These radios seem to command pretty high prices on eBay and I can't figure out why. Are these radios considered collectors items?
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LAFAYETTE TELSAT SSB - 140 Base Radio
- Thread starter Unit 194
- Start date
They were about as good as Lafayette radios ever got. A real showpiece from a company better known for making dependable but aesthetically-challenged radios. In other words most Laff-a-lot radios were butt ugly even if they did work well.
The SSB 140 was the 40 channel version of the SSB 100. I forget which board it had in it, possibly a Cybernet but don't quote me. They tuned up well and were good, but not exceptional talkers. Opening the clarifer was as simple as moving one wire- I never did try to get mine to slide any.
IMO The SSB 100 /140 was aimed at those who wanted something like a Tram D201 but didn't have the money for it. Put side by side you can see that Lafayette took some of it's styling cues from the Tram. The dual meters, woodgrain sides, spun aluminum knobs, the front-firing speaker- no it didn't have a VFO but it was still a pretty radio to look at.
Are they collectible? Well, there are people who collect belly button lint so there's probably a group of Lafayette devotees somewhere who fall all over each other trying to obtain this or that rarity.
If you can find one that hasn't been all hacked up or spent it's life with an ashtray next to it, one that still has the owner's manual or even the original box and packing- that might drive the price up some, but a used, run of the mill 140- I'd buy it if the price was right but I wouldn't go out of my way for one.
The SSB 140 was the 40 channel version of the SSB 100. I forget which board it had in it, possibly a Cybernet but don't quote me. They tuned up well and were good, but not exceptional talkers. Opening the clarifer was as simple as moving one wire- I never did try to get mine to slide any.
IMO The SSB 100 /140 was aimed at those who wanted something like a Tram D201 but didn't have the money for it. Put side by side you can see that Lafayette took some of it's styling cues from the Tram. The dual meters, woodgrain sides, spun aluminum knobs, the front-firing speaker- no it didn't have a VFO but it was still a pretty radio to look at.
Are they collectible? Well, there are people who collect belly button lint so there's probably a group of Lafayette devotees somewhere who fall all over each other trying to obtain this or that rarity.
If you can find one that hasn't been all hacked up or spent it's life with an ashtray next to it, one that still has the owner's manual or even the original box and packing- that might drive the price up some, but a used, run of the mill 140- I'd buy it if the price was right but I wouldn't go out of my way for one.
In the past month I have seen a couple of non working units with no mic. no power cord and no manual selling for around $100.00, which I thought was very unusual for a non working Lafayette radio.
Thank you for the insightful information.
these radios are a collectible radio ! both are easy to tune. and get out awesome. I have talked all over the world. that's to say as far as line of sight will allow ... 73,s