To Point 2 in the post immediately above:
This is exactly why companies in the early 80s amateur market (e.g., Drake and Cubic) and the somewhat related Class D CB market (Stoner, CPI et al) lost sales to Asian manufacturers and ultimately exited their respective public consumer communications channels.
I have a number of examples of gear from that period. US-produced build quality was definitely better than the wares of, say, Kenwood, Icom and Uniden - but in terms of performance the latter was viewed as good enough. Thus, many radio aficionados voted with their wallets - and their feet.
Drake's case came straight from the horse's mouth - one of my friends/former coworkers was an engineer with the company throughout the 5 and 7 line time frame...then into market pullout and their focus shift into the ESR market.
Cubic's was similar. Stoner ultimately became SGC, and they folded a few years ago as well. Mostly due to similar dynamics in the maritime and land mobile markets.
This is exactly why companies in the early 80s amateur market (e.g., Drake and Cubic) and the somewhat related Class D CB market (Stoner, CPI et al) lost sales to Asian manufacturers and ultimately exited their respective public consumer communications channels.
I have a number of examples of gear from that period. US-produced build quality was definitely better than the wares of, say, Kenwood, Icom and Uniden - but in terms of performance the latter was viewed as good enough. Thus, many radio aficionados voted with their wallets - and their feet.
Drake's case came straight from the horse's mouth - one of my friends/former coworkers was an engineer with the company throughout the 5 and 7 line time frame...then into market pullout and their focus shift into the ESR market.
Cubic's was similar. Stoner ultimately became SGC, and they folded a few years ago as well. Mostly due to similar dynamics in the maritime and land mobile markets.