[NJARC] Echophone EC-1

[JOE CRO]

Hello Al,
              I have a unrestored fairly decent condition Echophone EC-1 
"Commercial" (the type with the horizontal bandspread under the main tuning 
dial) that you are welcome to use in the exhibit if need be. From what I 
understand, Hallicrafters didn't want to put their name on the EC-1, due to 
the questionable quality of the "Echophone" marque, so they retained the 
Echophone name on it. I think they were primarily designed as morale 
receivers to be sent from the families and loved ones back home to our men 
overseas, hence the AC/DC hookup, and lack of a power transformer. After 
WWII, actually, sometime in late 1945, Hallicrafters produced the radio 
again with the S-41 designator, and offered it in a variety of colors. I 
guess it gave a good enough account of itself during wartime to earn the 
right to wear the "Hallicrafters" name!

I have a unrelated question for all of our resident Hallicrafters 
historians. I recently acquired a Hallicrafters "Sky Courier" that does not 
have a designated model # (S-27,S-37, etc) anywhere on it. It's essentially 
a Echophone EC-1 repackaed in a larger square metal case painted green, 
primarily designed as a "morale" receiver for our serviceman. The main 
tuning dial and bandspread, etc are identical to the Echophone EC-1; but it 
does NOT have a BFO on it, and the on-off volume knob are combined in one 
unit on the front panel, with the on-off function being accomplished by a 
pull switch! You pull the volume control knob out to turn the set on, and 
push it back in to turn it off.

Not only am I not familiar with this particular model and 
Echophone/Hallicrafters EC-1, S-41 variant, but I've never seen a 
Hallicrafters with a push-pull on-off switch on the volume control. From 
what I can tell, it's not a modification someone did to it.

Can someone tell me more about it? Just curious. I brought it up since Al 
was on the subject of the more common Echophone "Commercial" set.

Best Regards,
                     Joe Cro N3IBX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Al Klase" <al at ar88.net>
To: "New Jersey Antique Radio Club" <njarc at mailman.qth.net>; "Delaware 
Valley Historic Radio Club" <dvhrc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 3:14 PM
Subject: [NJARC] Echophone EC-1


> Just remember
> Reply = Poster
> Reply All = Everyone
>
> _________________________________________________________
> Gang,
>
> I'm looking for solid background info on subject radio for the Radio
> Technology Museum Short-wave Display.  Hallicrafters introduced this
> radion in 1940, and it was advertised throughout WWII.  Go here to get
> the general picture:  http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~postr/bapix/Echo.html
>
> Now, it's my impression that civilian radio production was pretty much
> curtailed during this period.  I'm trying to figure out what really went
> on here.  Were these sold on the open market, in the PX, or what?
>
> Also, can someone get me a high-res scan of the the particular Hogarth
> ad shown on the referenced website.  I have some of the Echophone ads in
> vintage Radio News, but I like this one best.
>
> Thanks,
> Al
>
> -- 
> Al Klase - N3FRQ
> Jersey City, NJ
> http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/
>
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