hallicrafters S-120","author":"Thomas","date":"June 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Stutzer, who recently shared the following listener post: I started SWLing as a teenager. My favorite uncle gave me a Hallicrafters S-120. My dad hung a longwire under an eave and through a casement window frame into my bedroom. I marveled at all\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hallicrafters-S-120.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hallicrafters-S-120.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hallicrafters-S-120.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hallicrafters-S-120.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12130,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/02\/listener-post-landon-kf4cau\/","url_meta":{"origin":50930,"position":3},"title":"Listener Post: Landon (KF4CAU)","author":"Thomas","date":"February 2, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Landon\u2019s radio story is the latest in\u00a0our series called\u00a0Listener Posts, where I place all of your personal radio histories. If you would like to add\u00a0your story\u00a0to the mix,\u00a0simply send your story by email! In the meantime,\u00a0many thanks\u00a0to Landon for sharing his personal radio history: Landon (KF4CAU) My interests in SWL'ing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Listener Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Listener Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/listener-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"SP600Dial3","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/SP600Dial3-300x182.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7932,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/12\/listener-post-harold-woering\/","url_meta":{"origin":50930,"position":4},"title":"Listener Post: Harold Woering","author":"Thomas","date":"December 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Harold Woering\u00a0\u2019s radio story is the latest in our series called\u00a0Listener Posts, where I will place all of your personal radio histories. If you would like to add your story to the mix, simply\u00a0send your story by email! In the meantime, many thanks to Harold for sharing his personal radio\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Listener Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Listener Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/listener-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"KnightReceiver","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/KnightReceiver-300x184.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7669,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/11\/listener-post-eric-weatherall\/","url_meta":{"origin":50930,"position":5},"title":"Listener Post: Eric Weatherall","author":"Thomas","date":"November 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Eric Weatherall\u2019s radio story is the latest in a new series called Listener Posts, where I will place all of your personal radio histories. If you would like to add your story to the mix, simply send your story by email! In the meantime, many thanks to Eric for sharing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Listener Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Listener Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/listener-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"KA1102-300x189","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/KA1102-300x189.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50930"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50930\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}