"Dale Parfitt" wrote in message
news:r%vLd.520$nn4.404@trnddc08...
Yeah, I've been rereading the Communications Receivers
The Vacuum Tube Era by Raymond Moore several times,
but the main thing on that one is the tubes and some basic
info, not too much on other details like sensitivity and extras.
I've the first edition of Fred Osterman's Buying a Used
Shortwave Receiver around, but it's rather limited on the
tube radios.

What I was hoping for was recommendations by folks
who've actually used some of them, because it gives
me a starting point. Since I know that time flies when
you're having fun and there are a lot of models to hunt
down, it's nice to hear from folks who've actually used
some of the old rigs.

--Mike L.


Hi Mike,

You are smart to rule out the SX-88. I did a full restoration on one
a year
back and it went for $7500 on EBay- I have seen them as high as
$9500.

Yeah, too few models equals too many dollars.

I am always disappointed when I get a chance to play with the
Hallicrafters
receivers- except the SX-115. Hammarlund is a bit better, but both
suffer
from poorer calibration marks as you go higher in frequency.

I rather figure that that's going to happen, but then
again, having another receiver around to verify
the signal helps too.

You might be interested in one of the Drake 4 line receivers. These
are
exceptional, have the capability of adding additional filters, one
of the
best NB's ever made, 1KHz resolution, low drift and their PBT is
fabulous.
I have added a full set of crystals to my R-4C and find it to be a
wonderful
SW RX. Sherwood has some very nice updates. Even more importantly,
they are
plentiful and a fraction of the weight of the BIG boys. You'll see
lots of
them at Dayton.

You know, I hadn't really considered an R-4 line receiver
much, maybe because the run for them was so long (into
what, the 80s?). Considering that Dayton is practially
the heart of Drake country, I guess I ought to see plenty
of them around. I'll have to keep an eye out for them.

On a similar note (not tube related, but about bargains
that can be had at Dayton), I passed on a Sony 2010
that someone was selling for $100 back in 2000. I've
been kicking myself ever since I got back home...

--Mike L.

One last thought. If you don't mind going solid state boat anchor, the
Kenwood R-300 is a blast to tune around using it's bandspread, xtal
marker. It looks like it ought to have tubes, but the only comforting
warm glow will be from the dial lights.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Re the R4b vs. R4c ..
R4b .. no filters needed .. has 10 extra crystal sockets .. probably
better audio on a stock 4b than on a stock 4c.

R4c .. need filters (InRads RULE ! ! ! ) .. has 15 extra crystal
sockets. Audio not quite as sweet as on a well tuned R4b, but not
shabby. And I'm sure there's a Sherwood mod that'll smooth it right
out.

PLEASE .. do a nice job on the Sher-Mod or farm the work out to
someone
who can. ( I am the owner of a previously butchered 4c. )
(Repaired
and restored by the author of Drake-Mods, so all is well.)

I know better, believe me. I butchered a replacement
of an original speaker with a permanent one on an
old Hallicrafters S20R Sky Champion, and I've decided
if I'm going to fix things, I'm going to go slow and do
it right.

Re older radios - I recently came across a nice Sears branded
Frog-7.
Not shabby at all. Downright surprising, in fact. (Don't make me
a/b
it vs the R4c.)

I won't. Sears sold them??

Re Dayton - I've been the last 4 years - saw several real nice
SX-100s, R4b/R4c's, But the pickin's seem to be getting slimmer as
the
years go by. (Last year there was a real nice / shiny Drake 1a
there.
Emphatically NOT FOR SALE said the owner.)

Heh. Wonder if he was putting it out to show off.

OTOH, I suspect that the pickings are getting slimmer
as eBay has worked it's way into the public conciousness.
That might change as some people (like me) prefer
to actually check the radio that I'm thinking of buying
out first.

To everyone seeking a nice radio at Dayton this year - Good luck in
the
hunt.

There'll also be some keepers at Dalton, Huntsville and Shelby, as
well
as other fests, so if you can't make Dayton, don't despair.

BTW, who's coming to Dayton from the group?

--Mike L.

I've owned several older receivers over the years by national,
hallicrafters, heath, realistic and others and the best boat anchor I've
used is the National NC-183D.
Page WA3EOP
"Michael Lawson" wrote in message
...
I'm planning on making my first trip in 5 years up to
Dayton, and I'm on a mission to go hunting for a
good boatanchor. Hell, part of the reason why I've
been adding some lifting to my workouts has been
to haul one of those babies back to my car over at
the Salem Mall (or whatever the hell they call that
empty shell now).

Ideally, I'd like a Hammarlund HQ-180AC, which
I've used before for about 3-4 months, but I'm
realistic enough to know that with the demand for
one that I'm not probably going to land one. My
big question, then, is what would be a good
alternative?? I'm not interested in the R390/A
(the demand thing again), or the SP-600 or SX-88
either. I don't really know too much about the
50's-60's Hallicrafters models, and the only other
model I'm familiar with other than the HQ-160 is
the Hallicrafters S-20R Sky Champion.

I've thought about hunting for a Hallicrafters SX-100,
but that's about it. Anyone have some models
that would be worth it to hunt for?? Once I get
a list, I'll go doing some online research and narrow
my choices down (starting with dxing.com, naturally).

--Mike L.

Michael Lawson wrote:
A few questions

Yep, Yahoo put Sears 'n Rarebacks name badge on the venerable Frog-7.
You see them fs / fa quite often (relatively speaking).

The guy with the Drake 1a at Dayton - he was using it to demonstrate
some other hardware he was trying to sell. It was nice to see a minty
1a at the hamfest, even if it wasn't for sale.

As far as who'll be at Dayton this time ..
Count me in .. reservations are made .. all systems are GO ..

wrote:

Michael Lawson wrote:
A few questions

Yep, Yahoo put Sears 'n Rarebacks name badge on the venerable Frog-7.
You see them fs / fa quite often (relatively speaking).

The guy with the Drake 1a at Dayton - he was using it to demonstrate
some other hardware he was trying to sell. It was nice to see a minty
1a at the hamfest, even if it wasn't for sale.

I've had 4 1A's pass through here and they all wound up overseas. Interesting
design to them, that's for sure.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

wrote in message
ups.com...

Michael Lawson wrote:
A few questions

Yep, Yahoo put Sears 'n Rarebacks name badge on the venerable
Frog-7.
You see them fs / fa quite often (relatively speaking).

The guy with the Drake 1a at Dayton - he was using it to demonstrate
some other hardware he was trying to sell. It was nice to see a
minty
1a at the hamfest, even if it wasn't for sale.

As far as who'll be at Dayton this time ..
Count me in .. reservations are made .. all systems are GO ..

In my case, all I have to do is drive up from Cincy for
the day. Debating on whether to go Friday or Saturday.
Friday means I can get out of work, but Saturday means
that there will be less rush hour traffic on the highway.

--Mike L.

Michael Lawson continues:

Debating on whether to go Friday or Saturday.

I reply:

IMHO - Go Friday - the good deals tend to go fast. Hit it at opening
time Friday and go straight for the flea market. Pick it apart good.
That's your best chances of finding something you'll like. Don't worry
about the indoor vendors - they'll be in place Saturday.

Usually the flea market empties out Sunday am. This past year, it was
at least 1/3 empty by 1pm Saturday due to rainy weather (and the
smaller number of flea market vendors lately, too.).

Again - good luck in the hunt.