[R-390] Re: unusual Capehart for me

[W. Li]

Am looking at my third R-390A that I picked up at a
hamfest last year. Due to unforseen family demands, it
sat untouched under my bench for an year. Am now just
getting around to it...

Capehart 21582-PC61 #2716 according to the nametag
(but we all know what that means). Anyway, it was
outwardly clean, with original meters, unscratched
grey engraved front panel, undeformed SS panel screws,
and an outboard audio xformer jerry-rigged to TB-102
and a newer 3-line AC cord. All the knobs were there,
and their action was surprisingly smooth. The seller
knew nothing about the unit (selling it for a widow he
ses'). Anyway, I snapped it up as a future project.

Imagine my surprise when I took out the P/S, audio,
and IF modules and saw that all were Capehart, and
that the Xtal module was also Capehart. The gear train
looked too clean, and all the caps were original down
to those yellow Aerovox ones and C-609. Looked at
C-103 (bathtub) at its June 62 date. No brown beauties
here which helps date it. All the RF slugs go up and
down. All the solder joints I can see look 1960-ish,
no newer ones. The electrolytic cans have 1962 dates
on them.

I think that either this unit failed its functional
checkout and just sat around somewhere; or that it was
used infrequently (wishful thinking).....

Obviously, my work is cut out for me, before it gets
powered up.... but thought you guys might get a kick
sharing this "find" with you. Never thought that such
a clean unit would turn up at a 2004 hamfest, but then
again, you can never tell.

Will post my findings once they are meaningful to this
astute group.

W. Li
Mercer Island, WA
Motorola R390A 1954 
Collins R390A 1956

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