I was first licensed as WN8YTL in Bay City, Michigan back in 1967. My "Elmer" was my uncle "Toot" Aymer WA8YAY(SK) who lived in Fairgrove Michigan. Toot had great patience and helped with learning the code, setting up with a station, and keeping it running. Since then other calls include WA8YTL, AD9L, NU5F, AB4JA, WF9M before obtaining W9VC. Attached should be a picture of my latest project, a 6AG7/6L6 transmitter, built in an stripped down Heath kit TV signal generator,  I use it on 40 meters and have been getting nice reports regarding keying and tone. Also been using a set of Drake Twins, love the Drakes. I have some other Drake receivers and a real nice Drake 2-C/2-NT setup that I use on 80 meter cw in the winter.Currently looking for parts filters for a stripped down Drake R-4C which needs filter covers, a 250 hz filter, and the crystal cover.  I collect crystals, tubes, and other electronics parts, have recently been on a real gathering binge for tube parts. I build a lot of tube type transmitters and even some regenerative receivers. I have also recently become extremely interested in tube testers and am the proud owner a Triplett 3444 which one of the best mutual conductance tube testers ever made. I also build qrp rigs, have numerous tuna tin 2's, two-fers, W7ZOI/W1CER universal transmitters, and a few other designs. I actually own the protoype for Dougs "75m ssb receiver" which was featured in QST and other ARRL publications. And also a tube transmitter I call the "6V6GP" in honor of my grandfather who gave me the 6V6 oscillator tube about 42 years ago. Still going Grampa!!! So if you hear me on 40 or 80 give me a call!!!