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Collins 30K-1, 500 Watt Transmitter with 310A Exciter in Excellent Cosmetic and Working Condition

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MPN:
30K-1
Condition:
Used
Shipping:
$0.01 (Fixed Shipping Cost)
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • For sale: Collins 30K-1 500 Watt AM/CW Transmitter with 310A Exciter, excellent cosmetic and working condition. Rare late-1940s Collins vintage ham radio station covering 80-10 meters. Ideal for collectors. Nationwide Radio & Equipment Sales.
  • Collins 30K-1, 500 Watt Transmitter with 310A Exciter in Excellent Cosmetic and Working Condition
  • Collins 30K-1, 500 Watt Transmitter with 310A Exciter in Excellent Cosmetic and Working Condition
  • Collins 30K-1, 500 Watt Transmitter with 310A Exciter in Excellent Cosmetic and Working Condition
$3,900.00
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Description

Collins 30K-1, 500 Watt Transmitter with 310A Exciter in Excellent Cosmetic and Working Condition 

Payment for this item must be made via Cash, Cashiers Check, or direct deposit (wire Transfer)

This transmitter can be picked up where I live in NE Wisconsin and I may be able to deliver it within a reasonable distance for the expense of delivery costs.

This beautiful 30K-1 Transmitter and 310A Exciter was on the air about 6 months ago.

 It belongs to a close friend of mine who used it regularly. 

 It comes with the original manual and has a Balun which mounts on the top in the factory holes. The Band Coil Set is also included. The 310A Exciter is also in excellent cosmetic and working condition.

 I have the 310A Exciter and I will get the picture uploaded as soon as I can take it as it is still packed up from transport.

Can be picked up where I live in NE Wisconsin and I may be able to deliver it within a reasonable distance for the expense of delivery costs.

I have it listed here on my website however the payment will be required direct with a Cash or Bank Transfer, this is why there is no shopping cart option.

If you are interested, Please contact me direct by email or phone and I will answer any other questions you may have.

The Collins 30K-1 Transmitter (often paired with the 310A exciter) is a classic post-WWII "big iron" amateur radio transmitter from Collins Radio Company. Introduced around 1947, it was designed as a high-quality, reliable AM/CW rig for serious operators and is sometimes affectionately called the "baby KW-1" due to its styling and build quality similarities to the later, much rarer KW-1 kilowatt transmitter.Key Specifications and History
  • Power Output: Approximately 250 watts carrier on AM phone (A3), up to 300 watts on CW (A1). Input power is typically rated around 375–500 watts depending on band and mode.
  • Frequency Coverage: 80–10 meters (including 11 meters at the time; some references note capability for 160 meters with appropriate coils). It uses plug-in coils for band changes in early versions.
  • Modes: Amplitude modulated phone (AM) and CW. It supports 100% modulation with good audio quality.
  • Exciter: Requires an external companion unit, usually the Collins 310A (or similar 310 series), which provides the VFO or crystal-controlled drive. The complete setup is two separate cabinets.
  • Design Features: Floor-standing transmitter cabinet (roughly 22" × 17" × 71" tall, weighing around 350 lbs for the main unit + ~50 lbs for the exciter). It includes built-in antenna tuning/loading in some configurations, high-stability VFO, and Collins' renowned engineering for clean signal and reliability. Tube lineup includes a 4-125A (or similar) in the final amplifier, modulated by a pair of 75TH or equivalent tubes.
  • Power Requirements: 115V AC (higher current draw); needs proper wiring and ventilation due to heat from the tubes.
  • Production: Limited numbers were built in the late 1940s—far more common than the ultra-rare KW-1 (only ~150 made), but still relatively scarce today. It was positioned as a premium amateur transmitter before Collins shifted toward more compact designs.
It was praised for its solid construction, clean output, and "Collins quality," making it a favorite for restorations among vintage AM enthusiasts.
 
Collins 30K-1 500 Watt Transmitter with 310A Exciter - Excellent Cosmetic & Working ConditionA true classic from Collins Radio’s early postwar era! The Collins 30K-1 is a high-quality 500 Watt (input) CW / ~375 Watt AM transmitter designed for serious amateur operators in the late 1940s. Paired with the matching 310A Exciter, this forms a complete, impressive vintage station that delivers outstanding performance and looks.Highlights:
  • Covers 80 through 10 meters (including 11m)
  • Robust rack-mount design with bandswitching and safety features
  • Excellent audio quality typical of Collins engineering
  • 310A Exciter provides stable VFO control for easy operation
  • Dimensions: Transmitter ~22" W x 66.5" H x 17" D (~355 lbs); Exciter desktop size
This example is in excellent cosmetic and fully working condition, making it ready for display or on-air use in a vintage AM/CW setup. Perfect for boatanchor enthusiasts, Collins collectors, or anyone wanting a substantial piece of ham radio history.
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