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Author Topic: Anyone using a Drake SW-4 or SW-4A?  (Read 5886 times)
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Jim W8DRZ
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« on: March 25, 2005, 07:17:32 PM »

Once again I'm chasing serial numbers in an attempt to
track the true production numbers of a Drake Radio and
I need your help.  

If you are an owner of a Drake SW-4 or Drake SW-4A
this may be of interest to you.

 From published information I have always thought that
500 to 600 SW-4 receivers were built before the change
to the SW-4A version.

  I no longer believe this is true.

  I have acquired a SW-4A with a S/N of 451, this
then would mean that 450 or less SW-4's were built
before the change to the "A" version. I was surprised
to learn recently of a SW-4A with much lower SN.

 The owner was kind enough to send me plenty
of pictures of this radio, it is clearly a SW-4A
and sports the SN of 251.

  This would mean a much smaller number of SW-4's
were built before the change to the SW-4A.

Here then is my quest, To find more information about
the SW-4's true production numbers.

Do you own a SW-4 or SW-4A?
If so can you send me your SN and version?

Their are 4 versions of the SW-4A and it would
be fun to track the SN breaks on these as well.

SW-4A differences:

1) Earliest type has Dial window and PTO knob like a R-4A
2) Next version is like the R-4B in the Dial window/knob
3) The C-Line type Dial and knob is next.
4) The last version is minus the NewYork Radio WW logo.

 Almost 40 years ago in 1966 when the SW-4 first
appeared it was way above the means of a 14 year old
paperboy. I had to settle for a Knight-kit SpanMaster
at one-tenth the cost of the Drake. ( I still have it!)
  Still I dreamed of someday owning a Drake receiver
and like many of us now I do, many times over, HI!

I will post the results of the survey in a few weeks.
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Jim - W8DRZ
-----------------
WLRO, WOBL,
WBNO, WHFD,
WJW
WD8BIL
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« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2005, 08:25:54 PM »

Hi Jim,

Is it possible that Drake may have began the SW-4A sn sequence at or near 0001 Huh
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Jim W8DRZ
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Posts: 26



« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2005, 08:53:31 PM »

Bud Hi,
            That is one of the things I'm wanting to find out.
I'm pretty sure they just kept on going from 001 with the
first SW-4 right into the SW-4A like they did with the R-4 and
on into the R-4A, R-4B and R-4C.

I have yet to hear of a SW-4 with a serial number above 225,
or a SW-4A below serial number 230. So I'm thinking that less
than 230 SW-4's were built.

I have collected 30 serial numbers  starting from 001 owned
by LA6OP to 2904. Not a very good sample yet, but a good spread
of numbers showing some promise on not only the "how many"
question of the SW-4 but also the different styles of the SW-4A.

Just a nitch that interests me.

Thanks for your input.
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Jim - W8DRZ
-----------------
WLRO, WOBL,
WBNO, WHFD,
WJW
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