[Premium-Rx] Watkins Johnson 8718A from Shanghai, China

[Andy Brown]

Hello,
I recently acquired an 8718A from China via ebay. I believe there was previously some discussion about the possible source of these radios. This radio is serial no. 3410. There is very little indication of the source on the radio itself. Two labels have evidently been removed - one next to the main dial, on the main dial plate another on the rear. There is a paper label still attached to one of the rack handles - marked with what looks like Chinese lettering and then "11/80" which I take to mean November 1980. Most interestingly there is a very feint "39" printed on the fascia between the Watkins Johnson badge and the signal/audio level meter. I gather from colleagues here in the UK that it was common practice in UK diplomatic radio services, where there were frequently multiple receivers in a stack, to mark each unit with a number, so that they could keep track of failing sets taken out for repairs and servicing. Other that that, there is no further obvious identification marks. There was mention of some caps being replaced in the sets that were originally sent to China - do we know what they were changed from/to? If so I may be able to identify any repairs that were undertaken. The radio works very well with no immediate repairs being necessary on arrival from China. The main dial was a bit stiff so was removed and cleaned and is now silky-smooth. The phone level control is a little scratchy, so I will be cleaning that next. It would be fascinating to discover/verify the further history of this particular radio if at all possible.
PS This is my first post to the group, so please forgive me if I have not kept to any accepted etiquette.
Regards, 
Andy Brown