We're talking Holy Grail here...

[Rusty34]

Originally Posted by Phil Nelson

http://antiqueradio.org/dumpster.htm

I got mine over a dozen years ago. Fine receiver, but honestly not the mystical, magical treasure that some folks make out. I can't imagine paying today's cult prices for one.

I also have an SX-28 and SX-42, which cost almost nothing compared to this guy's reserve. If you blindfolded these bidders and sat them down in front of all three radios for a Pepsi Challenge, I wonder what the results would be.

I have mixed feelings about this dude's scorched-earth re-manufacturing style of restoration, but perhaps that's another topic.

Phil Nelson

Not so fast with the "perhaps another topic" brush-off Phil and no offense intended but,
what qualifies you to criticize someone else's restoration work when your own attempt at restoring an SX-88 involves replacing the easy to get to capacitors and passing on the hard ones? Your own words state that you hoped the capacitors which involved too much work to get to were still OK and IMO the miniature yellow Chinese polys would look more at home in a much smaller chassis. While your SX-88 is certainly good, still it does not compare with the one you are criticizing and you are supposing you are ready for a Pepsi Challenge with 50 year old capacitors in one IF stage, two RF stages and the mixer?

The receiver you are criticizing did sell for $10K. The eBay auction resulted in an off-site transaction afterwards where the seller adjusted his selling price to $10K plus shipping cost minus what the final value and PayPal fees would have been. Buyer mailed a cashiers check and the equipment was shipped successfully to Seattle. Two weeks later buyer sent a thank you message and was very pleased with his purchase.

Is there a note of professional jealousy in your remarks above? Perhaps even a little envy over the $10K selling price? Or is it because this was the fourth SX-88 to sell at that level so far? Or is it the Internet pictures showing the quality of workmanship which requires 100s of hours to achieve.

Below is a link to receiver test results for The Hallicrafters SX-88. Note that these results only apply when the receiver is fully restored electrically and properly aligned.

http://www.w1vd.com/HallicraftersSX-88.html