[Milsurplus] GRR-5 (was The Gas receiver)

[Todd Bigelow - PS]

Barry Hauser wrote:
<snip>

> It has a mult-voltage power supply that will
>run 6/12/24 vdc plus 115 AC, etc.  and those detents which are adjustable
>with the little wrench on a chain.  But, as I recall from the article, that
>purpose never really materialized for one reason or another and they were
>used primarily as general purpose and even morale/entertainment receivers.
>Manufacturers included Emerson, Colonial, and Magnavox, as I recall from
>tags I've seen.
>

Add Zenith to the list also, Barry. Mine has a Zenith case/mount, Zenith 
receiver, and Zenith PS, all with the same serial number. The spares 
case has an Emerson decal on it. Only got 3 antenna sections with it, 
makes me wish I'd bought one of those complete kits with the cables and 
antenna sections in a nice canvas bag. Saw some at a 'fest a year or so 
back, just didn't know what they went to!

>R-390 started at Hallicrafters?  Thought that was purely Collins technology.
>The first (not A) versions were made there and at Motorola.  Hallicrafters
>never even turned up as one of the dozen or so manufacturers of the R-390A.
>

I think you're right Barry. The R-390 tuning system can be seen to a 
much lesser degree in the R-388/51J series of receivers. I wonder if it 
wasn't the R-274 project instead, since Halli made a version of this as 
well as Hammarlund. Maybe it's a case of confusion between the '174' and 
'274' in the memory banks?

Since everyone is talking about the GRR-5, I have a few questions. 
First, has anyone managed to successfully replace the rubber tubing used 
on the cover and wrench chains? My unit looks like it's coming unraveled 
due to the frayed tubing.

Second, do the markings on the knobs and faceplates contain radium? The 
unit I have is in nice condition but is a bit grubby and dusty, so it 
could use a good cleaning. I'm not afraid of the paint, but if it does 
have radium in it I'll of course handle it a bit differently.

Lastly, does anyone have a source of the canvas cover and canvas 
antenna/cables/headphones kit? Someone had a bunch of these at 
HossTraders a year or so back, all appeared to be new, unissued. Mine 
came with a manual and the small spares kit only.

I think it's a great little receiver. I picked mine up to use as a 
garage radio, but I liked it so much I kept it inside instead. Of 
course, this precludes installing more than two antenna sections, bit it 
seems to work just fine with an abbreviated aerial. Could drill a hole 
in the ceiling I s'pose...  And as Hue says, it emits that reassuring 
'p-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b' sound from the vibrator as soon as you apply 
power. Right up there with the dynamotor for 'coolness' factor.

Thanks -

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ