Hear, Hear!. I agree with John. What we do with these old radios vary with the number owned and sold: endless. But for me, I enjoy the simplicity and the warmth that using a piece of history gives me. Have a few radios, the old tube ones are the favorite. I say go for it and fix it and clean it and learn to love it.
On Tue, Dec 11, 2012 at 5:43 PM, John King <[email protected]> wrote: > Should you buy a TR3? I think the answer should be given after determining > what he plans to do with it. One reason to purchase a Drake TR3 is the > historic value to the hobby.I have been licensed for almost 54 years and > have grown with the hobby from 6AG7/807 tube transmitter and Hallicrafters > S40A receiver. They were wonderful for the purpose for which they were > built and intended to been used. They are not my gear that I use regularly, > but they bring back wonderful memories. I have one hundred of more radios > from 1940 until present. I am NOT A COLLECTOR but I accumulate tube type > radios of all manufacturers because of what they were and what they still > are. Swan was pioneer in the transceiver field and did a great job from the > SW 175 and continued for many years, even after being bought out by Cubic > Communications. > > The TR3 is historic because it was R.L. Drake's FIRST transceiver. I HAVE > A TR3 THAT I BOUGHT REASONABLY OFF EBAY IN NON WORKING CONDITION AND VERY > DIRTY. Today it is a nice looking and working radio. Do I use it > everyday....NO!! WHY? I have the first model receiver that Drake built, the > Drake 1A serial number 518 of 1000 built. When built, it was arguably the > best receiver made in its' day( I also own a Collins 75A1, 75A2, and 75A4, > for comparison). l am not bragging, just pointing out my perspective. I own > a Drake 2A. Drake 2B, TR4 (that I use almost daily for net operation, R4, > T4X,R4B,R4C,and T4XC and a great Drake L4B amp. No, they are not the > $10,000.00+, Icom or the latest Kenwood, Orion or other solid state rig. > > The TR3 basically popularized the use of transceivers. There are many hams > today who may not be able to operate separates. Other companies had gotten > into the transceiver production, but not as affordable and basic as the TR3. > > My suggestion is that if you expect an almost "owner inability" rig to > repair, digital readout with 3,000 memories, 65 push buttons, DON'T BUY the > TR3, BUT "SOME DAY' you might wish you could find one to buy. > > This is not intended to start a THREAD, it is just my opinion. If anyone > wants to attack my opinion, don't bother the reflector with it, feel free > to reply DIRECTLY to me. 73, John, K5PGW > > > > <[email protected]> > *To:* [email protected] > *Sent:* Tuesday, December 11, 2012 12:12 PM > *Subject:* Re: [Drakelist] TR-3 > > On Tue, Dec 11, 2012 at 12:00 PM, > <[email protected]<[email protected]> > > wrote: > > Being a relative newbie to Drake equipment, is there any particular areas > to consider with the TR3 other than the obvious and general operating > condition? > ?I don't recall anything negative in particular about this vintage radio. > > > For one, it's a terrible CW radio...if that matters to you. > > 73 de Lee > -- > Lee Hiers, AA4GA > www.aa4ga.com > > Submit your totals to the unofficial QRP DXCC standings - go to * > http://www.aa4ga.com/p/qrp-dxcc.html* for more info! > > > > _______________________________________________ > Drakelist mailing list > [email protected] > http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist > > > > _______________________________________________ > Drakelist mailing list > [email protected] > http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist > > -- David Assaf, III W5XU
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