[Hallicrafters] SX-100 oval power cord, etc

[Bruce Wright]

Dear Fellow List Members...

I subscribe to the digest version of this list, so perhaps I've overlooked 
previous postings regarding this topic, but I had not ever seen a 
three-conductor power cord with or without a chassis plug-and-jack 
termination used on the SX-100 as factory original...The SX-100 that I have 
is an earlier mk2 (a mk2 having factory installed original-style mk1 and 
earlier mk2 knobs as opposed to the later SX-115 style knobs) has a 
two-conductor cord thru the rear apron, hardwired to the power supply mains 
circuit...Have I missed something here?

Additional ramblings:

It took me a long, long time to find an SX-100 in good, totally original 
condition and insofar as I am still in the restoration process of mine and 
therefore cannot comment on its frequency stability, I have read many, many 
comments about drifting issues over the years and had assumed these issues 
were founded on the experience of those who were trying to achieve, for 
example, drift-free reception of SSB transmissions...It has been 
enlightening to see the comments of those who have the opportunity (luxury) 
of performing an A-B test with, for example, the HQ-180 as reference...I 
would suggest that due to the mixed results as reported on this list, that 
perhaps much of the variability in results is due, in part, to the 
replacement of components--largely capacitors--with temperature coefficients 
different than what was used in the production of the receivers 
involved...And to some lesser extent, the aging or replacement of other 
original components such as resistors and tubes...The concluding 
impressions, also, are perhaps skewed somewhat by the additional experience 
of operating much later receivers having inherently better stability and 
frequency read-outs.

The SX-100 was not only the flag-ship receiver of the Halli line for nearly 
two years (1955-56), but also remained in production until at least 1961 
(source 1961 ARRL Handbook) as its top general coverage receiver...It seems 
to me, that had there been intolerable drifting issues during this 
relatively long period, the word would have circulated among prospective 
buyers of a communications receiver at the time, causing them to look 
elsewhere...Perhaps--for the shear numbers sold--other alternatives for such 
a features-rich general coverage receiver in the 300 dollar price range were 
not available.