[Boatanchors] Revived a National NC-44

[David Stinson]

Just revived this very clean, nice National NC-44.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4sKWZv9fjtECSifS6

Much less expensive than the famous HRO series of
that time, it was an "intro" receiver, very like my
first Novice receiver in 1970, a Hallicrafters S-120.
Cleaned the band switch and pots, examined for
broken wires and Hi-resistance grounds.
Someone had already done a good job re-capping
the rig, He used Orange drops, which I dislike for
aesthetic reasons, but he did nice work so I forgive.

If you're going to revive one,
Get the manual and read it:

https://tinyurl.com/48hcbc8r

This set had a dead LO.MIXER 6K8, a weak 25L6
audio output and a very bad case of
"The Golden Diddle-Stick" (severe mis-alignment).
Not real sensitive above 20 meters, but looks and
sounds sweet.

If you have an NC-44 on the shelf,
remember three things:

1. If the regular NC-44, it's a "transformerless"
design with the chassis connected to the AC line.
They left room for mounting an isolation transformer
to cure this, and you should. For details, google.

Speaker jack has B+ on it and is designed for
a 1500 ohm load.  Little 8-ohm speaker
won't cut it.  If you have an older tube-type
"All American Five" with the 50L6, 35L6, 25L6,50C5
or, if a transformer type with 6V6/6AQ5 etc.
or similar output tube, salvage the audio output
transformer (connects to the speaker on one side,
and between the Audio Output plate and screen
on the other).  Connect the NC-44 "Speaker" terminals
to the "tube" side of the audio transformer and your
speaker to the "Speaker" side.  You'll get all the
audio you can stand.

3. Don't reach around the back blind. all the connectors
back there have B+ Probably not enough kill you unless
you're working in the bathtub, but enough to maybe
make you wet your pants.

Don't expect it to be a Yea-Com-Wood
"computer with an antenna."
It's fun and easy to fix,
  and it looks cool-ish-ly retro.

GL OM ES 73 DE Dave AB5S

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