[Boatanchors] Drake 2B

[John King]

I am amazed at some of the comments on the Drake 2B. I was licensed in 1958, 
just yesterday. Like Carl, I was here when the 2B was born and licensed and 
hamming.

What was available? Hallicrafters was advertising the SX 101 as"The Heavyweight 
champion". Look at QST advertisements where they "brag" that it weighed 75 
pounds. I still have an SX 101. I had an SX 100, as I still do, and I lost 50 
pounds chasing it around the room and turning the audio down to eliminate 
microphonics. I am not being unfair to Hallicrafters, Hammarlund or National 
because I have one or two of each and in some cases 4 of one Hammarlund. NOT ONE 
of these manufacturers, in my opinion, built an AMATEUR receiver that could hold 
a light the the Drake 2B which weighs about 12 pounds and cost 279.00 at the 
time it was introduced.

Comparing a Drake 2B to  an $8,000.00 to $10,000  (rice box) receiver that you 
can't work on if it breaks is just plain ridiculous  because you are living in a 
watermelon world and comparing a cucumber.

The 2B was an outstanding SSB receiver in the early 1960s  and worked circles 
around the others. It is, even today, a GREAT little receiver and is more than 
adequate for a competent operator to work the world with. I have many many 
receivers and my Drakes begin with the 1A and go through the TR3, TR4 and all 
from R4 through R4C. I have a 2B as well as 2A. If you don't like them or any 
other piece of gear, give yourself an examination before you spout off comparing 
a 1927 Cheverolet to an 2011 Cadillac. All I am saying is that most of the gear 
was GOOD for it's' period and the 1927 Cheverolet will get you to Kalamazoo just 
as the Cheverolet if you can drive a manual transmission and spare an air 
conditioner. 73, John, K5PGW