[R-390] wow... the R-391A does exist

[Barry Hauser]

Hi Paul & Gang

Well, if genuine, it may be of some historical interest, but that's about 
it.

Good thing you didn't waste a heart attack over it and I'm not sure that 
additional photos of the autotune area would help much -- the components are 
not there.

If you look closely at the view of the bottom you'll see a remnant of it --  
that casting that runs about 2/3rd's of the way across the bottom.  And what 
does it have on it?  Hardly anything is what.  See all those holes in the 
casting?  The only thing there is the transverse shave with worm-drive 
gears -- 3 of them.

I think you have one or two '391's right?  There should be two mechanical 
modules, nearly the same, for each of the KC and MC shafts (the heads 
containing the pawls, etc.), a controller module with small relays and 
rotary switches -- that also has the wheel with the 8 channel numbers, 
probably a sealed relay -- and, last, but not least, the motor, which was 
probably supposed to stick into the power supply area a bit, I don't know.

It appears to have the extra controls on the front panel, but who knows if 
the switches are wired - -I don't see the stray ends where the autotune 
modules would be.  Wiring would go to the motor and from the switches to the 
sealed relay and controller module.  I do see what appears to be an extra 
wiring bundle coming out of or near the audio deck.

Unless someone out there is sitting with the missing pieces, there is 
probably no practical way to complete it.  I don't have a side-by-side 
comparison, but it does NOT look like the autotuner parts from an R-391 
would fit.  Motor is way over on the left on those above the can cap.  At 
any rate, you'd have to strip out a good, complete R-391 in the attempt to 
skootch in the parts.  Good complete R-391's aren't exactly cheap -- and 
many of them that are complete, do not have working autotuners.  (Probably 
most of them.)

You can get some idea of the extent of what's missing if you take a look at 
Ray's (W2EC) web pages http://www.w2ec.com/r391bot.html

So, basically what you have there is an unusual front panel with a couple of 
added switches, a channel window and an interesting tag.

I don't know if anyone has seen a complete R-391A.  It's possible that this 
one never had the modules -- maybe they were never completed.  Can't swear 
by it from the photos, but I don't see hardware markings or "shadows" where 
all those modules would be.  Even with this artifact, it may still be a 
question as to whether the R-391A ever existed except on paper and in the 
form of some prototypes that didn't past muster or weren't finished. 
(Unless someone has seen a complete one, working or not?)

It's also missing quite a few knobs and one meter, some tubes, a number of 
cans missing from the IF transformers.  Would seem to have served as parts 
donor in the past.

 I wonder if the bidders are aware?  The auction has hardly begun and the 
bidding is way up there.  Seller has 100% positives, but says he thinks it's 
mostly complete - -which I suppose it is, ... but, I suppose he might not be 
aware.  I suppose it will go sky high, even with some bid retractions.

Would be nice to have some clearer photos of the front panel.  Could blow 
one up to full size and ... well.

Barry


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul H. Anderson" <paul at pdq.com>
To: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2006 9:38 AM
Subject: [R-390] wow... the R-391A does exist


>
> I would not normally post 'seen on ebay', but this is absolutely 
> astounding.
>
> There's an R-391 XC-2 radio on eBay - item # 9710078628.
>
> I think I about had a heart attack when I saw it (I'm a big fan of 
> R-391's).
>
> I asked the seller to list more pictures of the autotune area - hopefully 
> we can learn more about it.
>
> No relationship to the seller...
>
> Paul
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