[Central-Electronics] Unusual transceiver on eBay

[Chris Farley via Central-Electronics]

Below message copied from another list, with some info about that transceiver of recent discussion:  73, Chris kc9ieq

<snip>
I have found some history on this radio and it is indeed very rare. It was
manufactured around 1960 and was, from the anecdotally known history, one of
three production ready prototypes that were made by a company call Tri State
Electronics in Falls Church Virginia (Old address: Tri State Electronics,
2734 Lee Highway, Falls Church, Virginia). The company was entering the
Transceiver market to compete with Collins and the KWM-2. For some reason
they dropped the efforts on the shown rig and developed instead to TRI-X 500
transceiver which had a 4X150 in the final.

The TRI-X-500  covers the 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands, has an input
plate power rating of 500W PEP-SSB, 400W CW, and 300W AM. The specs on the
current prototype that we are discussion are obviously very similar to the
KWM-2 with the addition of a AM mode and also notably an AM Narrow mode to
compete with Sideband. It would have an output of around 120 watts PEP. 

The last one of the TRI-X-500s that I could trace was sold by Jonathan
Weiner in 2001 for around $500. There were only about 400 of those made.
This rig was apparently a one box rack mount (or cabinet mount) solution
that was more a competitor of the KWS-1.

The price of the current eBay offering was driven by its rarity and quality
and the desire of two guys to put such a fine rig in their collection. To my
knowledge, no one knows a model number for the rig. It may have never had
one as there is no badge apparent anywhere on the rig. The one that was
owned by one of our members had a KWM-1 power supply with it with modified
cable connections. Perhaps the current owner will share more of the story.
It would make a great Signal article.  Hint Hint!

I got this info from a previous owner who helped expose some of the history
and thanks to him for that.

That is all I could find out.

Regards,
Bill
Bill Carns, N7OTQ
Trustee K0CXX
President, Collins Collectors Association
Editor, Signal Magazine
Wimberley, TX<snip>