Old CB Radios, Are They Worth Saving?

I finally got around to checking out these old CB radios. A Royce, 2 Realistics and a JC Penny Pinto.

[RaccoonsRadioRanch]

I think ALL vintage radios are worth saving . Besides, I love the older equipment, and I have a ton of it.

[kevinmccool]

These older radios are the absolute best teaching tools you can get to learn how they work and how to repair them.

[mikebottiaux]

I own a couple of the original, Realistic Mini 23’s from the early 70’s. The channel selector had channels 1-12. Then by pressing a button on the radios face the channel selector would then change to channels 13-23, very cool feature. The original Mini 23’s were a tad bit smaller then the newer versions.

[Travis]

Some of those old radios, especially the SSB models, have great audio. I have several I've added channels with an Arduino and an RF module. Plugs right into one of the crystal sockets. I have 2 set up for 10m ham band. I buy every 23 SSB I can get cheap.

[nickl]

Those are some cool old radios . I appreciate you showing us them .

[skyhill]

I wouldn't want a 23 channel CB radio myself but all old technology should be saved for posterity. I have a lot of CB radios from late 70's and up, ones I bought and still use. I have lots of minidisc machines both portable and full size units from old original formats to the last machines made. If you are interested in a hobby it's nice if you help preseve older tech belonging to your hobby. Always enjoy your videos, please keep them coming sir.

[johnnorman]

You know, I like that old classic wood grain veneer look. Never thought about it way back when. But it just screams I'm a veteran classic from THE CB days.

[georgebarnes]

Never knew that 23 channel CB radios even existed, I am in the UK and the smallest set we could get were 40 Channel AM units in the 1970s, That changed in 1981 when a new legal format of 40 channel FM only CB radios were introduced.

[zedbear]

Thanks for your video! I went looking for my Uniden Grant XL earlier tonight, I found 9 CBs I have stored. One is a Midland 13-883B that still works. Have not found the Grant yet but the search is on!

[transcanada]

The Realistic 24C is more like 1.2 watts not 2. It's also off frequency. It just needs an alignment and would probably be fine. Maybe a complete electrolytic capacitor change would be in order it's about 45 years old.

[JrGoonior]

I have a few old 23 channel radios A Cobra 26 (29A), a Sharp CB-800, and a Cobra 29X (It's exactly like the 26 but has a silver face instead of black). A few years ago I was running my Cobra 26 in the car and someone asked what I was running for a radio. He couldn't believe it when I told him. If anyone knows or knew a Glen Doll out of Illiopolis, Illinois, the Sharp has his name and original CB call sign scratched into it.

[ericzerkle]

Some of the am only 23s are transformer modulated so they talk VERY WELL. I have a regency that has a wired on mic. It has very good modulation. I was going to wire it up to use a power mic but it doesn't need one. Some of those Royce radios are very well made and also talk very well. I have a 40 ch and it's modular. Very rugged.

[speedfatty]

late to this party, but in regards to "being worth saving" I have a new use for them, that I'm testing out (that may be blasphemy to some of you) I do a fair bit of "sim racing" and as such I have a radio spotter that is using one of my sound cards on my PC. and these old radios could easily be converted into a USB device to allow things like radios in American truck simulator, or spotter radios in Assetto Corsa. This may sound foreign to some, but the idea of using a real radio to do radio related things while sim driving is something that i find pretty freakin cool.

[oldasdihrt]

Thanx for the vid. I remember when i was driving locally for a freight company in St Louis and one of the drivers had a Royce . thing got out forever and unless you knew would think that he was on a base station. Great old radio.thanx for the trip down memory lane.

[CMCSS-toto]

It sucks that it's not able to use all the channels but definitely worth having around. Especially if you need a cheap loner radio to give a friend for a convoy

[Dragon]

My father in law has 2 older 23 channels... a Royce and a Teaberry been sitting in a cabinet for awhile, not sure if they work.

[olivertaylor]

Yes they are worth saving if in good cond.in case of emergencies they can save lives...

[bobcatcomms]

I can't stop, I definitely have a problem lol, 73's 29TM063 Ireland

[Team-fabulous]

Iv a couple of old 23 channel rigs, bags of character and just fun to use...

[Heisenberg........_]

How do you connect a two pin to a three pin? I have two old cbs I was going to test out they both have a male two pin connection but the cord I bought for a regulated power supply has a three pin female connection.