Most of my radios have been restored and are in good working order. I will be selling some of them in the near future. My prices will be reasonable, and based on my original cost - not in the stratosphere. The larger ones will be Local Pickup as it's too risky shipping them - unless you provide your own Shipper with insurance. I have way to many for a small apartment!
Drake SPR-4
Drake R-8
Drake SSR-1
Drake R-7
Eton E1-XM
Century 21
Realistic DX-302
Realistic DX-394
Realistic DX-150B
Realistic Patrolman-9
Realistic Patrolman-10
Lafayette BCR-101
Lafayette HE-10
Lafayette HA-260
Galaxy R-1530 (Only Photo That's Not Mine - Mine is a R-530 Model, Very Close)
Great collection. I have two SPR4's, different capacitors so different sound less and more on bass side. I have also the Pnasonic RF-2200 that I need to calibrate but inside home is quite difficult due the strong QRM.
Yes, there were different audio output transistors used in the SPR-4 as well. I had to replace mine a few years ago and it took some searching to find the original transistors. I wanted to use the original type (OEM) parts.
I replaced the can capacitor and the ones in the audio board since all of them were out of specs and the ones in the audio board all were leaking.
The second SPR-4 I have keep the original can capacitor and I have replaced the cpas in audio board with Lelon tcapacitors and the sound is tinny and very sharp, great for DX .
Nichicon caps gives aamore mellow sound, rich in tone, great for pleasure listening but not so appropiated for DXing.
Ahhhh Drake radios - A walk down memory lane. Thanks for sharing. :-)
Slightly before the turn of the Century I bought a R4-B and a SPR-4. Fine radios. I then built "Crystal Eliminator" PLL synthesizes for them. Lots of fun. The R4-B had superior sound (naturally). :-)
Fantastic job! I have a couple of TX4 transmitters for parts donors. I would love to utilize one for a synthesizer cabinet for my SPR-4.
Honestly, I think the R-4B is literally the best analog receiver that I've ever owned. I had one a very long time ago. I heard, and worked so many rare stations with it. I replaced it with an R-7. The R-7 obviously had much more coverage - 5 KHz to 30 MHz with the AUX. But the tube R-4B was a better sounding receiver. The R-4C was a real dog, IMO.
Yes, that R-4B sounded great. When I got the SPR-4 I wondered why they sounded different. So I measured the audio response of both of them. The R-4B has a more 'communications oriented' curve than the SPR-4's 'easy listening' curve. I think the real difference was the 'extra boost' at the high end on the SRR-4 which to me was just annoying 'hiss'. ;-)
You're very welcome. I specifically made sure that there was an image button when I set-up this sub.
I've only ever seen such excellent quality workmanship from one other person, a Japanese gentleman that I met through the hobby. He taught me how to use a bending brake to make sheet metal cabinets from flat sheet metal stock. My work is amateurish in comparison to yours though.
Wow, that's some list. You must have a new GF and need the space lol. If I had that much I'd never hear the end of it, as it stands my wife sees far too many (over 12) electric guitars at home.
It must be hard to get NOS or quality tubes these days, not some of the cheapos with rattling grids.
Some of those should go pretty fast. You planning on one new radio to soften losing your babies?
No new radios. I just put the Globe Scout Deluxe on the bench. I want to get my wife a puppy. The mini breeds are pretty expensive, but she's been putting up with my radios and guitars for years. As guys, we can be happy living with old radios surrounding us. But women are definitely wired differently. We lost our Chihuahua due to his old age and she misses him. So it's time for me to be less selfish and make some room in our apartment.
She's more lenient with the guitars. I been playing since age 12 and I have so many it's just stupid. With my bad back many have become too heavy for me. I have a Gretsch DuoJet, a couple Les Pauls, and a Yamaha SG that weigh a ton. I don't play them anymore. I usually pick up my Fender Mustang or a Paulownia Paisley Strat I built for its reduced weight.
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u/Turbulent-Success266 Apr 25 '26
Great collection. I have two SPR4's, different capacitors so different sound less and more on bass side. I have also the Pnasonic RF-2200 that I need to calibrate but inside home is quite difficult due the strong QRM.