[Hallicrafters] SX-88 -- Belt Source[s]?

[Phil Barnes-Roberts AD6PQ]

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Hi, all-

Hope you're all enjoying the holidays; the flu bug has made ours sort of a 
bust, but it looks like we'll live anyway.  The XYL (KE6PNC) got it a few 
days before me, and I'm hoping to see her get over it; then I'll know I'm 
getting close.

We've just came into possession at a Glendale estate sale (don't ask -- I 
don't know how she does it either!) of a fairly clean SX-88, S/N 150 (where 
do you find a Run#? It's not on the S/N plate.)  This one had (small) 
dust-mice, a few grey spots on the chassis, one weak tube, a couple of dead 
pilot lamps, and a missing (h) button and bandswitch belt.  Now I think I 
understand why the pilot lamps were left dead in there; less 
confusing.  Underneath, a few new caps, and bunches of Black Beauties still 
in there.  No obvious ugly mods.

After a good vacuuming (out on the porch), and running the tubes through 
the tester, we looked hard at the schematic, pulled the 0D3 VR150 
regulator, clipped a small B+ supply (HB, 350V at 75mA max) to its 4K 
current-limiting resistor, and let it sit overnight (actually a couple of 
overnights, broken by any time we were away from home, when we turned it 
off in precaution.)   The meter showed it holding the charge rather well, 
declining very slowly after the supply was turned off.  So we put a random 
couple of feet of wire on the Ant. screw and flipped it on.  IT HEARS.  WWV 
is at 10.2MC, so it will need some alignment, but it lives.  I can hear the 
skirts narrow when the different bandwidths are selected.

Now comes the tricky question; to do a fairly full cleanup and restoration, 
or turn it over to someone else who wants a project.  Don't think keeping 
will be an option.  The bezel is just fine, the front panel has some 
lettering rubbed off, like around the BFO (SSB/AM/CW) switch, as are some 
of the tube designations on the chassis.  The case is just fine, with a 
basic cleaning it shouldn't even need touch-up paint.  No cigarette-smoke 
stains on it, and I suspect it's lived mostly indoors.  (No way to tell 
now, just looks it.)

I've been in touch with Jim Jorgensen K9RJ, who had made up some 100+ 
toothed belts from the original molds (with modern materials), and Rob 
Hummel WA9ZTY, who was handling some of these parts, and they are both 
out.  Rob has gotten out of the business, and Jim has sold out all his stock.

Anybody sitting on a spare drive belt out there, you'd be willing to part 
with?  And an (h) button for the S-meter?

-- 73, Philip Barnes-Roberts AD6PQ | mailto:pbarnrob at acm dot org
"If you are not taking anti-aircraft fire, you are not over the target."