[AMRadio] Can You Believe It? Johnson 500 / Collins 30K

[Brett gazdzinski]

I had a 30K-1, SN9 and it was a good basic radio.
It needed some help making it sound its best and
run comfortably at 300 watts output, but was a good rig.
I paid $200.00 for it about 25 years ago and sold
it a few years ago for $2000.00 and a KWM2a.

I never had the matching exciter.

The 30K-1 has got to be one of the largest 300 watt
ham transmitters ever made....

Brett
N2DTS

  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: amradio-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:amradio-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of david knepper
> Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 9:30 AM
> To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service
> Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Can You Believe It? Johnson 500 / Collins 30K
> 
> I have two and one is for sale.
> 
> 
> Dave, W3ST - W3CRA
> Collins Radio Association
> www.collinsra.com
> Join the largest Collins group in the world
> Nets on 7208 at 4:30 EDST every day and
> Monday at 3805 at 8 PM EDST
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <w9gt at comcast.net>
> To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service" 
> <amradio at mailman.qth.net>; "Discussion of AM Radio in the 
> Amateur Service" 
> <amradio at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 8:28 AM
> Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Can You Believe It? Johnson 500 / Collins 30K
> 
> 
> > Hi Ellen,
> >
> > Well, in some folk's opinion a 30K is not worth $4K.  
> Actually, it may be 
> > worth much more than that.  I know of another one in 
> "5-land" that is 
> > being listed (with a 75A-1 receiver) for $12K!!!  It's like 
> everything 
> > else....it is what someone is willing to pay for it that 
> sets the value. 
> > Does that make them foolish?....Maybe so, but if they have 
> the money and 
> > want it bad enough, they will pay the price.  Just like a 
> 1957 Chevy that 
> > once sold for $2500 may now be worth $30,000.
> >
> > The 30K series are very nice transmitters and Collins 
> didn't make very 
> > many of them,  so they have become quite "rare" and, consequently 
> > valuable.  The 30K-1 is the ham band version and it is the 
> rarest and 
> > therefore the most expensive.  Frankly, I think the 30K-4 
> and 30K-5 are 
> > nicer rigs and they are better looking.  They are 
> commercial versions and 
> > have built-in xtal controlled exciters and two complete RF 
> tank circuits 
> > for instantaneously switching between two bands.  They are 
> a bit more 
> > common than the 30K-1s, but still quite scarce.
> >
> > I have owned my 30K-4 for several years and I love it.  I was very 
> > fortunate to find it and I certainly didn't pay $4K for it, 
> but had to 
> > spend a bit of time and money to get it up and running.
> >
> > I really enjoy the old "St James Gray"  Collins gear.  Yes, 
> it generally 
> > is somewhat expensive, but it is classic equipment and was 
> the standard 
> > for quality in its day.  Collins gear is good stuff, but my 
> motive for 
> > owning it has always been the enjoyment of operating and 
> enjoying it on 
> > the air.....not just setting it on the shelf or collecting  
> it as an 
> > investment.
> >
> > Just my two cents worth.....
> >
> > 73,  Jack, W9GT
> >
> >>
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