Steve,

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Yes, the late 50's and early-mid 60's was what I would consider the 'golden age' of communications receiver manufacturing. The transistor had been invented in the mid-50's and was quickly being developed for use in consumer electronics, including SW and communications electronics. Just like in the automobile industry where you had the "Big 3" manufacturers (GM/Ford/Chrysler) competing with each other, coming out with new models every year or so, so you had the "Big 3" US receiver manufacturers competing for customers - Hallicrafters/ Hammarlund/ National. They tried to appeal to a wide group of consumers - casual SW listeners, experienced SWL's and hams. So you had the entry level SW radios like the S-120, then the more sophisticated comm receivers like the S-108, SX-110, SX-122, and the ham band only receivers designed exclusively for hams (SX-117, SX-115). It must have been a bee hive of activity at the old Hallicrafters factory in Chicago, with rows of ladies assembling and hard wiring/soldering all the various receiver models they were turning out. Things evidently starting going down hill in the late 60s - early 70's when the Asian manufacturers started competing, selling all solid-state receivers that were smaller, lighter, drift-free and often cheaper. Eventually all the US receiver manufacturers couldn't compete and went out of business in the 70's. A sad end to a long line of wonderful US-made communications receivers that were so well designed and? made and easily restored after 50 plus years that we still have many of them being used and enjoyed today.?

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Bob K3AC