[R-390] R-390/A Rescue

Sun, 28 Mar 2004 11:06:03 -0500

Hi Roger

I, for one, do not doubt your word.

Recollections, tho' foggy suggest that this was probably not the most
improbable '390 tale.  There are some members of the DDD -- Dumpster Diver
Department -- who have made interesting prior briefings.  Also reports of
drive-by's, whereby the listmember or close affiliate was innocently driving
along, spotting an R-390() sitting on the curb, (or yard sale table)
awaiting pickup (so they did).  These do not include the tales of yore
wherein mint '390's were acquired for chump change near the end of swapfests
as the sellers didn't want to lug 'em back home, etc.  These are difficult
to believe out of context of the eon in which they occurred. (A little bit
like looking at the Roman viaducts -- many of which still work -- and
thinking "How'd they do that?!".  Ans.:  Cheap labor, lots's of time, stone
and brick -- and high quality concrete -- as opposed to the new stuff that
cracks after a couple of years.  But, again, as with the '390's, I guess you
had to be there.)

Don't worry about bandwidth.  Reclamation of otherwise doomed relevant
artifacts is of keen interest around here.  Hmmmm.  Seems as though the
Internet and the e-place are not sufficient protection against current
uniformed disposal.  We'll have to start making up those photocopied signs
with photos saying "Have you seen me?!.  If so, Please Call XXX-XXXX or
email XXX@XXXX."  And if that's not enough, we'll have to go with the milk
cartons, too.

In case you missed a sideways reference in a previous post, I have taken
over the remaining ATC inventory of R-390A parts, which includes wiring
harnesses (cut off), antenna relays, filters, back panels, etc.  There are
other sources for parts, but from the sound of what was done, I might have
the right combination of stuff.  These parts came from about 200 R-390A's
that were stripped down many years ago.  <sigh>

Lemme know if you are missing pieces.  Prices are as/was (and still are) on
the ATC website.

good luck
Barry

----- Original Message -----
From: "KC8OPP Roger S." <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 6:36 AM
Subject: [R-390] R-390/A Rescue

> Hello group,
>
> This is one of those stories that had I not been
> involved with would be a bit hard to believe,  But
> what follows is the absolute truth.
>
> A week back while finishing up an AM QSO on 40M, A ham
> from KY called me and said that he had been listening
> to the conservation about R-390s.  He had delivered
> his to a local ham for repair a while back.  The radio
> was deemed "beyond economical repair" so he had told
> the repairing ham to dispose of the radio.  He passed
> along his name and telephone number and of course I
> gave him a call.
>
> When I called to see if the radio was still available,
> there was a short pause on the line.  The R-390 was
> available, but to dispose of it he had tried to put
> the radio out for the trash man and was told that it
> was to big and bulky and would have to be in smaller
> pieces to be allowed in the trash.  So he proceeded to
> dis-assemble the radio by taking out all of the
> modules, removing the front panel and controls, and
> taking apart the main chassis and he was about to take
> the VFO apart.  He said he would stop taking it apart
> if I was interested..........DUH!
>
> Well 630 miles and $25 later there is now a
> Stewart-Warner #1858 R-390/A in the basement shop.
> The only thing missing is the antenna relay, which had
> been replaced with some yet to be determined hay-wire
> so-239's.  Came complete with original meters and ID
> tag, plus all the tubes covered with IERC shields.
>
> Some assembly is required, but should not be to
> difficult.  Most of the cut wires are still long
> enough to make the connections.  The frame is back
> together, front panel now has the harness and all
> controls and should start making the connections this
> weekend.  Did I mention that he also included the
> operations and maintenance manual.
>
> The VFO is a cosmos, but all of the modules are
> Stewart-Warner.  The RF deck mech alignment has
> slipped, but overall looks OK.  Initial plans are to
> re-assemble, repair and align.
>
> This is the first 390/A here, but should fit in OK
> with the three non A's already in service.  I may have
> some questions for the group regarding particulars of
> the A model as this project moves along.
>
> I do have some pictures of the pile of parts and am
> taking more as the re-assembly moves along.  A friend
> has a web site so will see if we can put some info and
> pictures there.
>
> Sorry about taking up so much bandwidth with the long
> winded story, but I will try to keep ya'll posted as
> things move along.
>
> Gary, WB8BEM came along for the ride and will back me
> up on this rescue story, like I said in the beginning,
> almost un-believable.
>
> 73's
> Roger
> KC8OPP
>
>
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