[R-390] 390() vs 390(A)

[John Lawson]

  Thanks to Barry and the rest of the Group for you replies!  I have an "A" 
model - ANT knob on top.

   The radio is typical of one that's been knocking around someone's shack 
for years, then under the bench, then out to the shed, then "George!! 
Clean out that garden shed this weekend, or you can just move out there 
and keep your junk company!!!"

  And just in case Geo. is reading this, it has '37.4' stencilled in white 
between the ANT and AGC knobs.

  At some point it had the 10W sandbar mod for the ballast done (I'll sub 
12V tubes and strap that) and someone very thoughtfully removed all of the 
tube shields, probably to save a bunch on shipping weight. ;} It is dead 
on four MC bands (crystals...?) including 7MC which bums me out. It's 
obviously 'off tune' a bit, the ANT knob always favors +4, the BFO knob 
(which is an MS-style, but not a true-blue 390 knob) sits at about -2.5 
for 0-beat, and the mechanical tuning 0 is really about 2KC 'flat'.

   The audio section has a pronounced HF oscillation keyed to the 'dirt' on 
the LOCAL Gain pot - I imagine a cap has broken down and there's DC on the 
pot - that's what it sounds like, anyway.

   The inner IF Deck covers (top and bottom) are missing, along with the 
accessory tools, and the usual odds and ends one would expect.

   But, all-in-all, it's working OK, and I'll give it a nice make-over, 
re-cap, new crystals, new mech filters, test and replace tubes, new 
(black) tube shields, etc etc as needed.

   THEN, I'll be QRV on AM and FSK RTTY on 80, 40, and 20..    I'm going 
for HiFi AM - I've fallen in love with "that sound"...


   Thanks again and have a VY FB 05 OM ES 73 DE KB6SCO

Cheers

John in Carson City