[R-390] Note on 51J-3/4 sn's, was 51J-4 in Denmark

Fri, 12 Apr 2002 05:33:58 -0700 (PDT)

Just a note of caution on the 51J-3/4 sn's, which it looks like the referenced
website has accurately picked up on . . .

I made some reproduction 51J-3 and J-4 nameplates with permission of the
Rockwell patents and trademarks office in CR.  The sn's on these plates begins
with 12,000.  I did this purposely, to start with numbers which far exceed the
actual production.

So if you see one for sale with sn 12,xyz then you know the nameplate is a
repro, albeit authorized.  

73 Tom N5OFF

--- Larry Saletzki <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi Clemens, If you are in need of a manual for your "New" find there is one
> on the Collins Collectors Association website you can download.
> http://www.collinsradio.com/html/manuals.html  good luck with your new find!
> Also checkout http://www.collinsradio.com/51J_R388Asur.pdf  for numbers of
> J-4's built. I don't remember if there are any service bulletins or service
> information letters but they are all located in the CCA Archives on the
> website. 73's
> 
> Larry WA9VRH
> Collins Collectors Association Archive Manager
> VP, Collins Collectors Association
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Clemens S.Ostergaard" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 5:12 AM
> Subject: [R-390] 51J-4 in Denmark
> 
> 
> >
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> >
> > Having been away from the list for a while, I can report a lucky break. I
> > have long wanted to supplement my R390A�s and SP-600 with a Collins
> > 51J-4. I finally located one, perhaps ex-NATO HQ in Jutland. It turned
> > out to be almost unused, the rotary dial not the usual butter-yellow from
> > heat and smoking, in its original black wrinkle case, with original
> > manual and RCA valves (no tools though). Not a scratch or wear mark, so
> > perhaps it has been a spare, or somehow supernumerary. The VFO did not
> > need end-point adjustment and it does not vary more than 1-1,5 Kcs over
> > the whole range.
> >
> >
> > The s/n is 3026 (at least on the label, on the back the receiver has the
> > number 109 stamped not engraved, but I think this is unlikely to be the
> > s/n since the manual is dated 1960 and 109 would be from 1957. Any
> > comments? Any other places to look for dates, I don�t see any obvious
> > candidates?) Front panel is black wrinkle, - personally I like the
> > �non-black� versions which contrast with the many black knobs. Perhaps
> > only the R-388A came like that? Is that the colour called St.James gray
> > wrinkle?
> >
> >
> > It is unmodified, apart from the usual Danish military practice of
> > replacing the 51J-4 meter with a small loudspeaker. It has been possible
> > (thanks to my friend Ib M�ller) to find a suitable replacement meter ,
> > and copy the correct meter scale. Replacement of an electrolytic and the
> > missing 100 kcs. crystal, and a thorough overhaul so it looks and feels
> > like a new set.
> >
> >
> > The little I have tested it (with a T2FD and a trap dipole) seems very
> > promising. It is indeed useful to have the mechanical filter at 6
> > Kcs.(and the other two) and the crystal filter gives an early version of
> > a notch filter, often effective. SSB is not overly difficult to manage
> > and I find the AVC-constant OK. A business-like audio, though at times
> > one misses the 8 kcs filter of the R-390A. Amazingly accurate scale, it
> > seems equivalent to a length of about 85 yards.
> >
> >
> > Handling this receiver, one can understand why the DOD , on the strength
> > of its early version from 1949, asked Collins to create the R-390x, which
> > admittedly are a cut above it in complexity, materials and performance
> > under extreme conditions. Still, the 51J-4 leaves my wrist feeling a lot
> > better, has the right filters and it is a great looker. (and it weighs
> > less than two-thirds of our favorite BA)
> >
> >
> > How many were produced? 6-7000? Compared to 55.000+ of the R-390A?
> > Perhaps we ought to make a caucus of 51J-4 owners if there isn�t already
> > one.(OK, make that 51J-*/R388* owners). Seriously, I would very much like
> > to gather any advice, any lore available about this enjoyable set. I know
> > there are a number of active people around like Jose, Dallas, W3AKEY,
> > Martin Boesch, Dave Knepper, - and likely many others. It is difficult to
> > get relevant articles from the newsletters, because they rarely seem to
> > make it over the Atlantic. If anyone can help I would  be very
> > grateful for that.   I also seem to recall that there were two
> > types of Kcs knob, was it improved in later s/n, did people switch it
> > from the 75A-4,  and what other changes were made over the course of
> > production (1957-1963)? Were the R-388A manuals more detailed than the
> > �civilian� version? (which is good)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Best,
> >
> >
> > Clemens
> >
> >
> > Clemens S.Ostergaard
> >
> > Stadion Alle 52
> >
> > DK-8000 Aarhus
> >
> > DENMARK
> >
> > +45 8611 0018
> >
> >
> > BA�s:
> >
> > R-390A/URR Teledyne Systems Corp 37856-PC-63 s/n 3821
> >
> > R-390A/URR Motorola 363-PH-54 s/n 1155
> >
> > R-390A/URR Electronic Assistance Corporation
> > -60    s/n 1435
> > Hammarlund SP-600 JX-17 s/n 17566
> >
> > Siemens 745 E 310a  s/n 9/958974
> > R-439a/ SRR 11, Magnavox Company, s/n 202
> >
> > Collins 51J-4 s/n&nbsp; 3026.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts ---
> > text/html (html body -- converted)
> > ---
> > _______________________________________________
> > R-390 mailing list
> > [email protected]
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
> >
> 
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