[Drake] 2c Parts needed

[N4ue@aol.com]

Hi to all! I hope you enjoy this 'tale'...

A year or two ago, I bought a complete TR4-C/RV-4C/AC-4 station, because it 
was cheap, and I just needed the RV-4C. It was advertised as 'very rough'. The 
nice lady made quire an understatement! WOW! The radio looked like it came out 
of a swamp, but the RV-4C was pretty nice. I redid the RV and it turned out 
to be about a 7 or 8. I stashed the radio and P/S away for parts. After getting 
my new shop / shack built, I ran out of 'projects'.
I pulled out this poor Drake. Looking inside, there was a Noise Blanker. 
Cool, almost paid for it's self. I looked at the P/S and although not mint, it was 
the highest ser # I have ever seen. OK. on to the radio..... I started 
repairing busted wires, (somebody (perhaps a diesel truck mechanic, had been 
inside)), replaced bad tubes, etc, etc. The thing actually started working! After an 
alignment and new 6JB6s, it plays just as well as my 'cherry' TR4-Cw.
Thanks, Ray!!!
The only thing is that the S-meter reads low, the two radios have the same 
sensitivity, just a very scotch S-Meter on the clunker.
Anyway, although I have restored dozens of Drakes, I just couldn't do this 
one. It is SO ugly, I have decided to leave it 'as is'. I use it on a regular 
basis, odd knobs, rust, and all. I refer to it as "The World's UGLIEST Drake!"
It is both a cool contrast to my "mint" Drakes, and a testimony to the design 
of a great radio! It is front and center, on my Drake operating position.
It reminds me of the recent trend in Street Rods: Building a new 'beater'.
That's right, guys will spend $100K, to build a  NEW Street Rod, that looks 
like it JUST came out of a barn. Fake chicken crap, dust, weeds and all! I 
don't get it, and I KNOW this won't be a new trend in Amateur Radio. Still, if you 
want a radio to look this way, all you have to do is buy one from a certain 
'dealer in KY'. Get one he describes as "***LOOK*** , ***MINT****,  ***from my 
PERSONAL collection****, right... ha ha 


ron
N4UE


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