Tuesday, November 27, 2018

#158) The Names of Many Libravets Are Now On Mars!


Thanks to JPL and Lockheed Martin, the "Mars InSight Lander" landed successfully yesterday on the surface of Mars! In addition to all its scientific instrumentation, it carried the engraved names of the many Librascope Memories - News Blog readers who signed up last year. See Blog Post #152 dated October 10, 2017. 

A brief 2+ minute JPL video describing the purpose of the mission is available at https://www.space.com/40067-mars-insight-lander.html. Note, the video will start immediately following a brief 30 second commercial. Also note that there are provisions for displaying the video full screen on your computer.

Friday, October 26, 2018

#157) Jay Wilcox - A Voice from the Past


As presidents go, I was a blip on the proud 60+ year history of Librascope. It was late 1992, the Cold War was over, defense was consolidating, and I was sent on my first CEO assignment - to guide you into the Loral family. Instead, you brought me into the Librascope family. While I remember some buzz words of the day like BSY-2 and MICAD, I most remember the talented and warm people I got to know in Glendale - technical, operational, and management alike.

About two days before your October 13th reunion, I jumped online and found I could get there in time from my Ohio home, but getting back would involve an all-nighter. No big deal in 1993, but my now 70-year-old body just doesn’t do red-eyes the way it used to. So, I’m sorry I missed the reunion, but trust you all had a great time reminiscing.

After leaving Glendale in 1993, I stayed with Loral in Akron, Ohio and moved on to Eagan, Minnesota after the Loral merger with Lockheed. In late 2000, I joined the former Loral executive team at L-3 Communications. I served as president of divisions in Philadelphia and Leesburg, Virginia before retiring in 2011. My bride of 20 years, Barbara, and I are enjoying retirement in Columbus, Ohio with our children and grandchildren nearby. With some better planning, perhaps we can both join you for your next reunion. Meanwhile, we toast all of you proud Libravets!

Sincerely,

Jay Wilcox

Saturday, October 20, 2018

#156) Free Librascope Movies Are Still Available

At the 2018 Librascope Reunion recently, attendees enjoyed watching two, professionally produced, Librascope movies from 1983 and 1989. For those who would like to see them again, or possibly missed attending the Reunion, I’m pleased to remind everyone that they are also available for viewing on the “Videos” page (see figure below) of the Librascope Memories website. Currently, there are a total of nine (9) Librascope movies (aka “videos”), including the two shown at the Reunion (Videos #3 and #4 below).

To view any one of these videos, simply click here to open the “Videos” page. Then follow the brief instructions printed at the top of the page that opens in your browser. You may view these videos on either a desktop, tablet, or smart phone. 

Note, the links below each image will re-direct you to YouTube, where you can view the selected videos in full screen if desired. Please click the "Like" (thumbs up) button if you enjoyed the video. Thanks!

Enjoy!

PS - I expect to add video slideshows of the 2016 and 2018 Reunions to the Librascope Memories "Photos" page in the near future. There you will find photos from all the other Reunions since 1999! In the meantime, the 2016 Reunion photos can be viewed from Blog post #144.

PPS - Today, October 20th, marks the 8 year anniversary of this Librascope Memories - News Blog! Hope you are enjoying it.

Monday, September 10, 2018

#155) Announcing the 2018 Librascope Employee Reunion



You are invited to the

2018 Librascope Employee Reunion


A time to greet and enjoy your Librascope friends and colleagues
View Librascope memorabilia and share unique retirement hobbies**

    Saturday, October 13, 2018
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.



The Federal Bar
5303 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA
(818) 980-2555          thefederalnoho.com

Located across the street from the North Hollywood Stations for the Metro Red Line and Orange Line

$5.00 Valet parking available in lot behind building; Ample free street parking; Enter building on Weddington Street

Buffet Luncheon - $30.00 per person

Self serve coffee, tea, soft drinks and No Host Bar at 10:00 a.m.
Lunch is at 12:30 p.m.

Please RSVP to Georgine Archer by October 5, 2018:

By E-mail:  geoarcher@netzero.net    By phone:  (818) 848-5664

With confirmation by check payable to and sent to:

Georgine Archer
509 East Andover Drive
Burbank, CA  91504

No refunds after October 5, 2018.


WIVES, HUSBANDS, and SIGNIFICANT OTHERS ARE also INVITED.


Please help us spread the word to all former Librascope employees and their guests. Former associates of Librascope are, of course, welcome too.

 

Enjoy over 300 scanned Librazettes from 1940 to 1999, plus many other historical Librascope documents at librascopememories.com

 

**Video projection equipment is available to share your hobby at the reunion; please contact Georgine Archer.


Sunday, June 24, 2018

#154) New Photos from the June 6th Has Beens Luncheon

Earlier this month, twenty-two (22) Libravets and Associates attended the "Has Beens" luncheon at the Burbank Hill Street Inn. Some had not attended for some time. As always, it was a great opportunity to discuss old times, current events, and personal stories.

Thanks to Georgine Archer for providing the following photos of all the attendees. At the last minute, my wife (Gloria) and I were unable to attend.

Photo #1 of 7 (left to right): Carey Capaldi, and Chris Chandler.











Photo #2 of 7 (left to right):
Don Tubbs, Dan Sibley, Ed Niekamp, and Dan Tubbs.











Photo #3 of 7 (left to right):
Emery Fekety, and Georgine Archer.











Photo #4 of 7 (left to right):
Jim Jaeger, Sharon Ouellette, Ralph Simon, A. J. Pankratz, Norm Wilcox, and Bill Tilden.









Photo #5 of 7 (left to right):
Larry Knowles, Jan Brazil, Mark Brazil, and Don Barton.










Photo #6 of 7 (left to right):
Norm Wilcox, Bill Tilden, and Earl Valdez.











Photo #7 of 7 (left to right):
Steve Lebit, Glen Cheslock, and Gus Montes.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

#153) Next "Has Beens" Luncheon - Wednesday, June 6th





The following is an invitation to all Libravets and their guests from Ralph Simon:

To: All Libravets,

Mark your calendar! I have arranged for our next Has Beens' luncheon to be held on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at the Hill Street Cafe located in Burbank. 

Please join us at 11:45 AM to share old war stories and current ailments at our usual spot in the back of the restaurant. I have made arrangements for a special menu with a set price of $17 per person including an entree, soup or salad, soft beverage, tax and tip. Of course, you're on your own for any bar drinks.

See you there,
Ralph Simon

PLEASE RSVP to ralph3222@gmail.com by Monday, June 4th. Ralph will need a total head count for the restaurant by that date.

Hill Street Cafe in Burbank.
3301 N. Glenoaks  Blvd.

PS: Previous Has Been Luncheons are described in Posts #151, 149, 133, 132, 121, 120, 94, 91, 78, 51, 50, 28, and 25.