The CB Radio Fad

09-01-2025

A childhood hobby remembered.

The CB radio fad captured imaginations long before the internet. My father had a ham radio, but I grew up surrounded by CBs. Influenced by shows like The Dukes of Hazzard and the movie Smokey and the Bandit, it was only natural that I fell into this hobby. The CB radio fad became part of my world during those formative years.

Radios were in every place.

At home, we had the Uniden Washington Base Station with an Astatic D-104 microphone. The D-104 was a lollipop-shaped microphone that was just cool back then. My mom wasn’t thrilled when installers drilled through the window casing to fish the coax cable into my room, nor was she happy to see a Moonraker antenna mounted on our chimney. But she never complained and just let things slide. At our river cottage, a Johnson Messenger 250 connected us to the airwaves, thanks to “Skyscraper” Leroy Cherry, who scaled a fifty-foot pine strapping on clets to his legs to mount the antenna at the very top of the tree. Unfortunately, lightning eventually struck that one. My dad even had a radio in his car and on the boat, and we always had a few walkie-talkies around. The CB radio fad touched every part of our lives.

Powering up the signal.

Back then, legal CB output was capped at 4 watts. But if you wanted reach, you needed more power. To find the power, there was only one solution: a road trip to Elkin, North Carolina.

Ray Felts, founder of Electronics Service and Sales, became a legend in the industry. Since 1955, he had sold and serviced radios. His shop, Ray’s Electronics in Elkin, built the famous Elkin 8 Tube Amplifiers. These heavy units generated heat, power, and influence. Mr. Felts died in 2024 at age 90, but fortunately, his sons have carried on his legacy. The physical shop still exists: Ray’s Electronics, 1032 Elk Spur St., Elkin, North Carolina, and they have a website.

Nighttime skip adventures.

At night, I listened for “skip land,” when atmospheric conditions allowed signals to travel far. Conversations with strangers across states became thrilling adventures. Headphones kept my parents asleep while I explored new voices.

Rules and respect.

As you keyed the microphone, my room lamp would dim, and the amplifier hummed doing its thing; yet you had to be careful. No transmissions on Sunday before noon, the last thing you wanted was to be heard broadcasting through the nearby church’s audio system. The neighbors never complained, but I am sure I messed up some television shows in the process.

Looking back fondly.

Although times have changed, I still remember the thrill of chasing signals, living in a world far more fun than internet screens. The CB radio fad brought connection, excitement, and unforgettable memories that shaped a unique part of my youth.

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