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

[Todd Bigelow - PS]

fkamp@comcast.net wrote:

>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.
>  
>

Other than the cost then,  suspect some were perhaps leary of the odd 
IFs and other unique features. It's one thing to build an excellent 
receiver - it's another thing entirely to make it so different as to 
seem alien compared to the standard 'state of the art' currently 
available from many manufacturers.

>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.
>  
>

Bingo. That would be my guess too. That and the fact that '50 out of 450 
survive' is more a line of hype used by someone selling instead of the 
more accurate ' approximately 50 accounted for' statement. Use the KW-1 
as an example: 150 built plus 2 prototypes. I don't have the list in 
front of me but I seem to recall roughly 100 being accounted for, most 
still in use or complete, a few being destroyed/parted out/etc. 
Considering it sold in '52/'53 for $3850, that's a pretty good survival 
rate. Collins gear in general seems to have survived better than any 
other manufacturer no doubt due to the care given by those who spent the 
money and those who came afterwards who knew the product. I've seen 
maybe a handful of kludged Collins rigs over the years, unlike 
Heath/Halli/Hammarlund/National and others. And I really don't think 
it's a case of numbers with more of theother gear being produced. Seems 
to be more a case of good quality radio/good price. SX-115 to SX-88 to 
75A-4 to 51S-1. People must've thought twice before putting the drill to 
a high-end piece of gear.

>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.
>  
>

I have to confess Frank, in years past when I lacked space it was maily 
Collins gear for me because it was the best overall(and cheap, compared 
to the prices they fetch today). Later when I woke up and discovered 
some of the other nice items produced by other manufacturers it was like 
Christmas again (I can say 'Christmas' here, right?).  The SX-62 is a 
nice receiver for BCB and SWLing , although it lacks bandspread for real 
tuning. Supposedly an upgraded version of the SX-42, which was the 
upgrade to the SX-28. Any of those receivers are great with the 
push-pull 6V6 audio output. Plus they look great. Still want to get my 
mitts on the SX-73. And the SX-28(*) has to be one of the all-time 
greats. Looks like a radio, feels like a radio, sounds like a radio.

Any of the Collins A-Line stuff is equally nice in a more functional way 
as opposed to audio-oriented. The Collins stuff is rock-solid and built 
to communicate, not really for casual listening. Doesn't sound quite as 
good but makes up for it many times over in the more important ways like 
stability, accuracy,  and useful/needed features. I'm not as up on the 
S-Line having only owned one for a few years back in the late 80s. The 
KWM-2A is a nice transceiver overall, so is the 51S-1 receiver. Small 
footprint, minimal knobbage, excellent quality. They made the best BC 
gear too, from my view.

Hammarlund and National both made excellent receivers, although my 
knowledge and interest stops with the late 50s with the HQ-150 and 
HRO-60s and such. Never cared for the later HQs (145, 170, 180) or the 
HRO-500-type stuff.

If VHF is your thing, Clegg is tough to beat for boatanchor quality. 
Then there's all the wonderful mil stuff (SP-600, R-390(*), ARC-5 gear).

It's tough to really nail it down because you inevitably have someone 
who want to compare an SX-28 to a Yaecomwood, which completely misses 
the point. Also there are many less-known receivers like the RCA AR88 
line which aren't seen here in the same numbers as Hallis or Collins, 
but are still fine receivers for their time.

>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. 
>

Drake gear is some of the most unappreciated BA gear and also some of 
the best for performance. Considering it came along even after the 
S-Line and utilized newer techonolgy including better tubes, it's really 
amazing it doesn't bring more money. ePay aside, Drake gear is very 
plentiful and often goes begging at hamfests because it's either 
overlooked as to new/too small by those getting into the vintage gear 
end of things, or too old by the appliance crowd. BTW, I'd consider a 
boatanchor to be any radio using primarily vacuum tubes, built before 
1970 or so. Having only a pair of 6146 finals and a 12BY7A driver 
doesn't come close to being a BA in my book. It's not so much a 'weight' 
issue as it is technology/timeframe. It just so happens that the vast 
majority of old vacuum tube gear is also *heavy*.

> My only
>other experience with boatachors is a Hallicrafters S-40B that I
>restored two years ago.  I was not impressed with it. 
>

My first receiver was the S-40B. It was great until I got a National RAO 
and discovered what I was missing. Also ended up being one of the key 
factors in my prejudice against Halli gear for many years. Glad I got 
over that!

>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.
>  
>
If you have room to squeeze in a rack, get yourself a decent Hammarlund 
SP-600 and the R-390 (original version, not the later 'A' model). They 
go for pennies compared to the prices discussed here recently. Figure 
$200-$400 for a decent example of either. Sometimes they are given away 
for simply toting them off. Of course, if you need it 'now', you can 
always pay more on epay.

Believe me, there's a lot more to say but I've used my 2� and then some. 
No doubt others will add/subtract from it.

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ