HISTORY: Dick Smith Toilet Seat Warmer

Will VK6UU has been processing Amateur Radio history since well before I entered the hobby.

Over the last few months, he has been processing paperwork, photos, and files previously in the possession of Cliff VK6LZ and Christine VK6ZLZ. Many much of this correspondence represented early days of the WA VHF Group, the WA Repeater Group, and of course the VK6 Division of the W.I.A.

This week Will writes:

“Now of all the thousands of pages in the Cliff & Christine VK6 collection, this one stands out....!

It appears authentic, even to the middle initial of H for Dick Harold Smith.”

In the October 1978 letter to the W.I.A. President, Dick Smith writes to Mr L.A. Bell:

“Your recent letter to hand regarding your Christmas Party - is it that time already!!!”

We have pleasure in forwarding, under separate cover, two donations which you might like to use as prizes - one, an electrically heated toilet seat valued at $32.50, and the other, an Oscar Tracker which is valued at $9.50.”

“Hoping that your party is a great success and wishing you and your fellow members the compliments of the coming season.”

yadda yadda yadda

“R.H. Smith - Managing Director”

Now I got a real kick out of this, and it was another example, of the generosity of Dick Smith, also a keen radio amateur, during the period he owned and managed his chain of stores for core electronics enthusiasts.

And somewhere out there - for Christmas 1978, or maybe the winter season that followed - someone has a nice warm toosh.

BUT… can you help Will??

He still doesn’t know who “Mr L.A. Bell” is. Do you know?? Drop Will a line...

Contact Will: will2@iinet.net.au

Dick Smith story, courtesy of MWRS (Manly-Warringah Radio Society) and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1eivQNtulE