Sir,
Dave’s observations are quite true. There are some really good deals on older radio gear. I have a great fondness for these “Boat Anchor” radios. (Real radios glow in the dark and keep your shack warm in the winter.) That being said, there is a very real caution for the use of the old tube radios. My Kenwood TS-520 is mostly solid state with tubes for the output section to give more power than was available from the transistors of the day. The problem for the unaware is that these tubes have 800 volt power supplies with enough amperage to kill. They can be destroyed by careless or uninformed operation and replacement can be difficult. I have a matched set of replacement tubes for my Kenwood TS-520 in storage for the day they need replacement. Yes, they need to be ‘balanced’.
I greatly enjoy the radios and their various modes (I actually prefer CW Morse code operation to voice). But if you are going to get one, please, please find someone with experience in using boat anchors to help you learn their care and feeding. Even unplugged the power supplies can have enough energy stored to be fatal, sometimes for hours. Never take the covers off without serious training in the care and feeding of radios. I really enjoy them, they are inexpensive and fun to use, but like any powerful tool, misuse one and it can and will kill you. Unfortunately, it happens almost every year. Perhaps a better bet for the new ham is some of the first generation solid state stuff. No huge power supplies, no matched tubes, lighter in weight and not nearly so finicky in operations. They have the additional advantage of mostly running on 12 Volt DC (my Kenwood TS-520 takes 115 AC) and are therefore easier to operate portable from a battery or other off-grid power system.
There are many ‘Elmers’ (ham speak for a more experienced ham helping out someone new to the hobby) out there and almost anywhere there is a ham club you can find someone to help. Find these folks and let them help you. You’ll find the hobby fun, the people mostly nice and you’ll learn a lot. – Capt Bart