[R-390] Yard sale find

[Dennis Deaton]

Hi Gang,

 

I believe I've got you all beat.  I got my R-390A for free.  Mine is S/N:
433 from the first contract (14214-PH-51).  I first saw this unit when I was
in high school in the Spring of 1963.  The school had acquired it through
some defense department give-away to high school industrial arts programs.
Our electronics teacher had set it up in the school's ham station in the
electronics lab.  It was paired up with a Heathkit DX-40 and VF-1 as a CW/AM
station (talk about an odd couple!).  I went on to college to major in
engineering while my best friend in school went on to major in industrial
arts.  Later he ended up teaching electronics in our old high school.  He
progressed up through the ranks to become chairman of the IA department
before he retired a couple of years ago.  Back in the late 70's / early 80's
he was told by the school's principal that they were moving and down-sizing
the IA department to a different campus and that he needed to dispose of
nearly all of the equipment.  He called me and asked if I wanted the
receiver.  It took only about 2 microseconds for me to respond - YES!  All I
had to do was drive down and get it.  So it's been a part of my station ever
since.  I'm in the process of rebuilding it now.  Once complete, I'm pairing
it with a (talk about another odd couple) Johnson Adventurer to make a neat
little CW station.

 

Dennis Deaton, WA6ACC