Swan Electronics

Lore & Background

Herbert G. Johnson, W6QKI, founded Swan Engineering, building the first ten largely vacuum tube type design SSB transceivers in a garage in Benson, Arizona, in 1960-1961. At that time, the more expensive Collins KWM-2 was the only other competing transceiver. The operation moved to Oceanside, California, where at one point more than 400 radios per month were manufactured. Swan merged with Cubic Corporation in 1967, and Johnson managed Swan as its subsidiary until 1973. He later founded Atlas Radio in 1974, which produced smaller solid state radios for mobile communications.

Swan’s entry into the amateur radio equipment market consisted of transceivers primarily designed for the newly popular SSB mode. The first ten transceivers were serial numbered from 101-1 to 110-1, with the first nine being model SW-120 on 20 meters, and the tenth being the first SW-140 on 40 meters. The SW-175 covered the 75 meter band. Following these single-band units, Swan introduced the model 240 covering three bands, then the model 400 covering five bands with a separate VFO. In the mid-1960s, the more full-featured models 350 and 500 were introduced; the 500 was a more costly version with higher output power. They used an outboard AC power supply with built-in speaker, the model 117C. Improved versions of the 350 and 500 continued into the early 1970s and were Swan’s best selling models.

A distinguishing design feature of that generation was the dual rate, gear-driven tuning dial: a front knob provided slow tuning while a metal outer collar enabled faster tuning. Additional single-band transceivers included the 6-meter Swan 250 (1965) and the 160-meter Swan 160X. In 1969 the smaller model 260 (also named “Cygnet”) could operate from 110 V AC or 12 V DC for fixed or mobile use. It was followed by the model 270 and 270B, which required AC power. The Swan 500 was later upgraded to models 700 and 750, with styling changes after the Cubic merger. Swan also produced a matched receiver and transmitter pair, the 600R and 600T, which offered better performance but were produced in far fewer numbers.

Reader's Guide

Swan Electronics holds a significant place in amateur radio history as a manufacturer that made SSB communication accessible to a broad base of operators. By producing transceivers that were less expensive than the competing Collins KWM-2, Swan enabled many amateurs to adopt the newly popular single sideband mode. The company’s production volume—more than 400 radios per month at its peak and over 80,000 transceivers sold overall—indicates substantial market penetration. The best-selling models, the 350 and 500, were noted for solid performance as basic SSB stations, even if they lacked the higher selectivity and tuning accuracy of pricier units. Their dual-rate tuning dial was a distinctive feature that facilitated both fine and rapid frequency changes. The later addition of models like the 260 Cygnet allowed for mobile operation, broadening the user base. The separate 600R/600T receiver and transmitter pair, though produced in smaller numbers, represented a higher-performance option. Many Swan radios remain in service today, restored and operated by vintage amateur radio enthusiasts, which speaks to the durability and enduring appeal of the equipment. The company’s legacy is also carried forward through its founder, who later started Atlas Radio, continuing the tradition of mobile-oriented solid state designs.

Did You Know?

• Herbert G. Johnson built the first ten Swan transceivers in a garage in Benson, Arizona.
• The Swan 500 was a more costly version of the 350 with higher output power.
• The Swan 260 Cygnet could operate from either 110 V AC or 12 V DC.
• More than 80,000 Swan transceivers were sold during the company's lifetime.