[Boatanchors] Re: WRL Globe King Remarks

[kd2nx@att.net]

I've been enjoying all the responses to my simple 
ad: "WTB: WRL GK-500-C or A" and I can see both sides of 
the story. I didn't realize that this would cause such a 
stir! The bottom line is this... for my particular 
situation, the Globe King transmitter is the way to go. 
The T-368/BC-610 transmitters are difficult to handle by 
yourself, and the gross tonnage/size is tremendous. I 
need something that is easily moved and simple to work 
on singlehandedly. In fact, I recently sold a BC-610G 
just because I had to face the simple fact that I would 
never get a chance to really dig into it. It needed 
restoration after being dormant for over 30 years. Now I 
know what the pundits will say... 
"Well, if you had a BC-610 or T-368, you'll never have 
to worry about it needing work because they are built to 
take it 24/7." That might be true, but not all of us 
have the time, energy and overall space to keep such 
great units, let alone partake in a homebrew project.  
The Globe King series of transmitters were built to fit 
the needs of the amateur that couldn't afford the luxury 
of a Johnson 500, let alone a Collins KW-1. Even though 
they were designed with economy in mind, they did the 
job and did it well. I have nothing bad to say about the 
Globe King. I currently own a 500-B and I'm extremely 
happy with it, although it hasn't been without it's 
moments. However, after almost a half-century of 
operation, I think all radios are entitled to a 
few "senior moments" of their own. The Globe Kings are 
what they are. With a few simple audio modifications and 
some TLC, they are perfectly acceptable units. No one 
can take that away from them.

Steve Davis, KD2NX
Middletown, New Jersey

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E-mail: KD2NX@att.net