[BC] Gates VP-50 ?

[Milton R. Holladay Jr.]

Way back, a fellow in SC got a CP for 50. He went up to Fayetteville and
looked at their 317, and to WBT to see their Harris.
Said it was like comparing an army tank to a Chevrolet.
He's still running the 317C.
M
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Meuser" <Robertm at broadcast.net>
To: "Broadcast Radio Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 1:03 PM
Subject: Re: [BC] Gates VP-50 ?


> The VP 50 was a standard plate mod 50K TX. The unique part of the TX was
that it
> was water  - or more precisely vapor phase - cooled. This is where the VP
> designation originates. Plus side, no big blowers or building air handling
> required. The down side, if there is liquid involved, eventually there
will be
> leaks. Also an external heat exchanger was a part of this rig.  50 KW was
really
> too low a power for that kind of cooling. Numerous higher power
transmitters use
>    some form of steam cooling, but very few are expected to run  24/7 with
the
> lack of maintenance common with AMers here.
>
> The VP 50 was replaced by the MW 50 which gave the Continental 317 C a
serious
> challenge. The MW 50 and 317 C series were probably the best two tube 50K
Txs
> ever built.
>
>
> R