IF YOU OWN A COLLINS 51S-1 RECEIVER, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE IT WAS USED IN A UNITED STATES EMBASSY SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD, OR AT A CIA POST, OR SOME OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
INTRODUCED IN 1961 WITH A PRICE OF $1800+ (OVER $19,000 INFLATION ADJUSTED TODAY) MOST HAMS COULD NOT AFFORD THIS LUXURY RECEIVER. MOST OF US -- INCLUDING ME -- SETTLED FOR A MORE MODEST PRICED USED RECEIVER FOR ABOUT $100.
THIS ONE WAS BUILT IN 1968 ACCORDING TO THE 52XX SERIAL NUMBER. YOU CAN ALSO SEE IT'S THE ROUND EMBLEM AND NOT AN EARLIER WINGED EMBLEM.
WHEN I FIRST GOT THIS A COUPLE BANDS WERE NOT TRACKING PROPERLY. I PULLED THE COMPLEX TURRET APART AND REPLACED A COUPLE BAD CRYSTALS. KIND OF A DAUNTING JOB BUT IT WORKED. NOW IT TRACKS NICELY FROM BAND TO BAND.
COSMETICALLY, THIS ONE IS HARD TO BEAT. THERE MAY BE A MINOR NICK OR TWO ON IT, BUT BELIEVE ME IT IS MINOR. I FOUND A SCRATCH ON THE ESCUTCHEON NEAR THE RIGHT TOP -- MINOR TO ME, BUT YOU JUDGE FOR YOURSELF. I DID NOT TRY TO POLISH IT OUT. THE CHASSIS IS VERY CLEAN WITH NO CORROSION OR ISSUES.
ALL KNOBS ARE BRIGHT AND SHINY AND TURN AS THEY SHOULD. THE COMPLEX TUNING MECHAISM WORKS FINE -- IT'S SMOOTH AND TURNS FREELY. CALIBRATOR WORKS FINE. BOTH THE CW AND SSB FILTERS WORK FINE. METER WORKS, BUT PROBABLY NEEDS ADJUSTING.
HOOKED UP A SMALL PIECE OF WIRE TO IT AND IT CAME TO LIFE. PULLED IN TONS OF HAM BAND SIGNALS, BOTH SSB AND CW. CHECKED OUT FOREIGN BROADCAST AND AGAIN, PULLED IN MANY STATIONS ON SEVERAL BANDS.
I DID A QUICK CHECK AROUND THE UNIT AS I TOOK PICTURES. IT APPEARS TO BE PRETTY MUCH STOCK. SOMEONE REPLACED THE FILTER CAPS (YEAH!) AND THE POWER CORD APPEARS TO BE AN AFTER MARKET CORD. OTHER THAN THAT (AND THE CRYSTALS I REPLACED) I THINK IT'S STOCK. I FOUND NO MYSTERY HOLES, WIRES, OR PARTS.
THIS IS A PLUG AND PLAY RADIO. THAT SAID, THE PERFECTIONIST MAY WANT TO DO THE "USUAL" -- CHECKING TUBES, TIGHTENING DOWN CHASSIS SCREWS, USING SOME DEOXIT, AND POSSIBLY AN ALIGNMENT. I DID NONE OF THIS. KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A COMPLEX RECEIVER SO USE CAUTION BEFORE DIVING IN TOO FAR UNLESS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH IT. (I THINK THE MANUAL IS OVER 100 PAGES -- NOT INCLUDED BUT AVAILABLE FREE ON LINE.)
CONCERNING DELIVERY -- I WILL SHIP IF YOU WANT. ON THE OTHER HAND I HAVE A FRIEND GOING TO DAYTON NEXT MONTH (HE'LL BE THERE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY). HE WILL DELIVER THE RADIO FREE OF CHARGE. NOT GOING TO DAYTON? PROBABLY ONE OF YOUR HAM FRIENDS IS GOING. CHECK IT OUT. ALSO i AM WILLING TO DRIVE UP TO 100 MILES FROM ST. LOUIS TO MEET SOMEONE -- JUST GIVE ME SOME $$$ FOR GAS.
CHECK MY OTHER LISTINGS THAT INCLUDE FREE DAYTON DELIVERY.
AGAIN, FREE DELIVERY TO DAYTON OR I WILL SHIP AT YOUR EXPENSE. I'D PREFER TO HAVE IT DELIVERED TO DAYTON, BUT IF THAT IS NOT FEASIBLE, REST ASSURED THAT IT WILL BE WELL PACKED. (IF EBAY CHARGES YOU FOR SHIPPING AND YOU WANT IT DELIVERED TO DAYTON FREE, REST ASSURED I WILL REFUND THE $$$.)
PAYMENT MUST BE MADE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SALE AND NOT IN DAYTON.
FOR A NOMINAL FEE I WILL MARK THE BOX WITH WORDING SAYING "AUTOMOTIVE PARTS" IF IT HELPS KEEP PEACE WITH THE XYL. ASK FOR DETAILS.
NO RESERVE -- HIGH BIDDER GETS IT. QUESTIONS? JUST ASK.
YOU NEVER HIT ONE OUT OF YANKEE STADIUM; YOU NEVER HEADLINED AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. THERE IS ONE DREAM YOU CAN STILL HAVE -- A COLLINS RADIO.