[Boatanchors] Hammarlund Recievers?

[Michael OBrien]

I'll echo others' recommendation of the Hammarlund HQ-129. Seems like if you were a ham in the 1950s or '60s, you were required to have an HQ-129 for at least a while. They are plentiful, easy to work on and pleasant to use.

If you're looking for a more modern but still moderately-priced Hammarlund general-coverage receiver, I might suggest the HQ-100. I've had two over the years. One looked like new and worked reasonably well. I literally rescued the other from the trash, and it looked it -- but it worked like gangbusters. I wish I still had that ol' beater.

As for moderately-priced Nationals, the NC-183D can be very satisfying, as others have indicated.

73, and gud hunting!

Mike, K0MYW

PS: Someone mentioned the National NC-400. As many probably know, much of the NC-400 production run was purchased by the FBI and installed in field offices for use with an HF network the bureau maintained back in the day. As a result, they are difficult to find today, and often are missing the cabinet, which was discarded because the FBI rack-mounted the radios. Several years ago I came into possession of one that had led a pampered civilian life, and I find it to be a decent band-cruiser. But when an NC-400 shows up for sale nowadays, the "rare" factor usually leads to a price that is, in my opinion, far beyond the useful value of the radio.