[Hallicrafters] Another SX-88 surfaced

[Mike Everette]

--- On Wed, 11/2/11, Todd, KA1KAQ <ka1kaq at gmail.com> wrote:


> I've always liked the Globe King too, even though it's not
> quite up
> with the others in overall quality. It sure helped a lot of
> guys get
> big signals on the air. And it looks good.
> 

The "Globe King" needs some qualification.  Which version?

The Globe King 500 was a nice enough rig.  The later version with the VFO was, given the location of the VFO, probably a drifter.  I did have a GK500 without the VFO and drove it with a VF-1.  It worked well.

The GK400 on the other hand is a deathtrap!  BEWARE.

I once owned one, which I bought for $25 in 1972. (This was a year or so prior to the 500, which I didn't pay much more for.  The owner wanted to get it out of his shack, fast.  After all, AM was dead, right?)

The 400 has plug-in coils, and to get to them you must open the top of the cabinet.  WARNING!  THE DOOR HAS NO INTERLOCK!

I darn near met my Maker one night, very late (circa 2 am), when I decided to change bands on the 400.  I was actually about to grab the coil, when I JUST HAPPENED to notice the pilot light for the HV supply was glowing (yes, mine had a light for this, but I don't remember if it was original), and jerked my hand back.  

Omigawd.  It took several minutes before I got over that scare.  

I didn't keep that transmitter very long after this incident.  One of the filament transformers arced over, which may have been the work of my guardian angel; who knows.  In fact I sold the 3 decks (actually scrapped the RF deck and sold most of the parts), and kept the cabinet, which later housed (and still does) the power supplies and meter panel for my ART-13.

73

Mike
W4DSE