[Boatanchors] Found while looking for a RAL

[Sandy]

The RAL's and RAK's used to be dirt ship at hamfests some time ago! I 
remember one fest in New Orleans where there were at least 5 tables with 
them under the other junk on the floor.  I saw a couple of guys who were 
dropping them into the dumpster to avoid having to lug them home!  Some were 
in very good shape!  Try and find a decent one now!  Even the older worn 
ones are like gold now.

When I was much younger, I looked upon them with the feeling they were just 
old fashioned and useless.  I also remember an old Navy Chief (W5EGX- 
Burt...now SK for a few years) who used to really like the old TRF regennys! 
I always wondered "WHY?"  Damned things looked like relics at the time and 
NO CALIBRATION!  Who wants a receiver with no damned dial calibration? 
About 10 years ago I traded another surplus receiver an R-391  or R-392? 
(the one that had a bunch of 6AJ5 tubes in it running with 24v heater and B+ 
buses!)  When I got the old RAL-7 home, I was VERY pleasantly surprised with 
what the old girl would do!  It was STABLE! even on 20 meters!  Drifted very 
little even on SSB!  Damned thing was sensitive and worked absolutely great 
on CW!  WHY didn't I take home that one they were putting in the dumpster at 
that hamfest in the late 70's????    S-T-U-P-I-D  me !!!!

73,

Sandy W5TVW

-----Original Message----- 
From: Bill Cromwell
Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2012 10:09 PM
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Boatanchors] Found while looking for a RAL

Hi,

I went to the Cadillac, MI hamfest this morning..the first hamfest I've
been to in this century. I was looking specifically for a RAL - any
condition. I got there at the starting gun and hurried around the modest
sized area. No RAL. Then I went back around more slowly and I did find a
Drake 2B. No I didn't buy it. The owner was off somewhere doing more
important things than talking to people interested in his unpriced gear.
The fellow who checked all the items on the table for the owner told me
the receiver powered up without smoke but that it didn't work. . When
the owner finally showed up he wanted $125 for the non working receiver.
I took a pass. I talked to the guy who did buy it and he paid $95. I
didn't feel bad cuz I think that was too much for a broken radio. We
talked about it a bit and he will probably do okay with it. He knows how
to fix them and he expects to make a profit. I was only looking at it as
"for use" in my shack. And...it's NOT a RAL.

I *DID* find a "sleeve" of 5 NOS 6BA6Ws for a buck each. Those are mine
now. I have a set of Hi-Z cans that the cord was ruinated long ago and
asked a guy who had a set of cans if he knew where to get the cords. He
suggested his and I could just buy them for the cord. They were cheap.
So I bought them. Of course they work just fine so now - I still need a
cord set for the one I already had. I have a plain wire cord set on
those and the cord does NOT lay flat on the table. Miserable to use.

I'll take another cruise looking for a RAL at the next nearby hamfest
next month. No telling what will actually be there.

73,

Bill  KU8H

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