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Radio
Boulevard
Rebuilding
Vintage Radio Communication Equipment Featured
Equipment:
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Latest Additions - New Photos, New
Scans and New Written Information
(past 90 days, more or less) - Link goes to article where new addition is located
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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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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 20 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., National Company, RACAL and Eddystone. Includes info on using vintage LW gear on 630 meters. Lots of information and lots of photos. Part One - PRE-WWII RECEIVERS - Radiomarine IP-501-A, Mackay Radio Type 105A, National Company RIO, USN RAA-3, USN RAG-1, Federal Telegraph-USCG Type R-100, Hammarlund SP-100LX, USN-Radiomarine RAZ-1 Part Two - WWII RECEIVERS - Mackay Radio Type RC-123, USN RAK-7 & RAL-7, Signal Corps BC-344-D, RCA CR-91-Camden, USN RBL-5, Radiomarine Corp. AR-8510, USN RBA-1 (with rebuild info and reception log,) RBA-6 Part Three - POST-WWII RECEIVERS - Collins R-389/URR (with detailed rebuild info,) Mackay Radio Type 3001A, Hammarlund SP-600VLF-31 (with performance details,) RACAL RA-17 with RA-237-B L.F. Converter (performance details and reception log,) Eddystone Model 850/2 (performance details and reception log,) Using Selective Level Meters as Long Wave Receivers, Other Receivers with LW Coverage, The Ultimate LW Receiver Part Four -
What to listen to on Longwave -
Signals below 500kc, Dealing with RFI Noise on LW, Loop Antennas, USN VLF Stations,
LF Time Signal Stations, SAQ 17.2kc Alexanderson Alternator station, 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, US Army NC-100ASD
Part Four
- Restoration Write-ups: Airport Receiver RCE,
NC-101X, NC-80X |
Comprehensive history of design circuit and
manufacturing process. Includes the SX-28A, AN/GRR-2, R-45/ARR-7. Serial
number analysis and log allows dating your SX-28,
R-12 Speaker, PM-23 Speaker,
Estimated Production Quantities, Engineering Changes Chronologically Listed, Variations of the SX-28
receiver including the FCC-RID versions, Restoration suggestions, White Dial Myth, Performance
comparisons, Using the SX-28 today,
Restoration information, Performance comparisons, Lots of photos. |
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. DD-1 Collector's Photo Gallery. Lots of photos.
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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
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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. |
Navy Dept-Bureau of
Ships/National Co., Inc./Wells Gardner & Co. - RAO Series of WWII Radio
Receiving Equipment Comprehensive history of how the famous U.S. Navy RAO receiver that was built by National Company Inc. and by Wells Gardner & Co. developed from National's "Moving Coil" receivers - better known as "coil catacomb" receivers. Detailed information on each version of the RAO receivers, information on the RAO accessories including details on the USN RCX panoramic adaptor used with the RAO-7. Excruciating OCD details on two RAO restorations, Wells Gardner & Co. RAO-3 and National Company, Inc. RAO-7. Lots of photos and lots of information. |
Navy Dept-Bureau of Ships/Western
Electric Company - RU-16 Receiver and GF-11 Transmitter - Aircraft
Communication Equipment Comprehensive look at these long-lived receivers and transmitters that were built all through the 1930s by Aircraft Radio Corporation and by Western Electric Company. The RU-16 and GF-11 are the 1941 versions built just before WWII. Details on the circuits used and how the equipment was installed in single-seater aircraft and larger airplanes. Details on all of the ancillary pieces that are necessary for the operation of the receiver alone or both the receiver and transmitter. Section on rebuilding the metal tub capacitors used in both units. Performance details. Lots and lots of photos plus lots of detailed information. |
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, Four 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," Restoration of the $10 (Wasp's Nest) ART-13A Part Four - Refurbishing a Collins ATC that SAAMA MWO'd into ART-13, 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
History of the design, Circuit description,
Testing and Repair of the three decks, Testing and Repair of cabinet
harness, 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, Real Machine RTTY 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 |
Real Machine RTTY Teletype Corporation Machines - Model 19ASR, Model 28KSR Compact, Model 15KSR, Model 28KSR, WA7YBS RTTY Station, Lots of Terminal Units both Military and Civilian, ITTY - Internet teletype, WA7YBS homebrew TU updates |
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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
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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 Radio Communication Equipment Part One - WWII US Navy Equipment, includes RAZ-1, RAK&RAL, RBA, RBB, RBC, RBG, RBH, RCD, RCH and more, US Navy Shipboard and Shore Entertainment Receivers Part Two - WWII USN & USAAF Airborne Radio Comms and Air Nav Gear - includes DZ-2, RU-16/GF-11, ARB, ZB-3, Gibson Girls, BC-224, BC-348, BC-375, ART-13, BC1206, ARR-5, ARR-7, lots of info on Pre-WWII Air Navigation Part Three - WWII Radiomarine Corp WWII gear, US Coast Guard gear, US Army Signal Corps, WWII Radio Test Gear Part Four - WWII 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
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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, AR-8711, 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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If you enjoy using Radio Boulevard - Western Historic Radio Museum's website as an information resource and have found our photos, our hard to find information or our restoration articles helpful, then please consider a donation to the WHRM website. A small donation will help with the expenses of website operation, which includes website hosting fees, data transfer fees, research, photographing and composition. WHRM was a real museum that was "Open-to-the-Public" from 1994 to 2012 - eighteen years of operation. WHRM will continue to provide its on-line information source with this website, which has been in operation since 1997.
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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 © 1997/2022