[ARC5] Way OT -- SX-28

[Rich Post]

Todd wrote: "A point of interest: many(most?) FCC models utilized only
single-ended audio output, apparently as a cost cutting measure."

AFAIK, the move was less for cost-cutting but more for power consumption.
The FCC used a lot of these in portable application, run off vibrator
packs.  A single-ended audio would significantly reduced B+ current demand.

I thoroughly agree that the SX-28 is the top-of-the-line and arguably best
looking of the pre-war Hallicrafters sets (exception being the rare and
unusual DD-1 which was in a class by itself)

Rich KB8TAD



On Thu, Aug 5, 2021 at 9:53 PM Todd, KA1KAQ <ka1kaq at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Tue, Aug 3, 2021 at 8:12 PM MICHAEL BITTNER <mmab at cox.net> wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>  Of course those are asking prices and we don't what they will sell for if
>> at all. i see one presently has 17 lookers and I'm one of em. Mike W6MAB
>>
>
> Precisely. If you use the Advanced feature next to the Search function and
> search for completed/sold items only, you'll see that all of the SX-28s
> sold recently have sold for *under* $500. Only one sold over $400, the rest
> under and most under $300. Searching under Completed items shows that the
> high priced examples have been listed numerous times without sale. I
> suspect someone decides to list one for a crazy amount to test the waters
> (or, in many cases, because they're clueless) and others then jump in,
> resulting in several 'extraordinarily priced' sets.
>
> As the owner of a later SX-28A I can say that it is one of my favorite
> receivers - definitely top 10 and probably top 5 - due to a number of
> things. As others have mentioned, for it's time it was overall a really
> nice receiver. Not the best by any means, I'd agree that the early Super
> Pros (SP-10, -100, -200) take that honor followed closely by the HRO. Like
> the Super Pro, the SX-28 shares a wonderful 'shove-yank' audio output
> feature that, combined with a decent speaker, can fill a room or even a
> home with audio of excellent fidelity. This from a 1930s design, long
> before 'Hi-Fi' became a thing. It also offers all the mod-cons of the day
> including weighted flywheel tuning, bandspread, and a large, easy to read
> meter.
>
> But again to echo Richard, the SX-28 is, in the opinion of many, easily
> the best looking receiver of the day, maybe ever. The Art Deco influence,
> overall dimensions, and excellent symmetry all work together perfectly.
> Those steering wheel tuning knobs don't hurt, either. Sure, it has its
> shortcoming, but overall it worked/works pretty well for when it was
> designed and for what. I do think that the AR-88 story has gotten mixed in
> somewhere, because SX-28s are not at all rare or even scarce. At one time I
> knew production figures but want to say something like 20-40K were made.
> Some were sold here prior to WWII and many 28As were sold after. In fact,
> the military-tagged examples (GRR-2?) are harder to find. IMO a clean,
> complete, restored or unmolested working example is a $500 radio all day.
> If you have to fix it or (gulp) re-cap it, the price drops.
>
> I've always thought that the later SX-115 bears a striking resemblance
> dimensionally to the SX-28. The cube look along with the two large knobs
> and so on.
>
> A point of interest: many(most?) FCC models utilized only single-ended
> audio output, apparently as a cost cutting measure.
>
> As to the SX-88, well....clearly driven by the limited numbers/collector
> market. Apparently the performance didn't match the price tag, or they
> certainly would've sold more.
> They are waaaay down from their $10K high water mark some years back. Have
> seen $2K offerings languish for months without selling and know of several
> selling in recent years for 'mere hundreds'.
>
> ~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4
>
>
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