[R-390] REF....age and stuff

[Pete Williams]

​G'day list...... I don't  claim to be of  any more than  average for a
86 er  going on 87  next November  but attribute longevity this  far  to
active interest in rebuilding/rejuvenating radios  of  all types for the
past 60  years ------ not including a  business life in the  way
through.... A libation of  red  vintage helps  of course .
My last  was   rebirth/rebuild /repaint of a  R-390a  which was  sold to
ZL  a few months  back.----- maybe the last I'll attempt in  run of over 40
.
.
Speaking of  longevity  and a liberty for  a  question off  topic: I've
finished reading the  authoritative  history of  D-day. the  Battle for
Normandy  by  Antony B eevor and  he mentions  several  times in the
initial landing operations  that procedures compromised   and lives were
lost because of  poor radio communications  that did not  work.  He doesn't
mention types  but  I  assume they  were manpacks or   similar.  He stated
via  references, that radios were rendered useless by  salt  water.
It  begs the  question as to  why radios -apparently not  waterproofed.-
were  used  and why.
Maybe acceptance tests never  considered.  ? e.g dunking......any light  as
to  why this  apparent ineptitude was never  planned out ?
It'd  be interesting  even if  embarrassing to read  answers.
Best  Seasons  greeting to  all
Pete  VK3IZ