[R-390] Collins R 389 PTO

[2002tii]

Bill wrote:

>Well, back when men were men and not slaves to sorry state devices,
>radios had three independent dials that had to be tuned up to hear
>a station. They called them TRF radios.

Nothing wrong with that, but you'd be doing without the very thing 
that was the pride of the design -- tracking VFO and filters.  Back 
when men were men, they stood up tall to pour black powder down the 
muzzles of their rifles between shots.  Still fun for entertainment, 
but if there are people to kill, not anyone's first choice -- and for 
good reason.

>How many PTOs were mangled? Anybody in this group?

I have repaired three and seen at least two or three dozen more 
R-389s with mangled PTOs.

>How many people would sell a junker PTO, so some marvel of technology
>could be built inside it?

I wouldn't start with a broken PTO -- that would reduce the number of 
originals that could be rebuilt.

>How big is the market?

Miniscule.

>At what price?

Way, way higher than anybody would pay, if done correctly.  This is a 
thought-experiment (Gedankenexperiment or Gedankenversuch), not a 
business plan.

By the way, there is nothing whatsoever categorically wrong with 
solid-state electronic designs, and no reason to denigrate them.  A 
good designer uses whatever does the job best and doesn't limit his 
or her choices based on personal prejudices.  With very few 
exceptions (ease of radiation-hardening comes to mind), solid-state 
designs can outperform tube designs in all parameters.  "It has a 
sexy glow" and "It keeps my shack warm in the winter" are not 
generally valid design criteria, even if someone may think they are 
valid purchase criteria.

Best regards,

Don