New D-104

[W6TOM]

 Found this at the DeAnza College Swap in Cupertino Saturday, not often you find a new D-104, will be used for a project. I wonder how long it has been since these were made? This was from an estate sale, another item I got was a Robert Dollar Radio Company 2 meter AM transceiver, it was bought used from the Robert Dollar Radio Company in San Francisco in November 1956 for $25 according to the receipt.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Production ceased on the D-104 somewhere around 2001.
The Robert Dollar Radio Co. also marketed a separate VHF receiver (model 226) and transmitter (model 222).

[WA2SQQ]

I have to ask - what did you pay for the D-104?

[K4RT]

Any photos of the Dollar transceiver?

[W6TOM]

  I got the D-104 for $60 which I thought was a very good price.

  The Robert Dollar is a model 222 2 Meter AM transmitter, there was a receiver that went with it, I'll take pictures later and post them.

[W6TOM]

 Robert Dollar 222

  I got the receipt, dated November 8th, 1956, this was bought used from Robert Dollar Company for $25. There was also a flyer on the transmitter, schematic and a power supply, the cord is missing but it is an octal plug at the power end and a 6 pin Jones plug at the radio.

 I've looked a bit on the net and not found much info, there is a Robert Dollar AM transmitter on Epay, these were made for the California Highway Patrol.

[K4RT]

Thanks for posting the photos.  Nice looking gear!   I'm wondering what tubes Dollar used.

[W3RSW]

A 2E26 perhaps?

Motorola, eat your heart out.
A tray serviceable "press to talk" system. 

Oh to have been a serviceman back then.

Little pin jacks
  Awaiting my selection,
For grid tuning
  And plate correction.

The State police
  Bow at our acumen.
They've no way to speak
  Without we servicemen.

Essential to every post,
  On call day and night.
We're the stars of readiness,
  Post operators' delight.

[W6TOM]

 Pulled out the schematic, yes on the 2E26 as the final, schematic is dated July 1952.

 I had a mobile radio route for the local power company back in the late 80's, we had 40,150, 450,conventional radios and 800 mhz trunking, you needed LOTS of spares!! We didn't do a lot of on the road repair of the radios, we would adjust the master oscillator and set deviation. Any other issues the radio was swapped out and then sent for repair. Common problems were broken antennas, dc power issues, broken microphones and coffee or soft drinks split on the radio.

 Linemen were especially hard on equipment, I would josh them by saying they were iron ball qualified. They would ask what I meant by that??  You are given an iron ball if you #### it up you are qualified!!!

[Pete, WA2CWA]

According to the manual, the model 222 uses a 6X8 as a crystal oscillator, 5763 as the multiplier, 2E26 as the power amp, and two 6AQ5's as the modulators. The modulator is designed for a carbon microphone. Uses 8 MHz crystals.