Best Engineered CB radio

[KL7AJ]

Amazingly enough, there were a few. I have an early 1960s SONAR CB transceiver that has a Nuvistor front end...as sensitive as any 10 Meter rig I've owned. Been thinking about converting it to 10 AM, but it has some classic value I understand. I also have a Heathkit tube transceiver that has boat anchor quality audio....it has "heavy iron" in the modulator.

Anyone else out there with CB rigs that qualify as genuine radios?

Eric

[WA4BRL]

What about the Hallicrafters, Johnson, Gonset, Eico, Heathkit, Knight-Kit, and other ham-manufacturer CB rigs? I know of them but not much about them. I do recall getting the impression as a kid in the mid 1960's that the Johnson CB line earned some level of respect. Were there any real standouts amongst these manufacturers?

[K7MH]

I think Johnson had the most successful line over the longest period of time of the CB radio manufacturers you mentioned.

[KC8VWM]

Anyone else out there with CB rigs that qualify as genuine radios?

Swan 1011D was a CB rig wasn't it?..

[KB3LIX]

I have an old General RadioTelephone somewhere around here.
6 channel TX and variable RX. It is from the early 60's.
I also have a few old Johnson radios floating around.

I worked on several old Sonar radios back in the day.
As I remember, they had 2 "handles" one on each side
of the chassis/front panel facing forward
that made it LOOK like it was for rack mounting.
They are an oldie but goodie.

[N0SYA]

The early xtal mixed cbs usualy had outstanding audio, and some of them had worthy filters too. Motorola made a more or less legendary ssb cb, as did some others. Shame any of them didn't go ahead and make a all hf band qrp rig with their existing IF and chassis design.

[K9ASE]

Cobra "Cam 88" it glows in the dark.

[W2BBQ]

Motorola also had their line of radios that were and are still popular.....judging by the prices they fetch on ebay.

[KM3N]

The Johnson Messenger III was a great CB radio. My father ran a TV shop and used those model radios to talk with his two service vans. Johnson even had a two-tone Selcal unit for the Messengers so you didn't have to listen to the noise. I used one of the Messenger III's in the early seventies on my many trips between San Diego and LA while going to college.

Ken/KM3N

[K7MH]

Some of the now very collectable makes I remember from the 23 channel days when I worked at ABC comm. are
Demco Satelite, Super Satelite (always wondered why they didn't spell it right)
Tram Titan 2, Titan 2 Elite
Browning Eagle (most any of the separates)
Courier 1M, Courier Royale
Sonar

The first one I had, I got from my cousin, it is exceedingly rare (if not hopeless) to find these days.
The Mesur-Matic Saturn CBX-15. 1962 vintage, $300.
I have watched for one on Ebay for many years and have never even once seen one.
Never seen one at a swapmeet in all the time I have been going to them.
Very few articles or references on the web about it.
Note the "conversion kit available for 10 meter 12 watt input", and that is back in 1962!
Saturn CBX-15 ad.jpgsaturn_cbx_15_pic02.jpg