[R-390] R-390A Pedigree

[Paul Anderson]

Yes, Col Ser Num means Collins serial number.

There certainly are some units that came with serial numbers that
matched or were close - I have a 67 contract EAC with modules that
have serial numbers close to each other.

However, in the lifetime of radios like this, and many other things
military, they were subcontracted,  depot overhauled, field repaired,
scrapped and retrieved, and many other things.  The military surely
received some equipment that had mismatching serial numbers because of
how the production, ordering, spares and acceptance processes work.
Just as surely, they had many that started out life with the same or
similar, but over time, especially after overhauls, the modules would
just be swapped out in random fashion, as that is the entire purpose
of module oriented design in the first place.

To me, a desirable radio is one that is clean and functions well and
gives you enjoyment.  The older ones (mid 50's) have older components,
but sometimes had a higher standard of construction.  It's kind of a
wash.

In the radios I have, I've noticed a tendency for R-390A's to have
more likely been through an overhaul process, with R-391 and R-389's
being seemingly a little more original.

In my opinion, the R-390 and R-391 have a slight long term advantage
in the sense that they have RLC filters instead of mechanical ones.
But even the now failing filters can be rebuilt as many people are
discovering.

Enjoy what you've got!

Paul


On Sat, Dec 13, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Richard W. Solomon <w1ksz at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Whenever I see a message about the R-390A, I invariably see the name
> of the manufacturer. That tends to let me believe that one manufacturer
> is more prized than another. Is there a list anywhere showing the
> hierarchy of worthiness ?
>
> Also, I notice that in the one I got (Stewart Warner circa 1959) that
> some of the modules are marked ..."Col. Ser. No."... . Does this mean
> they were made by Collins ? Or does the Col. refer to something else ?
>
> 73, Dick, W1KSZ
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