I was looking through eBay for Drake equipment. Radio Mart had a 1994 model
SW-8..........he represented this unit as a very late model. Tonight, he has
a Drake SPR-4 with a S/N of 562, which he states that he knows this to be a
very late model.
SPR-4s were run into the high 5000s or low 6000s. He is selling one of the
earlier units. No big deal, except that the later models used glass epoxy
boards, and they used silver mica caps in the front end on the LW range. I
have had a couple of those earlier units, including one that was purchased
brand new. The earlier units were pretty deaf on the LW range, unless you
used the loop antenna.
True, he does give a good presentation, but he gives out misinformation with
the authority of an expert. I wonder how many folks fall for this gibberish.
No problem in stating that a unit is in mint condition if it really is, but
to state that a low S/N unit is a very late iteration is outright lying.
I gave him the benefit of the doubt, and I did ask him if maybe somebody had
misinformed him about how late in the product life cycle these units were
actually made. I am not sure if I will hear from him or not. Always good to
do some research and be prepared before bidding on eBay.

Pete