DAK Industries was a mail-order electronics company. The name comes from the initials of founder Drew Alan Kaplan. DAK CB base stations were very large units and strong performers. Relatively few were sold, so they are quite rare today. This DAK Mark IX Radiotelephone base station features 40-channel operation, FOUR large lighted meters, and the… Read More »
A simple but inexpensive radio, the GE 3-5804G featured all 40 channels, volume, squelch, and a lighted S/RF meter. Performance was about average for a CB radio in this price range. Notice the meter does not measure actual wattage on transmit. There is only black for “bad” and red for “good.”
Yes, General Electric manufactured CB radios! Their complete line of several models included this GE 3-5810 23 channel mobile unit. It was one of their more popular models during the mid-1970s. Interestingly enough, some GE CBs utilized a 4-pin female mic plug while others such as this unit used a 5-pin DIN plug.
The 40 channel version of the General Electric 5810 was this GE 3-5811/5811B. The 5811 also utilized the 5-pin DIN microphone plug. Note that while the S/RF meter is the same size as on the previous 23 channel model, the graphics have changed. This meter design was shared with many Colt, Hy-Gain, and Midland CB… Read More »
This is a Hy-Gain Hy-Range I. It was the entry-level model in Hy-Gain’s mobile CB line. A very simple radio that was easy to use with decent receive and transmit capabilities. Power/volume, squelch, and a small meter. Because it was relatively inexpensive, the Hy-Range 1 was a popular choice for those getting started in CB… Read More »
The Johnson Messenger 130, also known as “The Telephone CB.” This was the mobile version. Johnson also made a matching base unit, the Messenger 132. Performance was okay, but transmit audio quality suffered due to the limitations of a telephone receiver being used as a microphone. I could always tell when someone was talking on… Read More »
The updated version of Johnson’s Messenger 130 was the 130A. This model had a short run. Production began in early 1976 and ended later that year due to the new 40-channel units becoming legal for sale on January 1, 1977. The only difference I can see between the 130 and 130A is that the 130A’s… Read More »
This dusty old jewel is a Johnson Messenger 323A. Big and heavy, but well built as were all Johnson CB radios. Solid performance, as you would expect. One disadvantage with this and many other Johnson models is that the microphone was hard-wired, rather than terminating in a plug. If you wanted to add a ‘power… Read More »
This Midland 13-880B was top dog in the early 1970s. It featured all 23 channels AM/LSB/SSB. Plus a large combination S/RF/SWR/CAL meter and a digital clock. The clock was a big deal in those days since they were mechanical, not electronic. This deluxe base station had an expensive price to match: around $400 in most… Read More »
The Midland 13-882C was introduced in the summer of 1976. It looked like it’s predecessor, the 13-882B, but was completely different inside. Whereas the 882B used a crystal synthesizer to generate the 23 CB channels, the 882C used a PLL, or phase lock loop. Because of this, the 882C was a much more “capable” radio.… Read More »
This Midland 13-883B mobile was produced in the early 1970s. A full-featured CB radio with all 23 channels, transmit/receive lights, tone control, and a large S/RF/SWR meter. The 13-883B actually predates the 13-882, though you may guess otherwise because of it’s sequential model number. Due to the advancing age of this unit, they are rare… Read More »
Here’s another of those “telephone” CB radios which were so popular in the mid-1970s. The Midland 13-884 was one of the fanciest available with RF gain control, large ‘transmit’ light, and a lighted S/RF/SWR meter. It also has a detachable handset with standard 4 pin female mic connector. The similar Johnson Messenger 130/130A has a… Read More »
The 13-891 was Midland’s entry-level base station in the early 1970s. Design and appearance was pretty basic. Performance was adequate, but not spectacular. Audio was very good due to the large front-mounted speaker. Midland did not sell a lot of these CB radios which explains why You don’t see many of them around anymore.
In the 1970s and 80s, all 3 major retail store chains produced their own proprietary lines of CB radios. You could buy branded CB units from JCPenney, Montgomery Wards, and Sears. This Wards 680 is an attractive unit with 40-channel operation, RF gain, antenna warning (high SWR) indicator, and a large S/RF/SWR meter.
Yes, Motorola made CB radios. They were very popular with police, fire, and emergency medical personnel. Reliable and rugged, as you would expect. Motorola CB units and microphones were purposely designed to match their commercial radio equipment of the day. Since most departments used Motorola gear for their VHF/UHF comms, it was a natural choice… Read More »
From the mid-1970s, here’s the Pace CB144 23-channel mobile. This was considered to be a mid-level unit in Pace’s model line. Features include delta tune, automatic noise limiter, noise blanker, and RF gain control. Standard red light on transmit and 4 pin female microphone connector. Performance was about average for the class.
Pace produced a full line of CB radios, both 23 and 40-channel models. This Pace 2300 mobile was manufactured in the early 1970s. A simple radio featuring volume, squelch, and a lighted meter. On the back of the radio, a large plastic modular jack marked ‘ACC PLUG’ allowed direct connection of various optional accessories.
Here’s a Pearce-Simpson Bearcat 23. This full-featured AM base station was popular in the mid-1970s. Note the unique 3-meter design and slide volume/squelch/SWR-CAL controls. Also featured a digital clock with alarm and separate lights for “on the air” (transmit) and modulation. There are 3 distinct versions of this radio: only the first version has slide… Read More »
The Pussycat 23 was Pearce-Simpson’s entry-level 23 channel CB base station. Pearce-Simpson was a division of the Gladding Corporation. Just the basics here: volume, squelch, meter, channel selector, and microphone with standard 4 pin connector. This radio also featured a large S/RF meter and front-mounted speaker. Price for a new Pussycat 23 in 1974 was… Read More »
In the spring of 1977, Uniden introduced a complete line of President 40-channel AM and SSB base and mobiles. I remember seeing the ads in S9, CB Times, and other CB magazines of the day. They were a pretty big deal. The Zachary T. was a basic but stylish AM base station. Basically a President… Read More »