[Boatanchors] B&W6100

[Robert Nickels]

On 1/15/2016 9:16 AM, Brian KA9EGW wrote:
> I'm not very impressed, it almost looks like someone found a bunch of stuff
> in their basement and sloppily wired it all up.
I disagree with this criticism completely.   I don't think the B&W 6100 
was built to much of a different standard than most other rigs of the 
same era and a critic could take similar shots at any of them (just ask 
me what I think about the Heathkit Apache!) (Of course it's possible 
that hammified mods have been made to the unit in question).  "Eye of 
the beholder" I reckon.

Restoration of my 6100, which came from a garage sale at a local CBer's 
mobile home)  was pretty straightforward and mine always gets good 
reports on the air.    But there's no question the 6100 departed from 
the modular design of the 5100/B, probably for cost reasons.   For 
example, it is well known the Central Electronics 100V and 200V are 
beautifully crafted, but were  never profitable. B&W was always well 
respected and Jack Williamson was said to be especially proud of the 
6100 (probably due to the innovative frequency generation method used).  
B&W certainly  built equipment to high standards, including the T-368 
transmitter.

Inquiring minds can decide for themselves by bringing up the pics at 
this link:  http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=19192.0

The most common complaint about the 6100 (other than it's scarcity) is 
deterioration of the decorative foil on the front panel.  I wish someone 
would make nice replacements so I don't have to ;-)

Here is a cool 1965 photo of the young W1XT at the 6100 test bench in 
the B&W factory:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=3198500

73, Bob W9RAN