Drake  4-Line Solid-State Blue LED   illumination   Drake has used blue filters since the days of the TR3 transceiver.  This continued into the later 4-Line and 7-Line equipment.  The problem occurs in later years when the blue filters begin to change and the displays end up looking green.  Since the meter and frequency displays are illuminated by incandescent lamps they emit a glow that leans toward the red end of the emission spectrum.  Thus a blue filter being back lit by a yellow/red glowing filament will naturally result in a greenish illumination.  In the past people would replace the blue filters with newer and perhaps darker blue filters.  This was a step in the right direction, but you are still stuck with a light bulb that will eventually burn out  and require replacement.  As a replacement for the blue filters I have developed a Blue illumination kit to replace the existing  incandescent bulbs provided with the 4-Line equipment.  The kit consists of  two custom manufactured  LED lamps designed as plug-in-play replacements for the original #47 incandescent bulbs.  The new LED lamps use the same style bayonet bulb base as the originals.  There is no need to replace or add additional gel filters, best results are obtained by removing the original filters all together! The life of an LED is long, typically 80,000-100,000 hours (almost 10 years of continuous power), and most of us will never experience one going out.  Once the original lamps are replaced you should never have to replace them again.  You will save on current draw!  The two LED lamps only require a total of 40mA whereas the original #47 lamps have a total of 300mA current draw.  That's over one quarter amps less current draw from the power supply and negligible heat dissipation from the LED's.   Before After Drake 4-Line Kit One Set Supports One Transceiver, Transmitter or Receiver. A Drake Line Pair will require Two (2) Sets. One  Frosted Blue LED Bayonet Lamp One Diffused Lens Blue LED Bayonet Lamp Full Installation Instruction Sheet Notice:  The Drake T-4XC Transmitter uses a different lamp set. and has a different part number when ordering below.  Meter Lamp (Above Left)     Analog Display (PTO) Lamp (Above Right) Built With A Purpose These are not mass produced lamps.  Each lamp is  hand assembled  in my shop.  The bayonet bases are solid brass.  The meter lamp uses a frosted lens blue LED.  The analog display (PTO) lamp has a special manufactured diffusion lens which surrounds the blue LED.  This dispersion lens is milled from solid semi-transparent plastic.  It is not a hollow plastic covering!  By using a solid lens material the emitted light is dispersed a full 360 degrees around the lamps sides and a full 180 degrees toward the top side.  The picture below demonstrates how well this custom dispersion lens works installed in the Drake R4C receiver.  The picture is taken from the side of PTO assembly with the top receiver case cover removed. Simple to Install Installation is straight forward and every attempt was made for ease of installation.  This is a direct lamp replacement  and can be performed in about five minutes. Ordering All lamp orders will ship @ $4.80 (Any Quantity) for USPS Priority Shipment to U.S.A. locations.   For destinations outside the U.S.A. you have a choice of Standard Airmail @ $10.00 USD (1-6 weeks delivery time) or  International Priority Mail at $37.00 USD ($23.00 for Canada/Mexico) (1-2 weeks Delivery time).  Shipment selection is available using the on-line PayPal order system below upon final checkout. or send Check or Money Order (US Funds Only) to: D.A. Buska Engineers LLC 4805 64th Avenue Kenosha, WI 53144  U.S.A. Include quanitity and Part Numbers (see below) with your payments made via standard mail orders.  Don't forget to include postage as described above. For immediate processing we accept payments through PayPal when using the PayPal Order Cart below.  You can change the order quantity if desired when you view the cart during check out.   Part Number Price (Ea) Range and Radio Add to Cart MOD-4LINESET $14.95 Lamp Set 4-Line (Excludes T-4XC) MOD-T4XCSET $14.95 Lamp Set T-4XC Only MOD-4LINEMTR $9.00 Single 4-Line Meter Lamp MOD-4LINEPTO $11.00 Single 4-Line PTO Lamp User Comments I received the LEDs for the Drake R4C today. Put them in and I am very pleased with your product!! I took out the old blue filter as you suggested, put in the LEDs , fired it up and instant blue. A fine product and I must say tnx for sharing this product of yours with other Drake users. Will spread the word!! 73 & tnx--Terry N4SuB The LEDs arrived here safe and sound.  WOW! Do they look nice.  - Chuck K4QS They are already glowing! Looks great; congratulations on a bright idea. 73's Carlos KP4GL I just finished the last Drake rigs with the blue LED kits.  I have attached some photos, although I don't think the pictures look near as good as the finished product..  The radios look great and even the XYL was complimentary!   -  Mike W4DL I wanted to thank you for elevating my Drake line to a whole new level. Those bulbs really make me feel as if I have purchased a whole new classic line! I installed them in the following TR4C, RV4C, R4B, R4 and T4X.  What fun operating in the dark with only the glow from the tubes and front panels!! - Peter WA1ISA Somes days ago, I received the LEDs for my Drakes R4-C and SWA-4.  I took out the old blue filter as you suggested, put in the LEDs , fired it up and I saw a glamour  blue! ! ! A fine product , I am glad. Thanks!!! 73's  QRO de  F1CDW  / Francois        ............ from FRANCE Just a note to tell you how pleased I am with your blue LED lamps. I installed them in my Drake L4 amp and they look great. I'm planning on picking up a mint C-line from a local ham in the near future and will definitely get some more of your LEDs for that pair. Thanks again, 73, Stew K3ND     Return to Kits - Mods - Products Page