[Boatanchors] Interesting SP-600 JX-11

[Bob Krassa]

The work appears to be high quality so this might well be a John Leary SP-600   He was a recognized expert on the SP-600 but shocked some people by his paint jobs, this would be a modest example.


Here are some snippets about him off the web.


from http://retrotechnologist.blogspot.com/2011/06/john-leary-hammarlund-receiver.html

John Leary, W9WHM (SK) was the Andy Warhol of radio restorations -- no, more like the Mad Potter of Biloxi. Just as George Ohr managed astonishing technical feats in pottery, often in stunningly bright colors, W9WHM did with radios -- mostly, Hammarlund SP-600s. They're already very good tube-era receivers, but by the time he was done with them, they were outstanding, boasting stability as good as or better than solid-state, low noise, excellent selectivity and good sensitivity. They were quite often done up in unexpected colors -- electric blue, acid green, hot orange. This example (which may contain an ex-mouse) is quite sedate, in gray, black and a muted red. (More info here, in a big PDF). It almost violates my "No radios I can't lift unaided" rule, though.An unexpected and delightful gift, accompanied by personal recollections: "He was a good guy. Kind of politically incorrect and he made terrible coffee, but a very good man." Not such a bad way to be remembered.


and from qrz

John Leary, W9WHM (sk) appeared to be one of best known experts for Hammerlund Super Pro receiver modifications.  His product detector used a 6BA6 and 6BE6, copied from the Hammarlund HQ-180A product detector.
The 21st Century SP 600 Anthology  The John R Leary Series (March 2009)  http://www.hammarlund.info/data/SP 600_ Anthology Part 2.pdf

I can't find any pictures of his work right now.

Bob Krassa ACØJL