[R-390] Rare R-390 radios

[Barry Hauser]

Paul H. Anderson wrote:
>
> Here's the radios that I've heard of that are rare (and exist):
>
> Folwer radios (all five)
>
> prototype radios (they have X or PP in the tag ID #? and sometimes 
> other indications of handwork - I think there have been at least a few 
> sold on ebay)
>
> The two R-391A's (one apparently complete, one missing some of the 
> autotune mechanism - this one sold on eBay awhile ago)
>
> If there were documented #1 radios, I suppose they'd be rare.
>
> What else out there is truly rare (and exist)?
>
> Paul
Has it been determined that the Helena Rubenstein contract was an urban 
legend?  (suburban, rural ?)

I don't want to cast any aspersions on that Fowler #2, but that late in 
the game, it's doubtful that anyone could tool up to make everything 
from scratch.  I rather doubt that they hand-carved and wound five PTO's. 

More than likely, when Fowler got the contract for the five destroyers, 
they went shopping, and late-contract, "NOS" and possibly still-crated 
R-390A's were around.  There may still be some crated ones, but that's 
also the subject of urban legend.

Again, it looks like the real deal, but I suspect what they consisted of 
were some late contract (EAC '67 or '68) units, which were re-badged in 
the time honored tradition of re-branding tubes -- (the  tube number is 
etched in with acid, the brand names were painted on.)  They may have 
also tested everything and provided for backup modules and parts.

It's not a big project with R-390A's.  There's the front tag and all the 
other ID is rubber stamped or silk-screened on the back panel and the 
modules.  In all probability, the original manufacturers worked between 
one another rather than build all the modules themselves -- which I 
would suspect particularly in the late 50's to '61, when the highest 
number of contractors were producing them concurrently, or nearly so.

Also noticeable that the modules in the Fowler have labels rather than 
imprint ID's.  At the time, PC's, ink jet and the first laser printers 
were available, as well as computerized typesetting and printer 
make-ready equipment, so that it would be actually easier to make up 
adhesive labels, than rubber stamps or stencils.  There are some 
companies that specialize in making paper, plastic and metal labels such 
as Seton.  Maybe the minimum order is 100, but for $30K, you can toss 95 
away.

This is not to detract from its perceived value, it's still a rare 
bird.  But, I doubt if they could be sold to the Navy at $30K each if 
they had to cover the tooling and setup costs spread over only five 
units.  The manual shown looks like the '85 Navelex manual I OCR'ed as a 
starting point for the Y2K edition, which by itself doesn't mean anything.

How else would they whip up a batch of 5 -- at all?  Any thoughts.

Barry