In 1961, for around $700,  you could have an all mode receiver and transmitter from Hallicrafters.  If you could go back to March of that year, you would find that exact combo in the shack of W0BXI. 

The transmitter he had was the HT-37, a complete table top rig providing SSB, AM, and CW output on 80 through 10 meters.  It featured 144 watts plate input on sideband, both sidebands transmitted on AM, and included a built in VFO.  Price: $450.

The receiver was the SX-111, which featured selectable side band operation and covered 80 through 10 meters.  Price: $250.

In addition to the receiver and transmitter, the Heath Reflected Power Meter is seen on top of the HT-37 on the right side of the operating desk.  W0BXI used the popular C-D-R rotator model AR-2 to turn his beam, which can be seen just to the left of the HT-37.  The microphone was the Astatic 10-D dynamic.


W0BXI circa 1961