[Hallicrafters] SX-88 Handbook

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <WA1KBQ at aol.com>
To: <hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 3:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] SX-88 Handbook


> Richard,
>
> Lots of SX-88 info will turn up with an Internet search 
> including  the
> original manual, a 1954 QST write-up, a  very recent and 
> interesting summary by
> Jay Musgrove; W1VD on his SX-88  restoration which 
> includes performance
> test results and lots of other  assorted pictures, facts 
> and opinions, etc.
> SX-88 is a 6 band dual  conversion general coverage 
> receiver which included a
> special High-Q 50 KC  IF amplifier with step switched 
> bandwidth from 250
> cycles to 10KC,  step switched audio filter and in 
> addition was the first
> commercially produced  communications receiver to have an 
> SSB function marked on
> its front panel.  Around 100 receivers are currently 
> accounted for and an
> educated guess places  production somewhere around 500. It 
> is a good receiver
> when restored but  therein lies the rub. After almost 60 
> years most of the
> capacitors  are badly decomposed and most of the resistors 
> have drifted
> upwards way out  of bounds so expecting good working order 
> is mostly out of the
> question unless  you can buy a properly restored receiver 
> or you have the
> skill and desire to do  it yourself. IMO and considering 
> they are scarce a good
> original complete  as-found SX-88 that needs to be 
> restored should probably
> sell for no more  than $2500 but supply and demand 
> economics has resulted in
> an usually high selling prices from time to time. The 
> current SX-88
> auction you are referring to might actually sell for 
> something in the $2500
> range but it too needs a complete overhaul so it will 
> likely be a  listing for a
> long time before the seller realizes he does not have what 
> a  buyer in that
> price range will be looking for.
>
> Regards,
> Greg; WA1KBQ

     I did a google search before posting and could not find 
the handbook. I will look again.  I am not looking for a 
receiver. I have restored many receivers, most of this age 
need all paper and electrolytic caps replaced and often some 
mica caps too.  Its possible that modern evaluations are 
made on insufficiently restored or poorly aligned receivers.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com