[TMC] Why GPR-90s Look So Good

[BRUCE BERMAN]

If I could weigh in here as well.............

I think the styling is somewhat more in line with the Hallicrafters 
SX-88, instead of the Hammarlund receivers of the time. The row of four 
toggle switches on the front panel is the give away here, and both 
receivers were introduced at around the same time period in the 
mid-1950s. And like the SX-88, the GPR-90 was an example of beautiful 
industrial design, very much in line with the American mode of styling 
of the period, as well as being a somewhat less than stellar performer 
as a receiver. Many American cars (and other consumer-type products) of 
the period were finished in similar eye-catching and attractive two-tone 
paint combinations, such as the 1955-era Chevy Bel Air. The Heathkit 
"Indian-series" equipment, including the Apache transmitter and the 
Mohawk receiver of the late 1950s are another example of the great use 
of color and chrome (or polished aluminum) in their styling.

I think a lot of attraction to the TMC equipment, aside from 
world-class/best-of-breed quality, particularly in their vacuum tube HF 
transmitters, was the nice complement of color schemes used in many of 
their products: the Canadian RAF blue for the cabinetry, and the 
semi-gloss gray for the front panels, along with the silk-screened or 
engraved-and-filled white lettering. A beautiful color combination; very 
utilitarian and no-nonsense, but extremely appealing to the eye. 
And like all of the TMC products, the GPR-90 was overbuilt, and utterly 
exuded the perception of quality to the user.

Just my thoughts.

73,

Bruce, W2XR
 
 
 On Fri, Dec 12, 2014 at 03:04 PM, Les Locklear wrote:
 
 > It's obvious that engineers from Hammarlund were involved in the 
cosmetic design of the GPR - 90 series.
>
> It's also obvious that someone else had a hand in the electrical and 
> mechanical design of that same series.
>
> I have a near mint GPR-90 that looks great and works ok. The 
> mechanical stability when attempting to utilize the antenna tuning 
> control shows the shortcomings of that particular design feature. It 
> has more warbles and birdies that a Drake R7.
>
> I like it, but seldom use it. But, it looks nice sitting on the desk.
>
> Les Locklear
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Richard Knoppow
> Sent: Friday, December 12, 2014 1:52 PM
> To: John Poulton ; Chris Kepus
> Cc: tmc collector's group
> Subject: Re: [TMC] Why GPR-90s Look So Good
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Poulton" To: "Chris Kepus" 
> Cc: "tmc collector's group" Sent: Friday, December 12, 2014 11:30 AM
> Subject: Re: [TMC] Why GPR-90s Look So Good
>
>
>> My thanks also to Woody!  And to the really interesting info about
>> "dynamic symmetry" from Richard.
>>
>     Thank you. I was introduced to Dynamic Symmetry in my
> teens as part of my interest in photography. It was widely
> adopted by many designers and architects. It has some
> relation to the Art Deco and especially the
> streamline-modern (or moderne) styles.
>     Press-Wireless seems to have built very utilitarian
> looking equipment. There may be more resemblance to TMC in
> electronic design, I don't know but it may be worth
> researching.
>     The GPR-90 made me wonder if there was not a former
> Hammarlund designer involved. In some ways its reminiscent
> of the Super-Pro and HQ series.
>     Of course, its the people who count. One thing about
> this list and John Polton's collection of TMC material is
> that it includes a good deal of biography of the handful of
> people who founded TMC and made it run. Over the years I
> have become increasingly aware of just how much influence a
> small group of people has over the "personality" of even
> rather large corporations.
>
>
> --
> Richard Knoppow
> Los Angeles
> WB6KBL
> dickburk at ix.netcom.com
>
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