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Post by BladeRunner now OLD FLASH!!!!! on Sept 29, 2008 22:34:52 GMT -5
Was there ever any connection between the two companies Tram and Browning? Like Engineers leaving Browning and starting Tram or Vice Versa. I thought I had read somwhere at some point in time there was some connection lik that. I've searched and have not found any of that information.
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Post by ak3383 on Oct 20, 2008 12:05:29 GMT -5
I believe thry started out together long ago and then split
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss 
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Post by Sandbagger on Oct 20, 2008 13:19:59 GMT -5
Was there ever any connection between the two companies Tram and Browning? Like Engineers leaving Browning and starting Tram or Vice Versa. I thought I had read somwhere at some point in time there was some connection lik that. I've searched and have not found any of that information. Well, other than being located in a similar geographical area, I don't know if there was any business connection between the two. I've never heard of a formal connection, although it's certainly possible that employees may have worked at both places over time. I do know that coincidently (or not so) that some of the solid state mobile radios that both Tram and Browning offered were contracted and made by the same Japanese company, and a couple of models (the Browning Brownie and Tram XL for one) were virtually identical. |
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Post by mark4 on Oct 20, 2008 14:31:27 GMT -5
Yes, Toshiba.
And also the Tram Diamond 60 and Browning LTD are basically the same radio. They made the LTD smaller width wise and longer than the Tram. Just re-arranged the parts on the board.
Same basic design also for the Barron and Tram D62 and there are others. From what I've heard-someone with close connections. Engineers went back and forth between companies.
Also have heard the rumor that engineers at browning wanted to make a one piece base. And browning wasn't interested. So they left and started Tram. I don't know if there is any truth to the rumor. Next time I talk to him I'll ask if he knows if any of it is based on fact.
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss
Posts: 6,250
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Post by Sandbagger on Oct 21, 2008 6:48:24 GMT -5
Yes, Toshiba. And also the Tram Diamond 60 and Browning LTD are basically the same radio. They made the LTD smaller width wise and longer than the Tram. Just re-arranged the parts on the board. Same basic design also for the Barron and Tram D62 and there are others. From what I've heard-someone with close connections. Engineers went back and forth between companies. Also have heard the rumor that engineers at browning wanted to make a one piece base. And browning wasn't interested. So they left and started Tram. I don't know if there is any truth to the rumor. Next time I talk to him I'll ask if he knows if any of it is based on fact. The two companies were so close geographically and in such tight competition, that it would make sense that there was a little "cross-pollenization" going on there. I don't know how or why Toshiba was chosen and why both Browning's and Tram's mobiles are so close in design and, in some cases, appearance. Maybe they got a bulk discount ;D. |
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Post by 2600 on Oct 22, 2008 1:18:14 GMT -5
Toshiba was the high-priced high-performance vendor in the 70s. Cobra's higher-end 132/135 radios came from Toshiba.
Always figured Tram and Browning wanted the high end of the imported radio market with their choice of Toshiba. The two outfits were competitors, mostly for the high end of the market.
I remember a web page that proposed Tram was started when some of the Browning engineering or marketing staff told Browning's management "You need a one-piece model".
When Browning's management said no, they struck out on their own. Compare the first RF stage in the D201 receiver to the one in the Golden Eagle /II/III/IV receivers. Same circuit, but with one glass tube instead of two ceramic-metal tubes.
Just can't remember where I read it.
73
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss
Posts: 6,250
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Post by Sandbagger on Oct 22, 2008 7:32:24 GMT -5
Toshiba was the high-priced high-performance vendor in the 70s. Cobra's higher-end 132/135 radios came from Toshiba. Always figured Tram and Browning wanted the high end of the imported radio market with their choice of Toshiba. The two outfits were competitors, mostly for the high end of the market. I remember a web page that proposed Tram was started when some of the Browning engineering or marketing staff told Browning's management "You need a one-piece model". When Browning's management said no, they struck out on their own. Compare the first RF stage in the D201 receiver to the one in the Golden Eagle /II/III/IV receivers. Same circuit, but with one glass tube instead of two ceramic-metal tubes. Just can't remember where I read it. 73 Yea, the Cobra 135 was a pricey radio for its time too. I notice that it shares quite a few circuits with the Tram Diamond 60. I have mixed feelings about the clarifier circuit. On the one hand, changing the one 12.8 Mhz oscillator crystal can shift your whole channel span up or down, making channel expansion a lot easier. The downside though is that while you can align the AM, USB, and LSB frequency within a gnat's hair of each other at center slot, they do not track synchronously as the clarifier is moved through its range. The problem gets worse if you try to increase the down range. It's not a major problem unless your anal about frequency accuracy (which I evidently am, or I wouldn't bother mentioning it  ). The stories about Tram and Browning and whether one is a spin-off of the other is interesting from a CB historical trivia perspective. I enjoy reading all about the early American CB radio pioneering companies. Companies like Poly-Com, Utica, Demco and the like. |
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Post by mark4 on Oct 30, 2008 13:47:00 GMT -5
2600, It sounds like you heard the same basic story as I did.
Maybe there is some truth to it?
It's also interesting to speculate if browning came out with a solid state base. What it would have looked like?
Maybe the same chassis as the Tram D300 (Cobra 142GTL)
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Post by BladeRunner now OLD FLASH!!!!! on Nov 4, 2008 11:18:14 GMT -5
The reason i asked was because I remember hearing back in the 70's that some of the engineers from left Browning and Developed the Tram radios. I believe I read this in an old industry magazine of the time and the actual move happend sometime in the 60's. I wish I could remember more ,but that was a long time ago and I remember the main topic, but very little of the details.
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Post by captbarry on Nov 16, 2008 14:09:49 GMT -5
I remember reading the same info about a couple of engineers leaving Browning to form Tram. Of course the memory isn't what it used to be so I can't remember where I saw it too. Funny both companies were in the same neighbor hood so to speak. Having owened Brownings since the mid 70's I recently (lost my mind!!!!) came across a 201A that is in beautiful condition and was owned by someone I have known for quite a while. My wife's reaction when she came home from work and saw it sitting on the kitchen table was not, gee that's a beautiful radio but "oh my god, I can't believe you bought another old tube radio"!!!!! Just could not help my self cause I've always wanted a Tram. So far so good, am having a ball operating this radio. I got the manual and D104 in the box with the radio. Signel and audio reports are both real good. Thank goodness for this site cause I'm sure I'll have some questions coming. Although I have been running Brownings and other tube equipment since the 70's it's not often I don't learn something reading the posts on this board. Thank you Scott and all who post! Although the Tram is working fine now I'm still going to send it to the Doctor for a "check up". It sure looks good on the desk besides my MarkIV.
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