[R-390] Re: My R390A

[GLEN GALATI]

YOU SAY "KW-1"?  My heart sinks and I cry each night knowing I was part of a
small team that was told to "DISMANTLE" one of these COLLINS TREASURES of
the GOLDEN PAST. That was in Germany in the very early 70's when I was a
radio maintenance technician.  I still remember the GRID COORDINATES of that
location. This was "ONE CLEAN-GOOD LOOKING TRANSMITTER"! However, we had to
make room for the new "GATEWAY TO EUROPE" RTTY NET STATION, and were
receiving surplus transmitters to recondition for that project. The T-368
Series transmitters. We received eight units and managed to place in-service
3 T-368C/GRT TRANSMITTERS  with MD-239A/GR RADIO MODULATORS. Besides the
painful memories I was fortunate to acquire ONLY the LOW PASS FILTER from
the GREAT TRANSMITTER.
                                "HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL"
73,
Glen Galati         KA7BOJ, ex WBOAXK,  DL4GG,  HL9WA
TACOMA, WA.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Todd Bigelow - PS" <tbigelow@pop.state.vt.us>
To: "Kenneth Crips" <w7itc@hotmail.com>
Cc: <R-390@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2001 11:14 AM
Subject: Re: [R-390] Re: My R390A


> Hello Ken and group -
>
> Thought I'd toss in a bit more about the KW-1 and Johnson Desk KW:
>
> 6' tall, 675 lbs. Runs a pair of 4-250s(can be swapped with 4-400s)
modulated
> by a pair of 810s. 150 production models and two prototypes(both of which
still
> existed last I knew). New price in 1952 was $3850. They started out as a
> CW/AM/NBFM transmitter, but apparently sold only as CW/AM(although Collins
> later offered a factory modification to the RF deck allowing it to be used
as a
> linear amplifier). ER put out an interesting KW-1 issue some years back,
with a
> very interesting story in it about the development of this transmitter and
how
> one was rushed to Art's house for a contest and the fellows finished
> building/assembling it there for a weekend contest. Indeed a sight to
behold,
> built at least to broadcast industry-standards, a lot of extra shielding
for
> TVI, including feedthrough caps for any wires passing through the RF deck
to
> the outside and a hefty lowpass filter for the feedline. As their ads
state,
> the KW-1 'tunes as easily as the 32V transmitter'.
>
> Desk Kilowatt was built later(late 50s/early 60s) - Johnson's response to
the
> KW-1, basically. Shares a very similar design (4-250s modulated by 810s)
but is
> an amplifier only. Even uses the same mod. transfomer. Not a surprise,
> considering some parts in the Collins transmitters like variable caps are
made
> by Johnson. I think UTC made the iron. Something like 400 units produced,
not
> sure about prototypes. Pedestal(amp) alone weighs in at 403 lbs, desk at
151
> lbs, for a combined weight of 554 lbs.
>
> Both unit are rated for 1000w input. Both are superior in one way over the
> other as well as lacking the opposite. KW-1 is a complete bandswitching
> transmitter, Desk KW is capable of SSB linear amplification stock. Both
are
> built like the proverbial battleship and are very enjoyable to either use
or
> service(plenty of space to work inside). The Desk KW even rolls out of the
> pedestal for easy service. Both give the term 'boatanchor' an entirely new
> meaning!
>
> Belated Christmas wishes and all the best for a Happy New Year -
>
> de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ
>
> Kenneth Crips wrote:
>
> > RE: KW-1
> >
> > I have actually had My hands on one.  They where shipped in three
> > sections, power supply, Finals deck, and exciter/modulator deck.
> > They look just like a Collins AM broadcast band transmitter of the time
> > except they where tunable.  I understand they where build so Mr. Collins
> > himself would have the king AM signal on the air. As good as a KW-1 is,
I
> > still think the Johnson Desk Kilowatt was the most interesting. I have
> > always thought the best looking equipment from Collins  was the
51J/75A....
> > receivers, the 32V.../KWM-1 transmitters.
> >
> >                           Ken
>
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