Blast from the Past: Rick’s Ward Airline GEN 1474A Radio

I have this Ward Airline 1494 model and also the similar Montgomery Ward Airline GEN 1474A, which I think is a better radio, at least when I’ve compared the two side-by-side. The 1474A has just one big sliderule dial, but covers the same frequency ranges as the 1494A. It’s a little smaller radio, but I think more handsome. Its AM/FM/SW performance is better, and the airband is absolutely top notch (I’ve been obsessed with listening to aircraft on VHF and HF since the 1960’s.) Even the “S” meter has more bounce on the 1474A than on the 1494. But the most amazing part of the 1474A is its audio, which can blow the windows out of the house! Not surprising when you look at the heat sink they put on the output stage, a major chunk of aluminum. All this in a very nice portable (4 D cells or AC) package.