[R-390] Fowler Industries R-390A on eBay Now - Contract dates

rbethman rbethman at comcast.net
Thu Jul 19 14:20:38 EDT 2007


Hank, Et Al,

I purchased a St. J's "survivor about 6 or 7 years ago for $300.

It is DEFINITELY a Collins mfg unit.  The IF reads:

FINAL IF UNIT
540 7577 006
COL. SER. NO.
                 <BIG NUMBERS> 35

The data plate, corroded on the edges and back, to some degree, says:
SIGNAL CORPS                                        U.S. ARMY
First line:    RECEIVER,  RADIO R-390A/URR.
2nd line:     SERIAL NO. 232        ORDER NO. 14214-PH-51
3rd line:      COLLINS RADIO COMPANY
115/230 V.A.C.             48-62~                             220W

I originally *had* all the modules by Collins.  I swapped the Audio 
Module with as '67 EAC when I swapped the '67 EAC for a Northern Radio 
Variant SP-600.  The reason being that the EAC Audio module had a 
transformer mod on it so that it's output was 8 ohms.  The person I was 
trading with was rather picky.  He got the Collins Audio Module.

Knowing how these radios get twiddled around, I was more inclined to 
keep "him" happy.

There were/are blue paint sprays on the front panel.  I also have the 
"half moon" arcs of bare aluminum adjacent the Mc and Kc knobs.

The data plate/tag is raised 'clear' aluminum with the black area of 
paint *below* the clear portions of the tag.  *IF* this tag is a phony, 
then someone went through some *REAL* effort to make it.

This would indicate a contract date of 1951.  < It only has *one* fuse 
on the back panel>

Bob - N0DGN

> Follows is his answer to my query.
> I find it very interesting that he started a listing of contract 
> numbers in 1941 on the "R-390-A" I had the understanding that the 
> Collins FIRST R-390-A Contract was 8719-P-55 along with Motorola in 
> the same year.
> This guy has to be a great ESP expert to have that kind of forward vision
> Who is he and he knows all of the R-390-A experts "ANYONE KNOW THIS GUY?"
> Hank
> KN6DI
>
>
> lionisland is the seller.
> How dare you accuse this of being a scam, when you know NOTHING about 
> this unit. How far do you think anyone would get by trying to scam the 
> R-390a community???
>
> In case you didn't know, it was me obtaining this unit, who, started 
> the ball rolling on finding all the contract numbers for the 
> R-390A's,way back in 1994! I have many contacts with the right people 
> in the R-390a community.
>
> Why, people like you, have to accuse a person in such a manner is very 
> sad indeed.
>
> You ignorance is beyond belief!
>
> Stick to what you do best,that is, in making fake tags
>



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