Motorola System series 500 AM-SSB Citizens Band Mobile CM550

[UMFJ]

Hello all.
I certainly hope I am not wasting anyone's time here but I need some info on this item I have.
Apparently, back in the day when family vacations by car was a thing my dad bought a brand new Motorola CM550. The thing is that I have only discovered this still in the box and never installed after his passing.
Was wondering if this is really worth anything or not. I've checked various places ebay being one. I realize this is old tech but its new old stock.
I am still learning this site and can send pics.
Any honest information I can get will be helpful.
Thanks for your time.

 

[MTS2000des]

Those are highly desirable in both the CB and Motorola radio collectible world. Value of course depends on the buyer, but it wouldn't be out of possibility to see $200-400 in the right marketplace. They are fairly rare as they were very expensive when new and didn't sell in high numbers like more lower priced Cobra, Realistic, Midland and other "mainstream" consumer electronic brands did.

 

[UMFJ]

I appreciate your feedback. Thanks for that.

 

[mmckenna]

If it is brand new and in the original box, never installed, you've got something there.

Motorola fans will pay a ton of money for rare radios like that.
CB guys will pay a ton of money for a brand new radio from that time that hasn't been abused.

I'd think you'd get a pretty good chunk of change for that if you find the right buyer.

 

[prcguy]

It should be thoroughly tested as many of these radios have problems after 45 years, even if new in box.

 

[UMFJ]

Thanks for that input. It is the real deal, new in box. Never used/installed. Sat on a shelf buried for about 50 years. Still has all the original paperwork, registration card, wire schematics, temporary permit, etc. Heck the little screws that hold mic clip to the unit are all still in the little baggy stapled shut.

I will definitely have it professionally looked at and tested.

Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.

Eh.... Apparently, I cannot attach files. I keep getting an error message of the attachments are too large. I will try something different...

 

[mikewazowski]

I just picked up a Motorola CB555 myself which is the base station version of what you've got. Receives well but transmit is way, way down. Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet.

 

[steve9570]

I had one back in the 70s they were cool. looked just like a commercial Moto radio.
same white color with white Moto mic. Was only 23 channels later I had the same rig with 40 ch

Worth a lot if its like you say if id new still in the box.
Steve

 

[UMFJ]

I appreciate all the input. What is irritating me now is trying to figure out how to post the pics on here. I get to 82% downloaded then it errors out. I'm thinking of posting them on a different site and just having the link here to it. I am checking to see if that is against the rules...

 

[prcguy]

I had one back in the 70s they were cool. looked just like a commercial Moto radio.
same white color with white Moto mic. Was only 23 channels later I had the same rig with 40 ch

Worth a lot if its like you say if id new still in the box.
Steve

The white or beige color Motorola CBs were a different series, either Mocat or 2000 model #s and were made in Schaumburg, IL. The 500 series in this thread were made in Japan and the mobiles had a very dark grey case.

 

[steve9570]

Thanks for reminding me. It was the Mocat I had made in IL. Had the white 23 ch and then the beige 40 ch. Like I said the did not look like CB radios so it made them kind of cool.
For the 70s.

 

[UMFJ]

I'm tired of trying to upload pics on here. Email me directly for pics. jdb089@gmail.com

 

[rf_patriot200]

Should have kept my 555 ,and 550 for the nostalgia but was sick of 11m. Hindsight I guess, but were great radios at the time. 20w pep on both.

 

[mastr]

I just picked up a Motorola CB555 myself which is the base station version of what you've got. Receives well but transmit is way, way down. Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet.

If you decide it is not worth much effort, I need all the 5 right side front panel knobs, mine went MIA- probably pulled off and lost by curious little hands.

 

[Golay]

Should have kept my 555 ,and 550 for the nostalgia but was sick of 11m. Hindsight I guess, but were great radios at the time. 20w pep on both.

I remember buying one of those mobiles just because i thought it was cool to have a CB with "Motorola" on the microphone.

 

[mikewazowski]

If you decide it is not worth much effort, I need all the 5 right side front panel knobs, mine went MIA- probably pulled off and lost by curious little hands.

It might not be worth much effort but with a working receiver, I'm sure it's worth something to someone out there.

 

[rf_patriot200]

I remember buying one of those mobiles just because i thought it was cool to have a CB with "Motorola" on the microphone.

Both the 555 and the 550, were interesting as far as 11meter stuff goes, because there was a mystery header on the main board in both of mine, that had little info about it. I suspect there might have been a selective calling option at one point, but I didn't have it. Great quality as far as Audio, selectivity, adj. channel rejection and such. :}

 

[kb0uxv]

I just picked up a Motorola CB555 myself which is the base station version of what you've got. Receives well but transmit is way, way down. Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet.

That is a common problem with CB 555 and 550 (like you said, they are the same radio, if you open a 555 there is the chassis of a 550 inside of it). The PLL unlocks especially as the heat comes up. When the radio is cold TX may be OK but as you transmit the meter falls and eventually is zero. A cap feeding the PLL is the fault point. I'd have to read back in my old notes to find which one. If you are trying to trouble shoot check the area feeding voltage to the PLL. The AM only CM540 is a different story, thats the AM only scanning CB. Way ahead of its time, the scan rate is still faster than many modern radios. Those are well built and as far as I know don't have a known fault like the 550/555. In all Motorola CB radios from the early MOCATs to the late System 500s, the weakest point is the microphone element. Its a plastic housing sandwiched between the plastic face and internal circuit board with the amp (like commercial radios, its voltage comes from the radio and not a battery). The outside of the element has two very fine pickup wires that connect to the amp board. If the mic is damaged or roughly handled those very small wires will break at the element and re-soldering that small wire is nearly impossible. Adapting aftermarket mics can be difficult due to voltage from the radio, plus some mics like the CM540 have channel functions on the mic. Most Motorola CBs especially the System 500 line, use dual sided circuit boards so working on them is a challenge. If your tip temp is too hot you will wreck the pad on the other side of the board.

 

[mikewazowski]

Thanks, I'll check that out but I'm pretty sure it happens right on power up.