New project getting started

[w4ron]

I've bought a 30s vintage homebrew ham receiver that I plan
to restore.
I'm hoping someone out there has seen this set before and knows
who built it. It was bought from the estate of a SK ham that
lived somewhere on the Jersey Shore.

It's really nicely built with the exception of not having
any decent labeling of the front panel controls.
Whoever built was a real pro, the wire lacing is first class.
I seem to remember seeing ads in 30s QST and such for the little
metal tags with function names on them for use on home built radios.
Does anyone know of a source for these old tags, OR does anyone
have a stash of them in their junk box???

Right now all it has for control tags are old style Dymo labels.
I need tags for; Volume/AF Gain, RF Gain, CW Osc, Power, H.V. On/Stand By-Operate, Crystal Filter, Headphones. Or variations of these.

I've started a web page to document the restoration project, check it out if you're interested.
http://radioheaven.homestead.com/HomeBrewRX.html
_________________
73, Ron W4RON

http://radioheaven.homestead.com/index.html
http://cloughbrengle.homestead.com/

[K9STH]

I looked through the ARRL Handbooks that I have from the 1930s and did not see anything like your receiver. It could have been an article in QST. However, there were a couple of other magazines, like Radio, that also had a lot of construction articles.

Glen, K9STH

[WB2WIK]

I hate those metal tag labels, they look lousy in my opinion. But "Dymo" labels don't look very good, either!:o

What I do for a "professional look" on very nice homebrewed equipment is make my own artwork on the computer then bring it to a sheet metal shop to have them make a silk screen. Using that, a squeegee and an ink color I choose, they can silk screen the panel with permanent lettering that looks terrific and won't rub off (they can bake it on, presuming you have the panel removed from the chassis). Total cost is very little, and the result is a panel that looks like it came from Collins or similar commercial manufacturer.

[k7mh]

I am betting that it wasn't a home brewed receiver.
It may have some newer parts like the caps mentioned, the fuse, maybe the switches on the front panel and the labelmaker labels but something about it just says it wasn't home brewed to me.
I guess it is like you said about the wiring job, it looks too good to be home brew to me, and not just the wiring job. Everything looks to well aligned up and centered in the pictures. Tube sockets, all the screw holes etc. I bet all the screws and nuts are exactly the same if they have the same job.
What to you indicates that it is home brewed? It could be that any manufacturers decal or sticker met the same fate as the control tags years ago. It will be interesting to see if there are any worn control tag markings under the labels.

[W7KI]

Based on the tube complement I'd guess the radio was made between 1936 and 1941. The case reminds me of a Hammarlund Comet Pro albeit that radio is a from a few years earlier. The tuning dial is similar to a National AC SW-3 from the early 30's. I'd look at Hammarlund, National, and Signal Corps radios from the late 30's. It would be nice to see a zoomed-in photo of the series of adjustment knobs inside the radio. Perhaps the knob labeling might give some clues.

[w4ron]

It was a nice rainy Sunday afternoon here, I spent most of it
in the workshop getting started cleaning the receiver.
I've added some photos to the project page, click on the
link button at the top of this page to see them.

http://radioheaven.homestead.com/HomeBrewRX.html


73, W4Ron

[W4HAY]

I'd like to see the schematic of that set, especially regarding that 6F6 next to the front panel. That's an audio output tube and looks a bit out of place in the RF chain. :confused:

I've seen some '50s-era sets that used output tubes as regenerative detectors, and one even with a 1625 (http://schmarder.com/radios/tube/1625-allwave.htm).

[w4ron]

Since I started this project I've been posting notes about it to various
email groups.
In an effort not not to annoy those that are not interested in what I'm
doing,
I decided to created a new web page, a project notebook of sorts.

I have included all the main messages I have sent so far via email with
the dates sent.
When I add a new entry I will post it to the top of the page so it's not
necessary to go to the bottom to see the latest addition.
Here is a link to the notebook page,
http://radioheaven.homestead.com/HBRXnotebook.html
There will also be link on both of the other project pages.

So now all you have to do to see what's the latest on the project
is just go to the project notebook page.

Thanks bunch for everyone's support and suggestions.

73, W4Ron

[WA7KKP]

Looks like quite the project. The use of the four tuning caps instead of one ganged condenser (yes that's what they used to be called) looks like it might be a bit awkward.

From the tube layout, I'd guesstimate that the design is probably very similar to the National HRO, but with the plug-in coils being separate instead of in that nice metal box.

As far as labels, why not get one of those new Dymo labelers, that does the multiple fonts? Most of them are black letters on white . . . and if you get the radio working pretty well, then consider either stamps (expensive), or dry transfer lettering, available at most art/graphics supply places.

Gary WA7KKP

[wa9cwx]

VERY nice looking radio, and, vote me in as one who says you are looking at at either.....

A. A commercial radio.

B. A 'prototype' or professional receiver to test out a particular set of circuit(s).

C. A receiver built by an engineer/partner using company parts and equipment as a 'perk'.

D. A 'Homebrew' radio built using company parts/equipment on the 'sly'.

C. OR, one damn fine Homebrewer, of which there were (and ARE) a few around....!

Frank

[w4ron]

Looks like quite the project. The use of the four tuning caps instead of one ganged condenser (yes that's what they used to be called) looks like it might be a bit awkward.
Gary WA7KKP

Look again Gary, it does have ganged tuning, the individual condensers are for adjusting the tracking of each section.

73, W4Ron

[w5dwh]

Most antique radio restorers, "restuff electrolytics". You cut the bottom off of the old cap, install new electrolytics inside and then remount the cap.

No one will ever know that it contains new caps.

Your other choice is finding a NOS cap from sources like-

Antique Electronics Supply, Radio Daze, etc.....

Good luck