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1-A without WWW band
Picture : RL DRAKE
Company |
1-A With WWW band
Picture : Ebay
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Year 1958
- Price : US$ 299.00
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GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The R.L. Drake Model 1-A is an amateur-band
receiver designed for single sideband reception. No compromise has been made
in its excellent sideband performance in an effort to receive other types of
transmission. The important requirement s for good sideband reception which
are full filled by the 1-A are frequency stability, proper AVC action,
continuous sideband tuning, correct pass band and audio response
characteristics, distortion-free product detection, reasonable tuning rate,
and instantaneous muting and recovery. With respect to these points and to
simple, functional design, this receiver sets new standards in sideband
reception.
The receiver also works very well on CW due to the similarity between the
requirements for reception for CW and SSB. Almost every feature built into the
1-A for SSB is also desirable for CW.
AM signals are treated just like SSB. The highly selective filter removes
all but one sideband; then detection is the same as for SSB. In many respects
this type of AM reception is superior to that using envelope detection.
The outward appearance of the 1-A is modem, functional and worthy of its
well-engineered contents. The uniquely shaped cabinet is designed to occupy a
minimum of desk space. The receiver is made self-sufficient by including an
internal speaker .
REFERENCE DATA
 | OPERATING RANGE: Seven 600 kc tuning
ranges cover five "ham" bands: 80 M (3.5 - 4.1 mc), 40M (7.0
- 7.6 mc), 20M (14.0 - 14.6 mc), 15 M (21.0 - 21.6 mc), 10M (28.0 -
28.6 mc), 1OM (28.5 - 29.1 mc, ), 10M (29.1 - 29.7 mc)
+ WWW band on the lasted models. |
| DETECTION: Product Detector for SSB, CW,
and AM by exalted carrier method. |
| MAIN TUNING: Concentric tuning knobs
provide two tuning rates: 4-1/2 turns for 600 kc and 30 turns for 600
kc. Tuning rate is the same for all bands. |
| MAIN DIAL: Dial is marked in 10 kc
divisions; frequency can be estimated to 1 or 2 kc. Pointer FS
moveable to make accurate calibrations. Effective scale length is 8.3
inches. |
| STABILITY: High stability VF0 unit
operates without switching or ganging through same frequency range for
all bands. Warm up drift is less than 300 cps after 15 minutes
operation. Crystal-controlled, high frequency conversion establishes
this same stability for all bands. |
| SENSITIVITY: Less than 1 UV for 20 db
s/n. |
| SELECTIVITY: Multi-section sideband
filter provides selectivity as follows: 2.5 kc at 6 db - 2.1 kc at 60
db. Sideband tuning control moves filter response up to 3 kc above or
below the fixed carrier. |
| ANTENNA ATTENUATOR: 30 db, Switch
provided to switch pad in or out. |
| S-METER: Meter calibrated in
"S" units to S9 and 20, 40, 60 db over S9. S9 represents
approximately 100 UV at the antenna input, "S" units are at
approximately 6 db intervals. Properly damped meter movement for
steady readings. |
| AVC: Amplified-delayed AVC. Integrating
dual-action time constant circuit gives fast charge, slow discharge
for modulation, but fast charge, fast discharge on short pulses. This
provides some noise limiter action. |
| AF RESPONSE: Down approximately 20 db at
65 and 6200 cps Down approximately 6 db at 200 and 3500 cps |
| AF OUTPUT: To internal speaker or 4 ohms
to external speaker, headphones, and transmitter anti-trip. |
| RF INPUT IMPEDANCE: TO match 50-75 ohm
coax line |
| POWER CONSUMPTION: 50 watts at 115 v -
60 cps |
| DIMENSIONS: 6-3/4" wide x 11"
high x 15" deep. WEIGHT: 18 pounds |
| NUMBER OF TUBES: Twelve: 6BZ6 1st RF --
6BE6 1st mixer -- 6BE6 2nd mixer - 6BY6 3rd converter -- 6BZ6 IF --
12AU7 product detector -- 6BF6 AVC amplifier and rectifier -- 6AB4
crystal oscillator -- 6BQ7A V.F oscillator -- 12AU7 L.F. oscillator
and 1st AF -- 12AQ5 AF output – |
| FRONT PANEL CONTROLS:
 | Band Switch |
| Main Tuning |
| Sideband Tuning |
| Antenna - Trimme |
| RF Gain/Standby Switch |
| AF Gain/Power Switch. |
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| BACK PANEL CONTROLS AND TERMINALS:
| S-meter zero adjust |
| Antenna |
| Attenuator Switch |
| SO 239 Antenna connector |
| Muting connector |
| External - speaker/phones jack - 4
ohm |
|
 Drake
1-A Sideband Receiver (Recent Equipment)
(c) QST 11/1957 - page 38 - 151 Kb file - Adobe
pdf version
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1-A History...
The following is excerpted from "The R.L.
Drake Company - 45 Years Young" by Bill Frost, WD8DFP:
The year was 1957:
"During a bout with a bad case of hives,
partially due to worry over the survival of the company and its employees, he (R.L.
Drake) began the design of the 1-A receiver at home. The receiver was long, thin
and tall like a mailbox, but was destined to be the first receiver designed
solely for single sideband reception. All other receivers for amateur use
received only on AM or were old military AM receivers. These were then modified
by the amateur for SSB reception."
"Unsure that he could mass produce such a product, let alone finance it, he
offered his design to well known receiver manufacturers such as National,
Hammarlund, and Hallicrafters. After many letters back and forth and unable to
reach a decision, the turning point came when "Gibby" of Universal
Service in Columbus, Ohio (a well known amateur radio supplier and friend of Mr.
Drake) said "You build 'em and I'll take the first hundred". Hyde
"Rube" Rubel of Srepco, another amateur radio supplier, also supported
the 1-A concept and urged production of the first single sideband
receiver."
"The first ten or so 1-A
receivers were built at the old Baum Opera House (Miamisburg, OH). Then in 1958,
the company moved to the present 540 Richard St. address as more room was
needed. The production of the 1-A was then put into full force. The 1-A design
was based on a simple to operate concept , no bells, no whistles, easy to
service, high quality and high performance. Cosmetically it was very plain, the
fron't panel was black, the cabinet was black, and was soon dubbed "The
Black Box" among amateurs....."
The first review of the 1-A was published in QST, November, 1957.
Source : Bob, K3AC
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