[Milsurplus] BC-348Q being cheap

[Ray Fantini]

With all due respect I am questioning your statement:

Judging from AN and T.O. dates, I think that it is incorrect to refer to the models using single ended tubes as the "newer" models.  They did not supercede the "older" models.  A more accurate characterization would be to call them the "cheaper" models.  Based on manual dates, the BC-348-J, K or L, and M all date from early to mid 1942.  And models in each of the three contractor groups were produced through the end of the War.

There are no differences in specification's or mission requirements in any of the series. Please justify how you can make a statement as to quality of the components or complete radio such as a BC-348Q as being a "cheaper" version of the same series? The J, N and Q were manufactured with newer vacuum tubes and using military approved point to point construction technique that was becoming and by wars end the standard for all electronic construction. The RCA, Belmont Radio and Stromberg-Carlson manufactured radios all used tubes like the 6K7 and "41" that were obsolete by 1939 The 6K7 was introduced in 1935 and replaced by the 6SK7 in 1938 that was around until being replaced by the 6BA6 in 1946, The UX6 base type 41 tube was replaced by the 6K6 in 1935 The Wells Gardner receivers used tubes and construction techniques that were state of the art in 1941, not the prewar design that everyone else was churning out. 
The Wells Gardner BC-348Q has always been and will continue to be a favorite of mine. I have owned many BC-348 R and Q versions in modified and all original configurations and have never considered one any better than the other but have a personal preference for the newer component and construction of the Q 
I have on occasion seen this same statement in regards to the Wells Gardner built sets and would like to discuss in this open forum what information you and others have.

Ray F