[Collins] Collins R-9XX

[kiyoinc at attglobal.net]

> From http://209.35.120.129/faq-var.htm
>
> The R-9xx is alleged to have contained a small LED digital readout
> where the veeder root counter
> exists in the center of the R-390A. No documentation or photographs
> of this model have surfaced
> yet.

Dave asked if maybe someone added a digital readout to an R-390.

No. The fellow who was selling it at Gaithersburg had the manual, it was about two inches thick. Remember this was in the mid-1970's so it wasn't a single chip counter.  

He fanned the pages of the manual and as part of his pitch pointed out how well documented it was.  

I noticed that the LED readout was perfectly fitted to the front panel. This was definitely a commercial job, not a home brew. 

How many were made?  Who made them?  Where are they now?  I don't know.  

I can verify that the R-9xx existed.  I saw one up close.  Probably makes a KW-1 look cheap.  I'd swap my 75S-1 serial number 55 for it. 


Here's another funny, at the same Gaithersburg hamfest, some vendor had an S-Line wrapped in plastic.   A fellow and his wife were shopping, "Honey, isn't that what you are looking for, Collins?"

He replied, "No, those are S-2's, 75S-2, 32S-2, I want an S-3 S-line."

Well, he's probably regretting not getting it.

de ah6gi/4