Plectron Duotone FM radio

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Mar 24, 2003 10:49 am

Today someone brought me a 1965 Plectron Duotone FM radio receiver (tubes and all). Is it possible someone has information about this piece of equipment?

They are interested in having the tones changed. There is a circuit board that has diodes and jumper locations I assume are used to set what tones are needed.

Anyone have a dusty service manual laying around? or have any helpful information about doing this?

I told them it was a long shot but I know someone here might be able to help. Thanks, Dave.

motorolamonster911 · Post by **motorolamonster911** » Mon Mar 24, 2003 4:39 pm

Tell us a little more about the unit...Model Number, What it looks like...stuff like that... or a pic would be great!

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 7:47 am

When the owner gives me a call this week I will see if he will let me snap some pics. I don't recall seeing an actual model number on the unit. A quick description would be. It's full of tubes, has a transformer, all components are connected directly with wires and component leads (no circuit board) with the exception of what I believe to be the tone decode board which may be an upgrade because the tone adjust (set?) on the main unit is gone. It has a big ass receive crystal in a removable socket. Keep in mind I only looked at the unit for about 5 min. before it was gone so I am going on limited memory at this point. Thanks, Dave.

motorolamonster911 wrote:Tell us a little more about the unit...Model Number, What it looks like...stuff like that... or a pic would be great!

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 am

I still have a couple of DuoTone Chief units in service. They are the ones with the big steel blue-green colored housing. They were some of the best damned alert monitors I have ever seen on the market. Surprisingly, that's probably the ONLY elelectronic item I own that I have never opened up. I think I just might have to do that one of these days. I'll post pics later if anyone is interested.

Macon Sparks · Post by **Macon Sparks** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 2:17 pm

This guy services Plectron and has quite a bit of stuff.

http://www.wallaceradio.com/

The Plectron model numbers ran odd for low band and even for VHF (i.e.: an R19 was a low band and an R20 was VHF)

They made three basic models:

Sentry - tone only

Chief - tone and monitor

Patrol - monitor only

They were so rugged Plectron put themselves right out of business. I have a Chief VHF in my office I use as a monitor for the county FD and it stays on 24/7. It was made January 7th, 1972 and still works great.

GMC · Post by **GMC** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 3:42 pm

hello

>They made three basic models:

>Sentry - tone only

>Chief - tone and monitor

>Patrol - monitor only

That's not exactly true. Those were just 3 of the units made. there were proberly 10 different styles of radio's made over the 30+ years they were in business.

>They were so rugged Plectron put themselves right out of business.

Again NOT true. They cut a deal with Fedeal Signal to produce units for them. Then federal forced the owner (Tom Woodson) out and took over the product line (only supporting the units they wanted to keep). They than killed most of it and went on from there.

Gary
an ex plectron authorized dealer