JOHNSON VIKING MATCHBOX ANTENNA TUNER - FULLY REFURBISHED For Sale

Up for offers is a Restored Johnson Viking 275 Watt Matchbox Model250-23.Refurbished - Includes Copy of Instruction Manual - Tested -Guaranteed
The famous \"Matchbox\" is a linked-coupled tuner for matching balanced line antennas across the 80-10 meter bands. It includes a built in T/R relay for optional use. This \"collectible\" example is in very good cosmetic condition, and excellent functional condition. A printed copy of the original instruction manual is included.
Restoration Details:

• Unit dissembled and cleaned.
• Tuning capacitors removed, cleaned and bearings lubricated.
• Coupling coil removed and cleaned
• Balanced line output insulators removed and cleaned
• T/R relay contacts burnished
• New TeflonSO-239input coax connector installed
• Unit tested to 1000 watts PEP tuning balanced reactive loads (seeArray Solutions AIM4170 SWR plot of random length doublet tuned to 20 meters)

Although the manufacturer originally rated it at 275 watts, this tuner will easily handle up to 1000 watts PEP. Back in the 50\'s things were rated in RMS power using AM plate modulation, where peak power output is 4 times the AM carrier plus sidebands RMS output. Thus the 275 watt Matchbox, being so \"over built\" by today\'s standards, can actually handle 1.1 kW output PEP without arcing.
Why a link-coupled tuner?The loss in a link-coupled tuner is so low as to be negligible, even on a difficult match.No tuner today comes close to the low loss of these tuners for matching balanced feed-line. With today\'s L or Z network tuners using coax feed-line, you can loose a lot of power through feed-line loss before it gets to your antenna. Using the Johnson Matchbox and balanced feed-line, you get over 90% power transferred to the antenna even when it is not cut for the band you are using.
Many agree there is not a better balanced line tuner than the Johnson \"Matchbox.\" When tuning antenna\'s like a random length doublet, you simply can\'t find anything better...
Thanks for stopping by to have a look, and feel free to ask us any questions about this listing.
International shipping OK.
PLEASE NOTE: This item is warranted to be 100% operational for 14 days. If this item fails during that time, it may be returned for repair or refund of full purchase price (at our discretion), less any shipping charges. We will cover the shipping cost to return the item to you after repair. No refunds on any shipping costs.
If you have any issues with items purchased please contact us. We strive for 100% customer satisfaction.
(Any pictured test equipment is, of course, not included in the sale)