[Hallicrafters] SX-28 competitors in the 1940's

[Eugene Rippen]

I am suspecting that more SX-28s were sold civilian than you believe.
I have probably seen 30 - 40 in my life, and I believe that I only saw one
with any military markings.  Yes, the depression was still on, but these
were high priced, thus only the more wealthy could afford them, and they
were the least affected by the depression.
Besides, weren't they still offered for sale until some time after 12/7/41?

Gene


----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich Oliver" <Rich.Oliver at lowell.edu>
To: <tlogan7 at cox.net>
Cc: <hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2003 11:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] SX-28 competitors in the 1940's


> Tim,
>
> No doubt some SX-28's were sold retail to civilians but the Depression
> was still going on when it was released.  The bulk of the 50,000
> produced went to the armed forces during WWII.  The other Signal Corps
> workhorses of the day were the National HRO and the Hammarlund Super
> Pro.  The Super Pro (most were BC-779 / SP-210's) is generally
> comparable to the SX-28, though I'm sure most of us would choose the
> SX-28 :-)   The HRO is an older design with plug-in coil trays.  The PW
> tuning dial on the HRO is a mechanical wonder but it registers an
> arbitrary number that must be interpolated with a chart on the coil set
> to find the frequency.  That is inconvenient but the robust, stable HRO
> still performed yeoman duty.  HRO's or copies were used by all the major
> combatant forces during WWII.  That cannot be said of any Hallicrafters
> or Hammarlund gear, though to be fair it probably has much to do with
> the fact that the HRO was available 7 years earlier than either of the
> "H" radios.
>
> After the war most of the surviving gear became available as surplus so
> retail competition did not come into play until the next generation of
> gear became available.  Even then it was slow going for years until the
> flood of war surplus slowed to a trickle.  I think you have to conclude
> that the SX-28 never got a fair test in the retail market.  It did help
> win the war, though, so don't feel bad.  Just fire one up and appreciate
> it for the work of art that it is!
>
> 73, Rich, KC9GQ
>
> tlogan7 at cox.net wrote:
>
> >Hi folks -
> >What would have been considered the truly high end receivers during the
period the SX-28 and 28A were made? What was the SX-28 competing against in
the retail market? Thanks for any info you have. 73/Tim NZ7C
> >
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