[Central-Electronics] Unusual transceiver on eBay

[John Vendely]

I agree it's unlikely to be of CE or Collins manufacture.  Note that it 
appears to contain two Collins mechanical filters, one appears to be 
stamped "526-9091-00".  And its construction is clearly inspired by the 
KWM-2.  Most likely a prototype which never went into production, but 
it's odd that the manufacturer's logo does not appear.  The set is 
remarkably clean and shows little to no evidence of use, so perhaps it 
sat for years in a storage cabinet after the project was cancelled. 
Alternatively, as Grant suggests,  it could be  the effort of a very 
meticulous home-builder with superior metalworking skills and a very 
well-equipped shop.  If its electrical design is as good as its 
mechanical design, it would have been a hot little rig.   I know a few 
guys who certainly could build a rig of such quality in their home 
shops.  It sure appears to be going for an exorbitant price...

73,

John K9WT

On 11/25/2014 4:57 PM, GRANT YOUNGMAN wrote:
> I don’t think the dial parts (at least the scales) are CE.  These are 500 KHz scales, don’t match the CE-100/200V and are the wrong color.  The general construction style doesn’t look CE either.  I’d bet this is more likely a KWM-2 style clone, with 500 KHz ranges instead of 200 KHz, and frankly (without seeing the underside) makes a KWM-2 look more like a Heathkit based on the way it seems to be built.
>
> In any case, it certainly is an interesting looking piece.  Perhaps whoever buys this thing will ferret it out and maybe publish an article in ER.  Wish I could convince my (lovely) spouse to let me spring for it :)
>
> If this was home-brewed it was by a master with substantial resources ….
>
> Grant NQ5T
>
>
>> On Nov 25, 2014, at 2:33 PM, w7fe <w7fe at cox.net> wrote:
>>
>> I wonder if we could get Wes Schum to look at these pictures? Maybe he would remember having seen the thing. Nick might help with this.
>>
>> The tuning dial is certainly made using CE 100/200V dial parts --parts which would not likely have been robbed from a complete CE unit in 1959. I'm thinking that this must have been built by someone who had access to CE parts and maybe their silk screening and other manufacturing facilities.
>>
>> The stamped markings on the chassis rear apron are curious, though, aren't they?.  CE didn't do that, at least on the 100V, but they may have had the stamping equipment.
>>
>> And the "SSB Penetrator" ??Someone was not only a great engineer and builder, he had an interesting sense of humor.
>>
>> W7FE
>>
>> --