W8DRZ
08-01-2004, 08:48 AM
. # # # #Serial Number Fun with the TR-5
# # # # # # # # # # # # # or
# # # # # Down to the Sea in Drake's #
# #
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
#A few weeks ago a mention of the TR-5 on the
list sparked an idea, or quest, or maybe I was
just bored at the moment. Since the popular
thinking was just over 500 TR-5's were built, I
thought it might be fun to find out how many I
could account for.
# # # # # # # #
# # # # # # # # # # So I polled the two Drake
lists asking for serial numbers of TR-5's owned
by the members. The story about a large number
of TR-5's being lost at sea soon surfaced.
(pun intended)
#The story goes something like this:
#Once Upon a time, (sorry couldn't resist)
# the Drake company filled a large order
of TR-5's to a Government in South America.
Reported to be over 100 units, perhaps as
many as 200. The ship that was loaded with the
TR-5's was lost at Sea, sunk in a bad storm.
I have heard variations of this, but the end
was the same, about 100 Brand New TR-5's
lost forever at the bottom of the Ocean.
# # # A fellow Drake list reader remarked
that the story was true and had been confirmed.
#Now I had a mission, would gathering serial
numbers reveal the missing units and shore up
the story. Clearly I thought that if a large
number of radio's were sent on one order
they would be consecutive serial numbers.
# Early on I had received 8 serial numbers
from list users and had 5 more from WB4HFN's
Serial Number Web Page, plus my TR-5 for
a total of 14 good numbers. Not many but
it was a good spread from 1038 to 1506.
(TR-5 production began at 1001)
Right away I noticed a large gap in the
numbers, nothing between 1167 and 1288!
Was this gap possibly the missing TR-5's?
#A few more numbers came in the next day,
all outside the black hole of missing Drake's.
#
#How clever I thought I was, Also this
might mean that there was only 400 or so
TR-5's left, making them even more rare.
#Then it happened, Like a MOAB on target,
but this was the MOASN! And not just one,
the next day the gap was gone, 1207, then
1240 and if that wasn't enough 1232 arrived.
# My Theory was Dashed on the Rocks!
# Now I have 25 TR-5 serial numbers, and
from 1038 to 1514 the biggest hole is only
48. This is with less than 4 percent known
to exist TR-5's but would indicate that a
large number in one group, such as the
missing 100 might not be missing at all.
#I did do one more bit of looking for
information, Yes I even asked the
R.L. Drake Company.
I sent an e-mail to John Kriner of the
Drake Service Department.
Here is his reply:
The boat sinking story is one I never heard,
but this does not mean it isn't true.
I am forwarding your mail to Mr. Frost at Drake.
Perhaps he knows if the story is true.
(end)
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
From Bill Frost:
I have to agree with John, I have never heard # # # # #
of a large number of TR-5 being sold into South America.
In fact, I can't remember a large # # #
number of TR-5's being sold to anyone. # # # # # # # # # # #
The sales of the TR-5 were nothing like we had # # #
hoped. # #
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
I remember we sold several of the TR-4305 # # # # # # #
transceivers into South America to missionaries #
etc. #They liked the simplicity, the fixed channel # #
operation and the reliability. #The TR-4305 was # # #
basically a TR-5 without the VFO. #
(end)
# # # # # # # # # # #
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
#It would seem to me at this point that the story
of the missing TR-5's lost at sea is just that.
A story. #Perhaps there is some truth to it,
but certainly not 200 or 100 or even 50 TR-5's.
Yes, I do realize that they wouldn't have to
be consecutive serial numbers, but one would
think that if the factory lost a boat load, they
would remember. Anyway it was fun to play the
numbers.
TR-5 Facts: (to the best of my knowledge)
# #1 perhaps 2 engineering prototypes with no S/N were built.
# 10 preproduction TR-5's #101 to 110
# 516 Production TR-5's #001001 to 001516
# For a total of 528 Factory built TR-5's, out there,
# somewhere.
Plus a little Duck told me one more was built
from NOS parts just for fun long after
the factory stopped production.
Many Thanks to all that have sent in their
TR-5 Serial Numbers, and a special thanks
to John Kriner, Bill Frost and John Loughmiller.
And I'm still looking!
If you own a TR-5, please send in your Serial Number
so I can add you to the list.
73
Jim Snell - W8DRZ
W8DRZ@AOL.COM
# # # # # # # # # # # # # or
# # # # # Down to the Sea in Drake's #
# #
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
#A few weeks ago a mention of the TR-5 on the
list sparked an idea, or quest, or maybe I was
just bored at the moment. Since the popular
thinking was just over 500 TR-5's were built, I
thought it might be fun to find out how many I
could account for.
# # # # # # # #
# # # # # # # # # # So I polled the two Drake
lists asking for serial numbers of TR-5's owned
by the members. The story about a large number
of TR-5's being lost at sea soon surfaced.
(pun intended)
#The story goes something like this:
#Once Upon a time, (sorry couldn't resist)
# the Drake company filled a large order
of TR-5's to a Government in South America.
Reported to be over 100 units, perhaps as
many as 200. The ship that was loaded with the
TR-5's was lost at Sea, sunk in a bad storm.
I have heard variations of this, but the end
was the same, about 100 Brand New TR-5's
lost forever at the bottom of the Ocean.
# # # A fellow Drake list reader remarked
that the story was true and had been confirmed.
#Now I had a mission, would gathering serial
numbers reveal the missing units and shore up
the story. Clearly I thought that if a large
number of radio's were sent on one order
they would be consecutive serial numbers.
# Early on I had received 8 serial numbers
from list users and had 5 more from WB4HFN's
Serial Number Web Page, plus my TR-5 for
a total of 14 good numbers. Not many but
it was a good spread from 1038 to 1506.
(TR-5 production began at 1001)
Right away I noticed a large gap in the
numbers, nothing between 1167 and 1288!
Was this gap possibly the missing TR-5's?
#A few more numbers came in the next day,
all outside the black hole of missing Drake's.
#
#How clever I thought I was, Also this
might mean that there was only 400 or so
TR-5's left, making them even more rare.
#Then it happened, Like a MOAB on target,
but this was the MOASN! And not just one,
the next day the gap was gone, 1207, then
1240 and if that wasn't enough 1232 arrived.
# My Theory was Dashed on the Rocks!
# Now I have 25 TR-5 serial numbers, and
from 1038 to 1514 the biggest hole is only
48. This is with less than 4 percent known
to exist TR-5's but would indicate that a
large number in one group, such as the
missing 100 might not be missing at all.
#I did do one more bit of looking for
information, Yes I even asked the
R.L. Drake Company.
I sent an e-mail to John Kriner of the
Drake Service Department.
Here is his reply:
The boat sinking story is one I never heard,
but this does not mean it isn't true.
I am forwarding your mail to Mr. Frost at Drake.
Perhaps he knows if the story is true.
(end)
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
From Bill Frost:
I have to agree with John, I have never heard # # # # #
of a large number of TR-5 being sold into South America.
In fact, I can't remember a large # # #
number of TR-5's being sold to anyone. # # # # # # # # # # #
The sales of the TR-5 were nothing like we had # # #
hoped. # #
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
I remember we sold several of the TR-4305 # # # # # # #
transceivers into South America to missionaries #
etc. #They liked the simplicity, the fixed channel # #
operation and the reliability. #The TR-4305 was # # #
basically a TR-5 without the VFO. #
(end)
# # # # # # # # # # #
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
#It would seem to me at this point that the story
of the missing TR-5's lost at sea is just that.
A story. #Perhaps there is some truth to it,
but certainly not 200 or 100 or even 50 TR-5's.
Yes, I do realize that they wouldn't have to
be consecutive serial numbers, but one would
think that if the factory lost a boat load, they
would remember. Anyway it was fun to play the
numbers.
TR-5 Facts: (to the best of my knowledge)
# #1 perhaps 2 engineering prototypes with no S/N were built.
# 10 preproduction TR-5's #101 to 110
# 516 Production TR-5's #001001 to 001516
# For a total of 528 Factory built TR-5's, out there,
# somewhere.
Plus a little Duck told me one more was built
from NOS parts just for fun long after
the factory stopped production.
Many Thanks to all that have sent in their
TR-5 Serial Numbers, and a special thanks
to John Kriner, Bill Frost and John Loughmiller.
And I'm still looking!
If you own a TR-5, please send in your Serial Number
so I can add you to the list.
73
Jim Snell - W8DRZ
W8DRZ@AOL.COM