I just finished a CW QSO with a fellow in West Virginia, a man after my own heart — he was using an old Heathkit HX-10 “Maurader” transmitter coupled with a National Radio NC-303 receiver! Love that classic gear!
He went on to tell me about his other radio on his desk, a Globe King 500B, which is a fantastic old rack-style transmit station. He on to describe his gear in his basement, including a Viking II transmitter and a Globe Scout Deluxe transmitter.
When I get my shack re-arranged (it's still in process), I hope t o have some of my classic gear on the air, including my Hallicrafters SR-150, a couple of National transceivers (NCX-5 and NCX-200); a Knight T-50 transmitter and Hallicrafters SX-71 combo; a Hallicrafters SX-140/HT-40 combination; a Hallicrafters SX-117/HT-44 station and some other goodies.
I have been using my not-so-old Henry Radio Tempo 2020 transceiver. It's a hybrid rig — solid state throughout with the exception of the final driver and final output tubes. It was built by Uniden in Japan in the mid-1970s and imported and sold by Henry Radio — the amplifer folks.
The Tempo 2020 is a fairly uncommon rig today. The first one I bought about 1988, but I later sold it. It's a joy to listen to, compared to the microprocessor-controlled rigs I use in my shack. Sure, it drifts until it warms up for 30 minutes. It lacks bells and whistles and only has one built-in (but adequate) CW filter. I really like the rig, and used it today for my CW contact with Joe in W.Va.
I have to run now, so more to come!
73!