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Look what I traded my IC-R75 for:
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/z...draketwins.jpg
They need a bit of cleaning and TLC but are in good, restorable shape. I've wanted a set of Drake Twins ever since I first got interested in ham radio when I was a teenager and forty years later I finally got 'em. I am a happy camper.
I wanted a TR-7/R7 'set' back in high school but the entire station (with options) cost ~$9,000 in those days.
Weren't no way I could have swung THAT. Just the transceiver with filters and NB7/AUX7 was north of $2k!
Times change. Radios break and people can't figure out how to fix them, so on the block they go.
At the moment there are 7 R7s in and around my shack. Four work. Three have to be rebuilt, and I'm trying to get Tony Mills (of 4CFrontpanels) to repro the R7 panel as he's done with the TR7/L7 setup.
Have fun with that setup. Be sure to keep an eye out for a nice SW4A and/or an SPR4 to go along with it.
Nice. Very nice.
I do miss my C-Line, but like my Hallicrafters station, it's time came and went. Maybe one day, but not today.
Same deal with the twins—way out of my price range back in the day.
One of the reasons I sprung for the set was that they are something I actually have a chance of being able to repair myself. No way I can work on modern equipment, it's just far too complex for me. Vacuum tubes, point-to-point wiring and discrete components, though, that's the sort of stuff that was still current (although already on the way out) when I got what little formal training I ever got in electronics so I might be able to deal with it. It helps that there's a lot of info online and pretty much all the electronics parts are easily obtained.
If you need spares (especially toobz) they're yours for the asking - same goes for any other Islander who's in need of a part to get his or her rig back in service. Ye Olde Junque Box continues to grow at a rate far faster than I can utilize it so if it didn't cost me anything it won't cost any of you either.
Okay, thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by N8YX
The caps in the power supply will need probably to be changed out, the thing has apparently been sitting for a while. Which reminds me that I need to call my buddy and ask if I can borrow his Variac.
I don't know about the tubes yet—I haven't done anything more than a quick visual inspection to make sure that everything was there—but if you have a pair of the 6JB6 television sweep tubes the transmitter uses as finals, I'll happily buy them from you. If I don't need them now, I will eventually.
Nice mate
One more item to complete your vintage station.
http://www.universal-radio.com/used/u681lrg.jpg
They are easier to work on as well. If my memory serves me the AM mode of Drake radios sounded a bit funky. Some of the ancient mary enthusiasts have developed mods to cure that. Good find!!
Nice find Carl. Now keep ur eyes peeled for one of these.
http://www.hug-a-bug.com/FS4.html
Wow Carl. Did you realize how large this project would grow?
In a word, yes. I'm not really into collecting radios—except for vintage Drake stuff and have had my eyes set on accumulating a station for a while now. I'll be looking for an MN-2000 or MN-4 next, once I have some actual disposable income.Quote:
Originally Posted by KG4CGC
We have no problem helping brother Carl spend his money.Quote:
Originally Posted by KG4CGC
Those are the one type I'm fairly sure that I don't have but I'll look. Had 6LQ6, 6JE6 and a few similar one years ago - not sure if they're gassy at this point.Quote:
Originally Posted by KJ6BSO
Be on the lookout for:
7075 (re-branded Turner Plus 3) mic
W4 wattmeter
C4 station console with CC2/CC6 transmitting and SC2/SC6 receiving converters. I have one each of the latter plus the attendant power supply if you want them.
No biggie, they are still pretty easily found and there are alternatives should they ever become scarce. How is your supply of electrolytic cans, though? I imagine I'll have to replace the filter caps in the power supply.Quote:
Originally Posted by N8YX
I was kind of wondering what kind of mic I should get for the thing. I don't think the Heil iCM I use on the IC-736 would be a good match. As for the other items, I definitely want them, I just don't have the money to buy them right now. Should that happen to change in the near future, I will drop you a line.Quote:
Be on the lookout for:
7075 (re-branded Turner Plus 3) mic
W4 wattmeter
C4 station console with CC2/CC6 transmitting and SC2/SC6 receiving converters. I have one each of the latter plus the attendant power supply if you want them.
Very sweet indeed Carl!
I love the older gear but 7-lines (and a few Kenwood/Yaesu hybrids) are all I have room for at the moment. If we get ourselves another house with the right style of basement (read: 60+ feet, full) I'm going to put the contesting stuff on one wall and a vintage lineup on the other.Quote:
Originally Posted by WV6Z
I have the W-4 Watt meter. Someday I'd love to put the rest of the station together...as it is the W-4 alone is the most beautiful thing in the shack.Quote:
Originally Posted by N8YX
Nice score Carl!!!!
Somebody mentioned a variac:
I've got way more than I can use, I wound up with a collection getting "almost right" variacs. They're all 3 or 5 amps...about the right size for bringing up old stuff. They're free to anyone who can meet me at a hamfest. Might even be willing to ship. Now I gotta go get 'em all together to see what I've actually got!!!
Or....they seem to be common and cheap ($5 to $10) at hamfests.
Enjoy that gorgeous 4-Line!
Nice set of twins there... I've been on the hunt for a set of tube-twins myself :)
I'll take you up on one of those variacs, next time we can get together. I can use one for my Swan 3Drifty.Quote:
Originally Posted by W1GUH
I'll pay for shipping if you're up for the hassle of standing in line at the post office...Quote:
Originally Posted by W1GUH
Probably something I can get thinking about doing. I'll take inventory this weekend -- there's probably 2 in my car -- and let you know if this is do-able, and I think it is. Maybe it's not such a hassle; the P.O.'s right down the block. I'll PM you when I've got things organized.
I finished the cleanup and cosmetic restoration of the T-4X and it looks pretty nice. Now, as long as I can get it to, you know, actually work...
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/z...rloose/t4x.jpg
The R-4A will be done pretty shortly.
Very nice. Are you going to replace the filter caps in the P/S? Probably would be a good idea.Quote:
Originally Posted by KJ6BSO
Yeah, probably. There's a kit available.Quote:
Originally Posted by w2amr
BTW, I realize that I should have included a "before" pic, so here it is:
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/z...t-4xbefore.jpg
Ever find those variacs?Quote:
Originally Posted by W1GUH
How is the paint on the cabinets, ok?Quote:
Originally Posted by KJ6BSO
What is your preferred solution of knob wash?Quote:
Originally Posted by KJ6BSO
Whipped Cream in a slow circular motion.
Denatured alcohol, then a buff with the Moto Tool followed up by a hand polish with some jeweler's rouge on a cotton cloth. I re-whitened the lines, too, which really made 'em pop.Quote:
Originally Posted by KG4CGC
It's not bad. There are a few scratches but not enough to make me feel like I need to repaint them. They're never going to be museum quality or anything but they'll sure look nice in the shack once I'm finished with them.Quote:
Originally Posted by w2amr
Usually Windex™ here unless I need something stronger and then I go with diluted Purple Power™ or Simple Green™.Quote:
Originally Posted by KJ6BSO
Your method is clearly superior.
I used to do the cabinets of my Drake gear with Armor all. It gave them a nice satin finish.Quote:
Originally Posted by KJ6BSO
Funny you should ask—I just got one from a buddy this morning. It's a big ten amp unit, but just the bare variac itself, which reminds me of a question I wanted to ask here: obviously, it needs to be mounted in a case to mitigate the shock hazard but what should it be made of? Is plastic good enough or should it be metal for shielding or heat resistance?Quote:
Originally Posted by W3WN
All the ones I have had and seen usually had metal cases. A few old ones had bakelite. I think the metal are a lot stronger. I have a 220 one out back that is all metal and heavy as hell.
Re: Drake cabinet refinishing -Ron, WB4HFN has a nice writeup on his site. When I get home I'll update this post with a link.
ETA - as promised:
http://www.wb4hfn.com/DRAKE/DrakeArt...Repainting.htm
I've always wanted a set of twins. Since I was a young man....Blond, Brunette, Red Head....doesn't matter..
Now I am old and gray and so are all the twins my age......Gray, Blue, or White......doesn't matter.....
:lol:
Nice job on your Drake.... I'd like a set of those too..... or Kenwood twins.
It won't be much longer berfore his twins will be keeping him up all night.
I'm with you. I use a nice mild cleaner like windex, even if I have to use it several times. I've seen how heavy duty cleaners like 409 0r spray 9 can distroy the paint on an old front panel.Quote:
Originally Posted by KG4CGC
Just got an e-mail message from a local ham buddy who heard I'm working on a set of Drake twins. It turns out that he's got an MN-4 antenna tuner that he got in a trade but never used. It's just been sitting in his garage and he'll let me have it for cheap. I haven't seen it yet so I don't know what kind of shape it's in but if it's at least restorable, I may have have another addition to the Drake collection without even trying.
http://www.eham.net/data/reviews/images/1854.jpeg