[Milsurplus] RBB receiver

[Mike Durff]

I bought 4 of these last year. 1-RBA, 1-RBB, & 2-RBC, along with 2 power supplies. I've found that a nearby UPS store will go to the sellers location and pick them up for a nominal charge, or in one case FREE !  They cost me $115-$125 for packing & shipping. 
I have an Elecraft KX3 which is rated pretty high as receivers go. The RBC will out receive it on 20M during the day ! Very solid receivers.
The following from Radioblvd.com:
Radio Corporation of America 
RBB (CRV-46147) and RBC (CRV-46148)In 1939, the Department of the Navy contracted with RCA to build the ultimate military communications receiver. The design was to replace the aging RAK/RAL regenerative receivers with new receivers of the same rugged construction but with modern performance capabilities. RCA utilized input from engineers from 17 other companies during the design phase of the new receivers. By 1940, the RBA, RBB and RBC were ready for production. The RBA was a TRF LW receiver that matched the RBB and RBC in size and power requirements (see previous receiver description above.) The RBB and RBC were true double preselection superheterodynes using 15 tubes plus a 991 neon bulb voltage limiter in the antenna input, a 6-8B Ballast tube for the Local Oscillator heater and the separate CRV-20130 power supply also used two tubes, a 5U4 rectifier and a VT-105 regulator - 19 tubes in all. The RBB receiver covers 500kc up to 4.0mc in four bands and the RBC covers 4.0mc to 27.0mc, also in four bands. The Local Oscillator's filament is operated from a 17vac tap on the power transformer through the 6-8B ballast tube also the LO's plate is operated from the regulated 105vdc supply. This design effort allowed the RBB/RBC receivers to exhibit very little drift.


| >>>   Three IF amplifier stages were used along with a three step selectivity control, a noise limiter control and a switchable audio bandpass filter. Since the AVC could not be on when receiving CW signals, an Output Limiter circuit could be switched in (CW-OL) to keep static bursts or unexpected strong signals from overloading the receiver or the operator's ears. An adjustable squelch control called a "Silencer" was also included. The construction of the receivers were as much as possible alike allowing many of the same parts to be used for each model. There are some tube and component differences in the preselector section of the RBB/RBC but the IF/AF section is identical for each receiver. Three panel meters provided monitoring of Signal Level in db, Audio Output in db and B+ in volts dc. The audio output was designed for 600 ohm Z earphones and up to 20 pairs could be connected in parallel, (who knows why but that's what the manual indicates.) Some of the later RBB/RBC receivers will have an additional 6AB7 tube installed along with a SO239 connector on the back of the receiver. This was an amplified IF output source generally used for a panadaptor. An internally mounted switch allowed the operator to select this IF amplifier output function if desired. The entire cabinet was mounted to the operating table by four shock mounts.Unlike the RAK/RAL receivers, the RBB/RBC had accurate direct frequency readout dials that were illuminated and there was also a "power on" pilot lamp. The CRV-20130 power supply was connected via a heavy-duty cable with huge nine-pin MIL connectors. Although the CRV-20130 power supply does provide two connectors to allow operation of two receivers with only one power supply, this was considered as "emergency only" operation. When operating two receivers from one power supply, both receivers will be "ON" regardless of which receiver's power switch is activated. The load of both receivers on one power supply drops the B+ voltage and the filament voltage by about 10 percent but any decrease in performance is only slightly noticeable. Super-smooth tuning with large, easy to read dials that are masked for band-in-use readout make the RBB/RBC series a pleasure to operate. The 600 ohm Z audio output will easily drive a matched loud speaker but the design intent was for earphone operation so don't expect thunderous volume. Sensitivity and selectivity are typical of the best designs of the day. >>> |


| >>>  The 1940 selling price (to the government) for these incredible receivers was $2400 each - a staggering amount of money. An internal examination shows why the price was so high. These rugged, over-built receivers had to withstand the constant mechanical vibration while at sea in addition to the mechanical shock of firing multiple 16" guns (along with firing all of the other artillery present on battleships.) Also to be rugged enough to hopefully be able to withstand the shock of a possible torpedo or bomb hit and still keep communications operating. The receiver circuitry and power supply stability had to withstand the severe power fluctuations that happened when gun turrets were rotated. Additionally, everything had to have maximum shielding to prevent stray emissions from the LO getting to the antenna and also to allow the RBB/RBC to operate in the presence of other receivers, transmitters and radar without interference. In many instances, the RBB/RBC receivers were so well-respected and their performance so good, they not replaced with more modern receivers until the mid-1960s - a testament to the RBB/RBC's magnificent design and construction. Shown in the photo above is the RBB-2 on the left and the RBC-3 on the right - both built by RCA. The Navy Radio Room photo shows three receiving stations. The nearest (#3) is using rack mount type RBB and RBC. The next station back is set up with three RBB/RBC receivers and one RBA receiver. The furthest station back is using two RBB/RBC receivers and one RBA receiver. The ship transmitters are to the rear of the receiving stations. |

 In 2014, the relative value of $2,400.00 from 1940 ranges from $32,100.00 to $405,000.00
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