[Hallicrafters] Re: [Boatanchors] HALLICRAFTERS S-36 QUESTION

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 11/30/06, Greg Mijal <bluebirdtele at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hi:
>
> Got a question about the Halli S-36 Ultra High Frequency communications receiver.
> Got a radio here that says it's a S-36A. Accompaning manual is for the S-36A.
> but this radio has more stuff on the rear apron then accounted for in the manual.  Beyond the S-36A schematic, I also have an oscillator out, Pan out and blanking out. All via SO 239's.
> Is this a s-36 variant? If so what? What model Panadaptor hooked up to the old girl?

Can't recall the Panadaptor model off the top of my head, but you most
likely have an RBK, the Navy's version of the Hallicrafters VHF
receiver. There were a bunch of them, culminating in the RBK-16 in
Navy gray with smooth, black escutcheon (no model number stamped into
it) and a smooth bandswitch knob instead of the Halli-example. Check
the front panel for 4 small tag holes under the meter or to the left
of the escutcheon. Some were also in the center of the cabinet lid.

Earlier RBKs were S-27s, but I don't recall exactly when they switched
over to the S-36. I do know that they used up the remaining S-27
escutcheons on early S-36s, and S-36s on S-36As being wartime and all.
The main difference is an added stage for surpression, acorn tubes
were the big thing then. The Brits scooped up many of them before we
got into the war and used them in Hudsons to locate German
'Knickebein' bombing beams.

The Signal Corp used these receivers too, but again - I can't recall
the nomenclature. Feels like Monday, or Friday late afternoon. I might
be making this all up. They are nice receivers, a tad on the 'ooof'
side. Those little plastic bandswitch windows like to wrinkle up over
time, and the dials will yellow up also if left in the sun. I've got
an RBK-11 (or 12?), 15, and 16 here awaiting attention. Had a
beautiful civilian S-27 years ago with manual that I let go for $40.
Silly me.

~ Todd  KA1KAQ