[Hallicrafters] sx-28 price

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 1/30/06, Snapmit at aol.com <Snapmit at aol.com> wrote:
> I use to have a sx28 when I was a teenager (im38 now) . Suddenly I have
> stong interest in owning one again . What would be a average cost of one that is
> in decent shape especialy if it has been recaped .

It all depends how resourceful you want to be, but if you're looking
for a restored unit I'd agree with John. Recapping is no small feat on
these rigs. You'll probably have better luck buying a clean example
and restoring it electrically yourself.

Three other factors in play: where you buy (online vs hamfests, etc),
which model - SX-28 or the later A model, and whether or not it has an
original cabinet. The A model has some slight differences including a
panel specifically stamped SX-28A on later examples. To the
collectors, these are worth more since they are much fewer in numbers.
Earlier A models used the same panel as the SX-28, but have the
upgrades making them an A.

Buying online will almost always cost you more, since the bigger
audience tends to mean bigger price. I purchased my SX-28A from a
fellow BA user about 3 hours away, after seeing it listed in the back
of ER. He wanted $250 w/speaker, he sold it to me for $200 since I had
gotten a speaker at a hamfest earlier that year ($20 from one of the
big dealers there). Although this was a few years ago, you can still
find gear for reasonable prices if you look around and don't
automatically default to ebay.

The larger number of these receivers seem to have been utilized by
different countries during WWII, including the USA. As a result, they
were rack mounted and came with metal covers for the chassis instead
of the table cabinet. From what I've seen though, many of these rack
mounted radios still reside in the UK and its Commonwealth countries
as well as the former USSR. Here in the states the split seems to be
about 50/50 table cabinet or rack mount. The cabinet models are more
desirable and bring more money as a result.

I'd also add the following: do your utmost to find one within driving
distance. Not only does this make it better from the aspect of being
able to look it over and test it, these things are H-E-A-V-Y. More
than one have been damaged or ruined by shipping (not to mention the
added expense).

The SX-28(*) is my favorite receiver overall. It may not be the
hottest ride on the block, but the looks and audio combined with
overall utility and enjoyment factor make it a true gem, IMHO.

Good luck and enjoy.

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ