I'd like to build a 50s-style station around a Viking Valiant that I hope to get restored and running between honeydews. I have several boat anchor receivers sitting in storage waiting to be restored and used, and would like to select one age-appropriate receiver to pair with the Valiant in a retro CW/AM station. Among the candidate receivers are: Hammarlund SP600, HQ-180A, HQ-170, Hallicrafters R-274/FRR, SX-42, SX-43, SX-96, Knight R-100A, National NC-125, Heathkit RX-1, etc. etc.
Let's consider each one:
SP600 - great top-level general coverage receiver.
HQ-180A - Good general-coverage receiver.
HQ-170 - Similar to HQ-180 but amateur-bands-only. I'd prefer it over the '180 due to the better tuning rate and amateur-band focus.
R-274/FRR - Hallicrafters' version of the SP-600. Nice to look at but IMHO not the best for CW.
SX-42 - Good general coverage receiver from the late 1940s, but not my first choice, given the other options.
SX-43 - Lower-cost version of the SX-42 - same vintage.
SX-96 - Predecessor of the SX-100. Best choice of the Hallicrafters listed.
Knight R-100A - Bargain-basement general coverage receiver; nowhere close to the above.
National NC-125 - Mid-line receiver from the early 1950s, just above the R-100A
Heathkit RX-1 - very good, a top choice.
Looking over the options, to me, it would be either the HQ-170 or the RX-1, due to performance, features, and vintage.
73 de Jim, N2EY