[Boatanchors] Drake 2B
Tony
w4foa at comcast.net
Tue Jun 7 11:17:37 EDT 2011
All I have to say is that in my personal opinion, the Drake 2B is one of the
finest receivers ever made. I still have a couple that I use with my
Boatanchor transmitters.
One of the interesting things about the 2B is that when I am in a QSO, we
typically talk about our boatanchor rigs. I cannot tell you how many times
the other station will say "I had a 2B but unfortunately I sold it".
Knock it if you wish but as far as I'm concerned, it was and is TOPS.
73
Tony, W4FOA
-----Original Message-----
From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of John King
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 10:45 AM
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Boatanchors] Drake 2B
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
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