[R-390] building new components

[Paul H. Anderson]

I think the ideas of building new receivers, don't get me wrong.

But... if one were to prioritize first, I doubt it'd be the mechanical 
parts that would be first on the list.  The stainless steel gears, etc, 
just don't rust, and the majority of the other frame and mechanical parts 
are readily available for the R-390A.

Here's my perspective on rough priority:
   meters (many R-390A's are without)
   390 RF deck parts, especially slugs
   390-A mechanical filters (repairing and replacing)
   small parts easily lost:
     oldham couplers
       390/391/390-A PTO coupler
       390/391 crystal deck coupler
       392 bandwidth control coupler
     springs
     wiring harness clamps (390/391 and 392 come to mind)
     covers and shields (all)
   R-389 parts of all types, PTO especially
   gear clamps
   spline screws
   big knobs
   various connectors, UG-970/UG-971, etc.
   R-391 autotuner spares

I really wouldn't spend time tooling up for the mechanical parts that 
there still lots of around, like gear trains and module chassis.

Obviously, a lot in the list above are made, or can be made fairly 
readily, but those are the bigger items that keep the receivers down.

>From watching what Hank Arney goes through, and also watching eBay prices 
on various bits and parts, I don't think there is much market to justify 
even making very many of the highly needed parts, given the actual cost.

It's fun to think about, but when it comes down to brass tacks, it just 
doesn't pay.  With so many receivers surviving in complete condtion, and 
with so many being basically non-destructable, there are going to be lots 
of parts units around for a long time (of R-390A).

I think to make it even worthwhile from a hobbiest perspective, that 
whoever it was that wanted to step up and make a part would have to do a 
market survey of this and other groups to get an idea of how many might be 
sold, then divide that number by about 4 (or more), and then hope you 
could approach break-even on that quantity.

Paul