[R-390] A Paper Trail

[peuhs at bellsouth.net]

Charlie and Others,

I agree with Glen on the multiple unit situations...I just can't remember enough ind. info ever existing to allow you to ever get very far with tracing a single entity..I just don't think it could ever be found even if it still existed...Also many parts just kind of moved about....Even saying this, however...ALL things were notated on a form somewhere....they are just probably missing now, unless someone discovers a lot of old paper in a depot somewhere and saves it...everything DID have a tag...

I do agree the attempt is an area of some limited interest, and would be possible for further research...Some distance into the past might be possible, but a lot of it would be simply word of mouth, with little paperwork to support it. Private repair/rebuild persons who have had many units pass through their hands have kept good records in some cases which could be useful. It IS worth remembering that some facts were written on the unit in pencil, and numbers sometimes as well..
My 390 non A was one of those, but I NEVER found the Major whose name was on it...

General stats. on ind. units in the present area of knowledge are kept by several, of course, including oddballs, rare units, wrecks etc..(Not the people..the Radios....) No reason this area can't be at least looked at ..IF anyone were tough enough to do the work...and contact the people..

Just remember, we saw in mil. pratice, many units with changed-out modules that no one even knew the source of, in those instances where a lot of work was going on, and someone needed it NOW...Some units were already impossible to tell what was orig, unless you used the basic frame or osc...and assumed all other changes were added later...and if so...from what other unit?..Some were done right on spot..(in many mil. items..not just radios, I recall) from one lost just the day before...and stripped of some parts even before or while records were being made covering the work.....

And by the way....I don't believe a lynching is in fact, needed in this case....!!

My Regards To All,   John  (JLAP)