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Radio
Boulevard
Rebuilding
Vintage Radio Communication Equipment Featuring Equipment from: Wireless
Era,... Roaring Twenties,... Classic Thirties |
Latest Additions - New Photos, New
Scans and New Written Information
(past 60 days) - Link goes to article where new addition is located
Jan 20 - New Info & Expanded Write-up +
Photos - USN RAO Series,
National & Wells Gardner versions - for history -
National NC-100 Series - Part 1,
for restoration of RAO-3 -
NC-100 Series Part 4 |
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Full Length Articles on Wireless Era Equipment |
Details
the discovery of Dodd's Spark Station inside a steamer trunk in Reno,
Nevada in November 1999. Details on Dodd's equipment, the station's location, how it
worked and where it is now. Lots of photographs including original
vintage B&W photos of Dodd using his station in 1912, photos of Dodd's 1909
Award-winning Station, other vintage Dodd photographs plus
contemporary photos of the Dodd station as it was set up on display in the Western
Historic Radio Museum. Appendix includes write-up of Dodd's 1923
homebrew 3-tube Cockaday Receiver. |
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Part Two
- Engineering Upgrades, Serial letter dilemma, Restoration hints, How to
neutralize the MU-1, Performance testing Early model CTPB and Late Model
RJNA. Lots of photos. |
Comprehensive history of the
design and manufacturing of these classic shipboard receivers. Detailed restoration
write-ups. Performance testing the SE-1420B and the IP-501-A. How to set
"Critical Coupling" and attain real DX performance. NDB Station Log for
the IP-501-A. Lots of photos. |
Vintage Long Wave Receivers |
Detailed history write-ups and performance evaluations on several different models of pre-WWII, WWII and post-WWII LW receivers with examples from the US Navy, US Army Signal Corps, Radiomarine Corp., Mackay Radio and Telegraph Co., Hammarlund Mfg. Co., Collins Radio Co. and National Company. Includes info on using vintage LW gear on 630 meters. Lots of information and lots of photos. Part One - Radiomarine IP-501-A, Mackay Radio Type 105A, National Company RIO, USN RAA-3, USN RAG-1, Hammarlund SP-100LX, USN RAZ-1, USN RAK-7 & RAL-7, Part Two - USN RBL-5, Signal Corps BC-344-D, Radiomarine Corp. AR-8510, USN RBA-1 (with rebuild info and reception log,) RBA-6, Mackay Radio Type RC-123 & Type 3001A, Part Three - Collins R-389/URR (with rebuild info,) Hammarlund SP-600VLF-31 (with performance details,) RACAL RA-17 with RA-237-B L.F. Converter (performance details and reception log,) Using Selective Level Meters as Long Wave Receivers, Other Communication Receivers with some Long Wave Coverage Part Four -
What to listen to below 500kc, USN VLF Stations,
SAQ 17.2kc, 630M
amateur
operation. 2007 Photo-tour of Loran-C "Master" Station in Fallon, Nevada. NDB stations in Nevada.
Complete NDB reception log. |
Full Length Articles on Radio Communication & Amateur Radio Equipment |
Comprehensive history of the design and manufacturing of the HRO. Serial number log for determining build date of your HRO. Several restoration write-ups. Lots of photos and information. Part One - History of the development of the HRO receiver, detailed descriptions on pre-WWII HRO Models, WWII HRO Models, post-WWII HRO Models Part Two - Serial Number Analysis and Log, Current Owners of D & E run HROs, Chronologically listed Engineering Upgrades, HRO Accessories - Power Supplies, Speakers, Coil Boxes Part Three - Guild to Restoring HRO Receivers, Gear Box, PW-D Dial, Coil Set Details, Restoration Articles on 1935 HRO SN H-103, 1940 HRO Senior SN 463-K
Part Four
- Restoration
articles on 1935 HRO SN E-50, 1935 HRO SN F-16, 1946 HRO-5C SN 184 0009,
Collector's Gallery of HRO Photos, Performance Improvement Suggestions, Conclusion |
Comprehensive history of the design and manufacturing. Details on most of the sixty+ different types of Moving Coil receivers. Includes details on the Airport Receivers, the WWII versions and the post-WWII versions. Serial Number Analysis and Log. Several detailed restoration write-ups. Serial number analysis and log. Lots of photos and lots of information.
Part One
- Design History, profiles on NC-100 (1936) to NC-2-40D (1947) Receivers,
Airport Receivers (1937 through 1948), WWII Receivers USN RAO Series, RBH
Series, Signal Corps NC-100ASD, USCG R-116 Part Three - Restoration Write-ups: NC-200 Silver Anniversary, NC-100XA, NC-80X, NC-101X, US Army NC-100ASD
Part Four
- Restoration Write-ups: Airport Receiver RCE,
USN RAO-3, USN RAO-7 |
Comprehensive history of design and manufacturing. Includes the SX-28A, AN/GRR-2, R-45/ARR-7 and other receivers. Serial number analysis and log allows dating your SX-28. Restoration information. Performance comparisons. Lots of photos. Part One - History of the design, the SX-28, SX-28A, AN/GRR-2, R-45/ARR-7, R-12 Speaker, PM-23 Speaker, Estimated Production Quantities, Serial Number Log
Part Two - Engineering
Changes Chronologically Listed, Variations
of the SX-28 receiver, Restoration suggestions, White Dial Myth, Performance comparisons, Using the SX-28
today |
Detailed history of design and manufacturing. Profile of XE1G ham station and the first amateur diversity receiver. DD-1 prototype information. Serial number analysis. List of current owners of known DD-1 receivers. Restoration information. Performance details. Lots of photos. Part One - Detailed history of the DD-1 development, XE1G diversity receiver (inspiration for the DD-1,) Prototype DD-1, Production DD-1
Part Two
- Restoration of the DD-1, Serial Number Log, Collector's Gallery of
DD-1 photos |
Comprehensive history of the U.S. Navy's
first superheterodyne long wave receiver. Includes a comprehensive
history of the origins of RCA and their relationship with the US Navy.
Also, origins of Radiomarine Corp, RCA Manufacturing Company, Inc and
RCA-Victor. Continuing Restoration of RAA-3 SN:
64 - a journal-type write-up of the "ground-up" restoration of
this behemoth of a Navy receiver. Weighing 465 pounds and comprising
three individual sections, this ultra-rare receiver was stored outside,
wrapped in a tarp. A real restoration challenge. Lots of photos. |
Comprehensive history of the AR-88 family of receivers with circuit details and variations in construction. Includes details on AR-88D, AR-88LF, AR-88F, CR-91, CR-91A, CR88, CR88A, CR-88B, including triple diversity receivers RDM, DR-89, OA-58. Sweep Alignments, Restoration Hints, Serial Number Analysis. Collector Photo Gallery. Lots of photos and lots of information. Part One - Comprehensive History of design and manufacturing, Russian hams using the AR-88, General information on the various models Part Two - Triple Diversity Models, Serial Number Analysis, Restoration Suggestions Part Three - Sweep Alignment of the IF (includes photos of the actual 'scope patterns using modern equipment,) RF Tracking alignment, Restoration of a typical AR-88D
Part Four -
Collector Gallery of AR-88 photos,
Diversity Operation, Performance Comparisons, Remote
Standby non-invasive mod |
Comprehensive history of the AR-60
receivers, includes all RCA versions and the U.S. Coast Guard CGR-32 versions. Circuit
details, alignment, adjustments, critical analysis of the infamous 1936
"R-9" magazine review of the AR-60, Serial Number Analysis. Collector
Photo Gallery. Lots of photos. |
Comprehensive history of the Super Pro receivers from 1935 to 1948. Includes SP-10, SP-100, SP-200, SP-400, BC-779, BC-794, BC-1004, SPA, R-270 Wickes Eng. version and other military versions. Includes special appendices on the Comet Pro receiver and HQ-120X/RBG receivers. Restoration details on SP-10, SP-100 and SP-400 receivers. Collector Photo Gallery. Lots of photos and lots of information. Part One - History of the Pre-WWII Super Pro, details on SP-10, SP-100 Series, SP-150, SP-200 Series, Military Versions, SP-400 Series, Power Supplies, Power Cable, Serial Number Analysis and Serial Number Log Part Two - Chronological Listing of Engineering Changes, Restoration hints, History of the Louis Geisler Modifications (1947 to 1950s,) Restoration of SP-10 from WMI, Restoration of SP-100X Part Three - Restoration of SP-100LX, Rebuilding the SP-400-SX, Collector Gallery Photos, Appendices on the Comet Pro and HQ-120X/RBG
|
Collins Radio Company - 32V Series of Medium Power Amateur Transmitters (1946 to 1954) Comprehensive look at the entire series of 32V transmitters. Includes
32V-1, 32V-2 and 32V-3 plus descriptions of early and late production
variations. Operational idiosyncrasies and mechanical complexities.
32V-2 Pi-L network problems and solutions. Is the 32V-3 the best of the
lot? Details on how to remove the 32V series front panels (it's more
complicated than you'd think,) rebuilding the MC slide rule dial
assembly with lots of photos. Restoration write-ups on the 32V-1, 32V-2
and the 32V-3. Lots of photos and information. |
Collins Radio Company - 51J Series of Communications Receivers
Detailed look at all of the different
receivers that comprise the 51J Series, including the 51J-1, 51J-2,
51J-3, 51J-4 and the R-388/URR. Production history, variations, circuit
changes, alignments and more. Detailed rebuilding information on the
51J-2 and R-388. 70E-15 PTO suggestions and link to Bill Orr's 1969 CQ
article on the R-388 PTO. Lots of photos and information. |
Comprehensive history of Patterson Radio
Company and 1930s Los Angeles radio manufacturing. Detailed circuit analysis,
red-lined corrected schematic, frequency calibration chart (so you know
where your PR-10 is tuned.) Restoration
details on Velvet Tuning rebuild and more. Collector Photo Gallery. Lots
of photos and information. |
Comprehensive history of Hallicrafters'
Super Pro, the R-274 receiver, circuit description, performance
analysis, detailed comparison between the R-274 and the Hammarlund
SP-600, pros and cons of each receiver. You can VOTE for your favorite "Super
Pro" - either Hallicrafters' or Hammarlund's. Voting results are
shown (you might be surprised at the results.) Lots of photos and
information. |
RACAL - RA-17, RA-117 - British High-Performance Receivers Comprehensive history of RACAL Engineering Ltd (and the various other names the company was known by.) The RA-17 and the Wadley Loop, RA-17 versions (over 40 different versions,) the RA-117 design, RA-117 versions (a lot of them,) the RA-6117 (made in the USA,) the RA-6217 RACAL's first Solid-State receiver. Adding remote standby to the RA-6117, How to set correct power transformer primary voltage, Receiver performance. RA-237-B Low Frequency Converter set up and operation with the RA-17C-12 receiver. Performance and NDB reception log. Lots of photos (Ray Brown, Jock Cunningham, Dr. Trevor Wadley, Ernest Harrison) and lots of information. |
Navy Dept-Bureau of Engineering/Hygrade Sylvania - RAG-1
Serial Number 1 - TRF w/ Tracking BFO
Long Wave Receiver Comprehensive history of the US Navy's first TRF with Tracking BFO Long Wave Receiver from 1933. History of the Hygrade Sylvania Corporation. This article is in a journal format that documents the restoration process of this very rare receiver. Challenges included a severely damaged chassis and a major bend of the front panel. Equally challenging was the total lack of documentation, no schematic, no manual. Lots of photos show how the project progressed from a non-functional derelict into a fully operational LW receiver. Reception Test Logs. Comparison of the RAG versus the RAK receiver. |
Full-Length Articles on Rebuilding Vintage Radio Communication Equipment |
Part One - History of the R-390 and R-390A, description of each module and basic rebuilding information, Main Frame, RF Deck, IF Deck, AF Module, PS Module, PTO, Lots of photos Part Two - Front panel restoration, Contractor list by year, Alignment Suggestions, Performance expectations Part Three - Miscellaneous Information, Restoration - detailed restoration profiles of several R-390A receivers, (2) 1967 EAC versions, Arvin R-725 version, Diversity R-390As
Part Four -
Restoration of other receivers in the R-390A
family, includes R-648 (Airborne R-390A,) R-389 (Low Frequency version,)
R-392 (GRC-19 Rcvr) plus LS-206, Security Dial Cover, CV-979 cabinet |
Rebuilding the ART-13 Transmitter Part One - History of the ATC and ART-13, Accessories, Testing Prospective Purchases, Powering the ART-13 with a Dynamotor, PP-1104-C High Current Power Supply details Part Two - Powering the ART-13 with a homebrew AC Power Supply, Three AC Power Supply Plans with Schematics, Updates to AC power supplies, Mechanical Servicing of the Autotune Part Three - Restoration profile of the USAAF ART-13A Basket Case, Restoration profile of the USN Collins ART-13 "typical restoration" Part
Four -
Restoration of the $10 (Wasp's Nest) ART-13A, Operating
the ART-13 on the air, Operating on 630 Meters, Details on the CU-32 Low
Frequency Loading Coil (tuner), Lots and lots of photos |
Rebuilding the Hammarlund SP-600 Receivers Part One - History of the design, Overview of the task, Rebuilding the RF Platform, Replacing Capacitors in IF, Xtal Osc, Conversion Osc, Chassis, Lots of photos Part Two - Miscellaneous Electronic Work, Rebuilding the Carrier Level/Audio Level Meter
Part Three
- Cosmetic Restoration,
Panel, Cabinet,
Alignment, Expected Performance, Collector Gallery
Photos |
Rebuilding the BC-348 Series of Receivers Part One - Rebuilding and Retrofitting the DM-28 Dynamotor into the Single Ended Tube Versions of the BC-348 (Q, N or J only,) with schematics Part Two - Rebuilding and Retrofitting the DM-28 Dynamotor into the Grid Cap Versions of the BC-348 (all other versions,) Retrofitting the DM-24 into the BC-224 versions, with schematics
Part Three -
Performance Expectations for Single Ended
and Grid Cap Versions, AC power supply Enhancement with designs and
schematics, Wrinkle Finish painting, Duplicating Inspection Stamps |
Rebuilding the AN/GRC-19 Mobile Transmitter-Receiver
History of the design, overview of the
T-195, testing and repairing the T-195, lots of photos and information, Testing and repairing the R-392 receiver,
GRC-19 Operation suggestions |
Rebuilding the T-368 Military Transmitter Part One - History of the design, circuit description, testing and repair of the three decks, testing and repair of cabinet harness Part
Two -
Powering Up the T-3, Operating the T-3, profile on the BC-939
Antenna Tuner, profile on the SWR Bridge/Watt Meter, Lots of photos |
Detailed information on
how to power the BC-375 to avoid problems that include "FMing,"
non-symmetrical modulation, low power output and more. How to perform
"dynamic neutralization" to eliminate audio distortion due to parasitic
oscillations. Interfacing the BC-375 with the BC-348 receiver. Operating
the BC-375 on 630 meters CW. Includes set-up data. |
Nevada Radio History |
Arthur Raycraft, Nevada's "Father of
Wireless," Raycraft's stations in Tonopah and Manhattan, Nevada (1911,) photo of Raycraft raising his antenna in Tonopah
(ca: 1920) |
Radio Telegraphy and Vintage Mikes - Photo Galleries |
Part One - Hand Keys, includes Spark Keys, Boston Keys, Early Radio Keys, Leg Keys, Flame-proof Keys, Recently Made Keys, "British-style" Morse, Land Line Telegraph Equipment, Sounders, Keys, Relays, KOBs Part Two - Semi-Automatic Keys or Bugs, History of Vibroplex showing many early models, Mecograph, ATOZ, J-36 versions, Speed-X Radio Mfg, Speed-X Mfg, Speed-X E.F. Johnson, McElroy Mfg, Buzza, Kenco, Speed Bug, Dow-Key, 73 Bug and more - Learning Tools, records, oscillators, Instructographs |
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Radio Equipment from 1909 up to 1960+ - Photo Galleries |
Commercial and Amateur Wireless Apparatus 1909 up to 1921 - Dodd's Wireless Stations, Murdock, Signal, Klitzen, Kennedy, Radiomarine Corp and more |
Broadcast Entertainment Radios 1922 up to 1940 - Compiled and Edited from WHRM's "Roaring 20s Radios," "Classic 30s Radios" and "Console Floor Model Radios" - RCA Radiola, Atwater-Kent, Crosley, Grebe, Federal, FADA, Infra+Dyne, Zenith, Philco, Pre-war Plastic, Crystal Sets, Victor Talking Machine Company, Scott Radio Laboratories, McMurdo Silver,...lots of photos and lots of information. |
Pre-War Ham Gear 1928 up to 1941 Part One - 1928 to 1935, includes Pilot Radio, National Co, RME, Hammarlund, Patterson, Breting, RCA, Hallicrafters, Tobe Deutschmann and more
Part Two
-
1936 to 1941, includes
Hallicrafters, RME, National, Hammarlund, Patterson, Breting, Meissner and
more |
Post-War Ham Gear 1946 up to 1960+ - National Co, Hallicrafters, Collins, Johnson Viking Desk KW, Johnson "Navigator Deluxe," Eldico, Homebrews including the W6MIT "1625 Rig" |
WWII Communication Equipment Part One - US Navy Equipment, includes RAZ-1, DZ-2, RAK&RAL, RBA, RBB, RBC,RBG, RBH, RCD, RCH and more, US Navy Shipboard and Shore Entertainment Receivers, Part Two - Radiomarine Corp WWII gear, US Coast Guard gear, US Army Signal Corps, USAAF Airborne Gear, WWII Radio Test Gear
Part Three - Ally Radio
Communications Equipment - Marconi/RAF R1155 Receiver, Kingsley Radio
Co. AR7 "HRO knock-off," Marconi/RN C.R. 300/1 Navy Receiver, Canadian
Marconi Co. CSR-5 RCN Receiver |
Military &
Commercial
Communication Equipment 1930 to 1941 & 1946 to 1960s
Includes Airport and Airways Receivers, Shipboard Receivers, General Purpose Receivers, Pre-WWII and Post-WWII Military Radio Equipment Part One - 1930 to 1958 - National Co Airport Rcvrs RHM, AGS, RIO, RHQ, RCA AVR-11A, Mackay Radio 105A & 101A, USN RAG-1, USN RAA-3, USCG-RCA CGR-32 (AR-60,) RCA AR-88 family, Radiomarine AR-8506-B, AR-8510, AR-8516, Hammarlund SP-100LX Part Two - 1949 to 1960s - Collins 51J Series, R-388, R-390, R-390A, R-389, R-648, R-725, Hammarlund SP-600 Series, Signal Corps-Hallicrafters R-274, TMC GPR-90RXD, National NC-400, RACAL RA-17, Nems-Clarke VHF Receivers, Zenith Morale Radios R-520 & R520A, PRD-1 Direction Finding Set, GRC-19 Transmitter-Receiver, T-368 Transmitter |
Header Artwork: from "Magic Dials" 1939 by Lowell Thomas
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Radio
Boulevard
Western Historic Radio Museum
Vintage Radio Communication Equipment Rebuilding & Restoration Articles,
Vintage Radio History and WHRM Radio Photo Galleries
1909 - 1969
- 60 years of Radio Technology -
This website created and maintained by: Henry Rogers - Radio Boulevard, Western Historic Radio Museum © 1997/2021