[Collins] Unusual 75S1 for sale

Tue, 3 Sep 2002 22:41:32 -0700 (PDT)

OK, I have gotten the "unusual" 75S1 cleaned and
aligned.  All that is left is to put it back in the
cabinet.  The PTO just barely meets specs as far as
the tracking is concerned and will not come any
closer.  It is by far the worst tracking PTO that I
have seen working on quite a few of the S-Lines and
KWM-2 series as well as owning a number of these units
as well.  But, it does meet specifications (within 1
KHz at the nearest 100 KHz calibration point).

Again, what I have is a Collins 75S1, s/n 11961 that
has a factory installed 500 Hz CW filter with the
optional matching BFO crystal.  Supposedly, Collins
did not ship any of the 75S1 receivers with the CW
filter installed.  You had to either buy the kit and
put it in yourself or else return the receiver to
Collins to get it installed.  According to the manual,
the BFO crystal is another option.  Without it, the
receiving tone frequency of a CW signal is 1350 Hz. 
With it, the tone drops to a more comfortable 800 Hz. 
This filter is definitely factory installed.  All of
the connections not only "look" factory, but the
solder connections themselves have been "dabbed" with
glyptol of the same color and in the same manner as
all the rest of the connections.

The "story" that I have been told about this receiver
is that it was purchased by a Collins employee who
worked at the Richardson plant.  Supposedly, he got
into some sort of "trouble" with Collins over this
receiver (maybe because he got someone to install the
CW filter and BFO crystal at the plant before the
receiver was shipped, maybe he never fully paid for
it, I have no real idea).  Because of the "trouble",
he quit his job and traded off the receiver to another
local Dallas area amateur.  Supposedly, this amateur
barely used the receiver and put it in his garage.

It sat in the garage for about 40 years until another
local amateur did some closed circuit TV installation
work for this individual.  The 75S1 was offered as
partial payment.  This amateur got it less than a week
ago and traded it to me in partial payment for a
commercial 450 MHz FM repeater that I have owned since
it was brand new.  Frankly, I had no idea that the
receiver was "unusual" until I removed the cabinet to
clean it.  Then, I saw the CW filter and optional BFO
crystal and that they had been "factory" installed. 
Since I already have another 75S1 that I have had for
well over 25 years (along with a 75S3A, 32S1, and
32S3), I really don't need to even think of keeping
it.

The heterodyne crystals date from 12-60 to 5-61. 
Thus, the receiver was probably made in either June or
July of 1961, making it a very late 75S1.

The underside of the chassis is a virtual "10" (at
least a 9.9) on a scale of 10.  The top side of the
chassis was dirty (the unit had been stored for going
on 40 years in a Texas garage - no humidity problems,
but lots of dust!).  I cleaned it using new paint
brushes and a tooth brush.  I did not attempt to
polish the chassis.  This could be done by the new
owner.  It comes close to a 9. 

The cabinet, unfortunately, has a 2 inch long scratch
on the right hand side of the cabinet.  I was going to
try to polish this out with automotive polish, but
decided against it.  The top has two 1/4 inch long
blemishes in the paint.  The paint is "soft" in this
area, so it may have been a defect from the factory. 
There are also two extremely small paint chips out of
the top (less than a "pin head" in diameter).  The
finger hole is missing some paint.  These are not
really noticeable unless you go looking for them. 
But, I am trying to give a good idea as what condition
the paint is in.  If the large scratch wasn't on the
side, I would rate this cabinet at least a 9+.  With
the scratch, more like an 8.5.

The RCA phono jacks are completely intact (ceramic
insulators are in excellent shape).  The outer
portions are discolored from age.  Also, there has
been discoloration (not bad at all) of some of the
metal parts.  This is due completely due to the age of
the receiver.

The line cord is original (I decided against changing
this upon the advice of several amateurs on the
reflectors).  However, the rubber insulation is
cracked all over the place due to the age of the unit.
 There are no "bare" wires showing anywhere, but I
really think that the cord itself should be changed
because of eventual safety concerns.  In fact, I'll
give the purchaser a brand new 3-wire power cord to
install if he/she wants it.  I buy these in quantity
since I replace the standard 2-wire power cords on
units that I service unless the owner requests that I
keep the original 2-wire cord.

Since I do service (alignment and repair, etc.) of
boat anchor equipment, I have gone completely through
this receiver using one of my service monitors.  Even
10 meters is excellent.  In fact, it is slightly
better than 15 and all bands are much better than
minimum specifications.

I have been thinking a lot of just how to come up with
a price.  First of all, I have lately seen 75S1
receivers in this condition go for at least $400 (some
people are asking more), with an "average" 75S1 going
for around $275 to $325.  I have seen the 500 Hz
mechanical filters going for at least $150 without the
BFO crystal.  Some have gone for well over $200.  A
new BFO crystal from International Crystal is going to
cost over $25, and the one installed is definitely
original.

I get $50 for aligning an S-Line receiver or
transmitter.  This is about an average cost for doing
such work.  Some people charge a little less, some
people charge a fair bit more.

Now, I am very conservative in my ratings.  What most
people call "excellent", I normally only call "very
good".  What most people call "fair", I call a "basket
case" project!

Anyway, allowing for $400 for the basic receiver, $200
for the filter plus BFO crystal, $50 for the
alignment, and the fact that this is a real "factory"
installation, another $50, that comes to a total of
$700.  It isn't cheap, but this receiver is definitely
a "cut above" the normal.

I can take some photos using my "cheap" Polaroid
digital camera and E-Mail them to whomever asks.  They
will look "OK", but they won't have the definition
that a more expensive camera would have.

The receiver can either be picked up in Richardson,
Texas, or I will ship by FedEx ground (MUCH safer than
UPS these days) for the actual cost plus probably
about $15 to cover the cost of two boxes and solid
foam for packing.

Over 10 people have already contacted me about this
receiver, most trying to get a "leg up" on obtaining
it.  But, I am giving everyone the same chance by
posting the price on all of the reflectors at the same
time.

Glen, K9STH

=====
Glen, K9STH

Web sites

http://home.attbi.com/~k9sth
http://home.attbi.com/~zcomco

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