[Boatanchors] Twins -

[manualman at juno.com]

Trio was trying to enter the U.S. market through Henry Radio. Drake
products were considered high quality and feature rich for the time. Trio
was out to debunk that notion and get their foot in the door. The TS-900
didn't last long but was a great starting point. They also used sweep
tubes. Someone once told me they made a high power version of the TS-900
but was never offered in the U. S. In the separates, the first set of
Trio/Kenwood Twins R/T-599 were also introduced in 1970 and were quite
successful through Henry Radio and used the much better 6146's in the
transmitter final. By the mid 70's, additional U. S. retailers started
stocking the Twins and moving them very well and further eating into
Drake's market. By late 1972/early 73, Trio/Kenwood introduced the
TS-520, also with 6146's, and became an instant success. Trio/Kenwood
never looked back; they continued to move forward into the amateur U. S.
and International markets.

Pete, wa2cwa


On Sat, 28 Jan 2017 10:07:00 -0500 "Dale Parfitt" <parinc1 at frontier.com>
writes:
> Hi Bill,
> Check out my TS-900 and particularly the Kenwood brochure that takes 
> direct aim at  Drake:
> http://www.parelectronics.com/vintage-kenwood-ts-900.php
> 
> Their biggest competitor  at that time I suppose.
> 
> Dale W4OP
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Boatanchors [mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On 
> Behalf Of Bill Cromwell
> Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2017 9:43 AM
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Twins - was: Like new Drake C line for 
> sale, 160M-2M
> 
> Hi Roger,
> 
> I have had (and use) my Kenwood Twins (no nickname) since the mid 
> 80s. 
> The best I can tell they were built at the end of the 60s. Kenwood 
> initially had 11 meters on the receiver and some of the transmitters 
> were modified (dealers?) for 11 meters as well and they were quite 
> illegally put on the Citizen's Band. Kenwood removed this when they 
> attracted attention from FCC. I saw the bulletin from them. That 
> left an empty slot that is labeled "EXT" on the bandswitch. That is 
> what mine has. I have been thinking it would be a perfect place to 
> install a crystal and coil set to give 17 meters. It already has 30 
> meter coverage
> (Pre-WARC) thanks to the happy accident of giving an entire 600 kc 
> wide band to 10 Mc WWV.
> 
> Mine has a step attenuator in place of the blanker controls on the 
> later A and D sets and it is needed because the front end is far too 
> "hot" - overloads quite easily. That attenuator is just part of 
> being a "radio operator" and understanding how it works. Mine has 
> the two meter converter instalIed. I have been working on a 
> compatible transmitter to provide 160, 30, 17, and 12 meters. I have 
> an extra plug for the cable for that and I also have an external VFO 
> (that can be installed in the
> transmitter) from a TS-520 set. More likely I will just leave the 
> R-599 in charge. I already have an I.F. filter for the SSB generator, 
> too. 
> After more than 45 years of regular use those VFOs are still smooth 
> and reliable.
> 
> Other manufacturers have offered "twins". They give us the best of 
> "separates" and "transceivers" all in one set. Compared to other 
> gear of that time they are reasonably compact. <heresy alert> I have 
> an Atlas
> 180 that came out around about 1970 that gives about 100 watts of CW 
> or SSB on 160 through 20 meters, at a fraction of the desktop real 
> estate and is practical for mobile operation. They were preparing to 
> market a set of "twins" too - much smaller. Those are all - ahem - 
> solid state. I have the documentation on the Atlas Twins and I am 
> considering building a set on that pattern </heresy alert>. I also 
> have an interest in the Heathkit Twins as well as a receiver that 
> matches my Apache. I have the
> DX-60 and HR-10 too but those and the TX-1/RX-1 do not "transceive". 
> 
> Also a HW-16 - just one step short of twins with transceive (and 
> less complicated).
> 
> This is already getting lengthy so I will forgo the "war story" 
> about how I acquired my Kenwood Twins. That will be for another day.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Bill  KU8H