[Hammarlund] Early BC-779 experience.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 9/19/05, Kenneth G. Gordon <kgordon at moscow.com> wrote:
> When I got my first BC-779, in 1963 or so, although it was in
> excellent condition, and worked quite well, on CW it suffered
> from severely reduced BFO injection. 

Ken - 

Excellent comments. My SP-600 has a limp BFO as well, I wonder if it's
a family trait? (o:

I think there may still be one of the older Super Pros lurking around
somewhere in my possession. For a while it seemed like they were
stalking me. I'd cut a deal with someone for some gear and there would
be a '779 or SP-200 or other version in the pile. Once I got one in
which someone had meticulously converted it from octal to miniature
tubes. Talk about an empty looking box! It was the first to go.

Over the last ten years or so I've had maybe 6-10 of them, usually
with the power supply also. Sadly, I never took the time to actually
enjoy listening to one - probably because I got so sick of moving them
around and trying to find new homes. While at Gaithersburg two
weekends ago, I was reminded by W3JN that this is perhaps the best
sounding receiver for overall aural listening pleasure. The last pair
I picked up consisted of a gray panel BC-779 and black panel Super Pro
(210 I think). The military version had the supply and went to a new
home at the first Hosstraders hamfest held at Hopkinton, NH. The last
one (or so I thought) went to John Flood in a trade last spring at the
same 'fest. Paint was peeling on the '779 but in VG condition on the
civilian model.

But over the weekend I was reminded by my dad that there are still
some 'rather large black boxes' upstairs in his barn, so there may
still be hope.

Was the fiber crystal phasing shaft broken off on the one you had?
That has to be the most common malady of that series.

~ Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ