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Ralph Mowery · July 10th 18, 03:16 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.boatanchors

In article , says...

The Vikings saw commercial service all over the place, and even found
themselves in broadcast service. As late as the 1980s, both HCJB and
one of the C&W stations in the Caribbean were using them as shortwave
broadcast transmitters, continuous key down for days on end. New, they were
not cheap by ham standards, but they were very cheap by commercial standards
and because there were so many in commercial service they turned up surplus
at good prices a lot.

Yes, if used in commercial service the price is inexpensive. I guess
that explaines why so many of them show up at the hamfests. I had a
hard time thinking hams from around 1950 to 1957 could afford many of
them. Just like the $ 5,000 rigs and up of today. However it seems
with the 401k and such older hams like me have more money to spend.
Especially looking at the required takeout after 70 1/2.

I have a box of tubes from about 40 years ago when I did some repair to
the CB radios to pick up some extra money and learn repairing. Could
only find one used 6aq5 in the lot but my tube checker said it should be
good.
I did get on ebay and ordered a couple of the 6aq5 and 6al6 tubes that I
did not have. Found a bunch of the 6au6 tubes. Whoever designed the
Viking shure could use some learning on where to place the parts as the
audio tubes are difficut to get to. I have a couple of 6146 tubes but
did not think they need changing at this time as I can get out over 100
watts on CW and close to 100 watts on AM. I may try them when I am
satisfied the Viking is working like it should. I should be able to
find a couple of 807s at a hamfest that is comming up over Labor Day.
They should be ok as my scope shows that if I run the audio up I can get
well over 100% modulation.

I probably need to trace and draw out the modification made to the audio
stage. Probably should check all the resistors for value as most seem
to be the origional ones. I know sometimes they will change values
like the ones in the Heathkit amp I have did in the meter multiplier.

I hope to put it on the air in a week so with some friends that hae some
AM equipment.

73 de ku4pt