VINTAGE DRAKE STATION W1JA

In 1994 I was fortunate to find a virtually "new-in-the-box" complete Drake station, consisting of R-4B, T-4XB, C-4, MS-4, L-4B and MN-2000.  The original owner stored the whole setup for decades after just a few hours of use.  The photograph above shows this equipment, plus Drake TR-3 and TR-4Cw/RIT transceivers on the top shelf.  Below is a photograph of the inside of the R-4B receiver.  It shows the incredible "new" condition of the equipment as it was, and is. Here are more Drake photos: a photo of the R-4B from another angle, a photo of its seamy underbelly, T-4XB shots, plus front panel shots of the R-4B and T-4XB. Real radios glow in the dark, and the Drake L-4B glows better than most.  Below is a picture of the side of the amplifier, showing the magnificent Eimac 3-500Z glass power triodes.  On the right is a closeup of one of them. Here are some photos of my recently acquired mint TR-4Cw/RIT transceiver, ca. 1978. And now, how about an excellent TR-3 transceiver, ca. 1963?  In the words of a fellow Drake aficionado, it's a "glowbug." If you compare the photos of the TR-3 with the TR-4Cw/RIT, you can see that these transceivers are very similar.  In fact, they're almost identical.  Only a few added "bells and whistles" on the TR-4 distinguish the two units, which bracket the time period during which this design was produced.  Fifteen years is a long time for a design to remain in production.

These are the major differences between the 1963 TR-3 and the 1978 TR-4Cw/RIT. The TR-3 chassis is copper plated, while the TR-4Cw/RIT chassis is not.  I believe Drake stopped copper plating chassis in the early 1970s, when the R-4C and T-4XC "C-line" separates were introduced. The TR-3 front panel is "reverse engraved" (the silver lettering is brushed metal that's higher than the painted parts, which are recessed slightly below the lettering), while the TR-4Cw/RIT front panel is the standard silkscreened type common to later Drake production. The TR-3 final cage is painted black, and has no top.  The only cover over the final cage is that provided by the outer case.  The TR-4Cw/RIT final cage is bright metal, with a separate cover (removed for the photos above). The TR-4Cw/RIT adds the following electrical features to the basic TR-3 design. CW sidetone True diode detection for AM reception (a step backwardthe diode detection method is inferior to "exalted carrier" detection when the radio has no IF filter wider than the 2.1-kHz SSB filter) Provision for an optional noise blanker Receiver incremental tuning (RIT) Selectable 500-Hz CW filter A redesigned dial that shows 1-kHz calibration points directly on the dial, rather than on the tuning knob skirt A redesigned main tuning knob The ability to monitor relative RF power output on the PA plate current meter There are also several subtle electrical design changes in the TR-4Cw/RIT.  These are the major ones: Final tubes are changed from 12JB6s to 6JB6s The PTO (permeability-tuned oscillator) is a solid-state instead of a "hollow-state" (vacuum tube) design.

With 20 vacuum tubes packed into a relatively small cabinet, these Drake transceivers make great heaters.  And if you dare to transmit with them, they get even hotter!

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