[Dave Moll]

That final question has set me thinking. My great grandfather, who is the reason his descendents (including me) were born in Britain rather than Germany, apparently came over to Britain in the nineteenth century to work on the telegraph network. Although my interest (developed before I was made aware of the telegraphic heritage) is in telephones rather than telegraphs, I feel that I have inherited this particular trait, albeit with mutation. I believe my grandfather (his son) was into electronics and engineering, but my father less so, being more into what might be described as handicrafts (such as woodwork, leatherwork and upholstering among others). I seem to have reverted to these earlier generations in my interest in (mostly vintage these days) electronics. On the professional front, however, I got sidetracked by computer software from my intention to pursue electronics as a career.