The way it was

when HAMS ran electronics companies

Posted By: Robert Nickels (ranickels)

We hear a lot about "tech giants" nowadays but there were tech companies back in the 50's and 60's that were run by actual techies...no offence to those today who can write code, but when most of us think "tech" we think of circuits and metal chassis and solder fumes. 

An interesting example comes from the files of the Hallicrafters SR-2000 "Hurricane" which was the first desktop kilowatt transceiver.   When it was released in 1966, I'd bet Hallicrafters was aiming primarily at the SSB user, but that didn't stop Al Kahn, who was President of Electro-Voice Company from shaking one of the new rigs down and letting Hallicrafters know what he thought.      Here's his letter to Hallicrafters sales manager Curt Hammond (but note who is copied in the handwritten notes) - followed by the company's reply (scroll down for larger images and click to read)

One can probably assume that Mr. Kahn's suggestions were giving a higher priority than ones from ordinary hams, but the point is - he WAS basically an ordinary ham.  His comments were based on his actual experience using the SR-2000, not because of his position in an electronics company.   

Hallicrafters never did add the crystal filter, but the odd thing is, they DID include one in the SR-400 Cyclone which is nearly the same radio except fo the power supply and PA.    Given the larger chassis it wouldn't have been difficult and would have broadened the appeal of the SR-2000 for CW operators - wonder why they didn't?  (I mean for everybody else, not just for Mr. Kahn!)

Al Kahn had a pretty nice rig in the AM era too!