[Boatanchors] Re: GB>Best Receiver was ( "Investment Quality" SX-115 )

[fkamp@comcast.net]

> JohnPerz@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Group,
>              Don't recall seeing an SX115 going that high, most top
> out at 3k or less, some just above 1k......however the SX88 which is
> said to be much rarer has gone as high as 10k.That particular one was
> bought  by WB6ACU... Was mentioned, perhaps here, that only 450 were
> produced with less than 50 believed surviving.Perhaps some one with
> knowledge about them could lite up the "which is better debate"
>                                                John, WA2FNS
> 

I suppose the SX88 must have been a high ticket item even when it was
first introduced and maybe sold to a fairly small market of well heeled
customers.  Why else would only 450 have been built?  I am assuming that
all 450 built were also sold.  If it was such a good rig, I would think
it would have been more widely accepted.  More built, more sold, more
happy owners.

Only 50 out of 450 survive?  I would think that a high dollar, high
performance radio would have a better survival rate regardless of size
and age.  Most people I know take care of things that are useful and/or
valuable.  Makes me wonder if it was built around parts that failed and
were not replaceable or difficult to obtain.

I would be interested in hearing from the group about what they think
are the better boatanchors and why.  Not just a comparison between the
SX88 and SX115.

If the Drake C-line qualifies as a boatanchor, I am a boatanchor user. I
have a Drake C-line that works well and gets used regularly.  My only
other experience with boatachors is a Hallicrafters S-40B that I
restored two years ago.  I was not impressed with it.  It worked but
performance wise it was not as good as a BC-454 with front end
converters.

I know performance is not the only thing that makes a radio neat and
collectable, but performance is a serious consideration for me.  I don't
have a lot of room and can't afford to waste space on stuff I may never
use.

Regards,
Frank Kamp
K5DKZ