[R-390] What to do with a Garage sale find R390a.

[Roger Ruszkowski]

Fellows,
If you see an R390 or R390A setting for under $300.00 for the receiver then buy it to flip at $300 for sale at a new location. You have to consider the rest of the bundle (case) and the price difference over $300.00 to see if a sale makes sense on the offered bundle.
What condition and type of meters are in the front panel. $50.00 each
Until you know what condition the Plate Blocking Capacitor (for the Mechanical Filters) - When replacing the Plate Blocking capacitor C-553, remember you are replacing a 300wvdc Vitamin-Q type capacitor that, in the 1950s, was one of the best capacitors available. Don't replace this vintage quality capacitor with a Malaysian-made, less-than-one cent total-cost capacitor. If I was really worrying (like loosing sleep over it,) I'd use two .022uf caps in series for the .01uf C-553. This redundancy is pretty much fool proof for any future problems. Normally though, I use a .01uf 600wvdc 715P type SBE Orange Drop. The "double the working voltage of original" is usually enough precaution on this controversial component.
Do not plug this receiver in and apply power you can destroy all of the mechanical filters in the flip of a bandwidth switch.
The audio deck plug in electrolytic filter capacitors may be a haz mat location.
The audio deck may have an acid leak.
Is the power supply on 26Z5's or diodes?


There is no reason to part the receiver out.The whole is worth way more than the sum of the parts.What ever it is repairable.You have a good chance to put it on e bay and sell it come and get it price just like you acquired it.
Front panel picture (tag no tag) (meters) Spook knob paint wear.Back panel jumpers, screws, power cord cover plate. navy mods. BNC connector. Antenna conectorsBottom 25Z5 tubes beat up tube shields, electrolytic caps on audio deck. Comos VFO or Collins VFOTop with out Utah plate J535 jumper to IF deck.Box cover off the mechanical filters and caps.IF deck end of the receiver looking for four holes and the bottom end caps for the filters.
455 crystal inside T501. Six photos so far.
We have no reason to apply power to this receiver $100 topSpline wrench and remove the IF deck.Depending on the caps $25 to $300
Photo 7 is the bottom of the IF deck Photo 8 is the bottom of the audio deckPhoto 9 is the circuit board on front panel over the dial counter their is a Navy mod that soldersa pair of jumpers between pins on this board and the 100 MW 0 VU line audio output becomes 1/2 wattPhoto 10 is the sorry spot in the dial counter.
On the bench with a cal tone on every 100 K $300.00 less cost of missing parts and time to repair.
A receiver ready for RTTY roundup this week end $500

It was setting there, you paid for it and took it home all by your self.We need pictures on a case we do not know what a case is.Yes we do from $25 to more than the receiver.
The world knows what an R390A and all the parts and all the conditions are worth.All the parts are here on this reflector.See the R390A parts manuals on line and ask for what you need.
Off reflector direct those who have parts will make you an offer. Pick your best response. 
Fair Radio in Lima Ohio has parts at counter prices.Surplus Sales in Nebraska has some parts.
Front Paint not #47 gray is post military.
Funny spook BFO knob, Colored dial lights, thermal tube shields, Dial covers are after market but approved military add-on.
A good working receiver after a semi annual maintenance procedure $500.00
Cost to do the  semi annual maintence procedure is  $200.00 and the receiver needs one ever 4380 operating hours.You will need a spline wrench and a 10 inch long #1 Philips screw driver to reach the green screws.You can purchase a signal generator and two volt meters and do this your self over a week end.You do not need a tube tester. The receiver will test the tubes for you. Part of the design.
A $100 frequency counter is a useful item but was never needed.
Most R390A owners are Amature radio enthusiast and know how to service their own equipment.
Filament life to on time suggest if you turn it on for more than two hours each time the receiveris powered on the tubes will give it up in old age before you pop a tube filament open on power up or power down.
Parts ?
Transportation ?
In 2010 I was buying them for under $300 doing the deep clean refurbish wash and tune up.and selling them for $500.00 in the rack on the antenna.Take it home with you today from Westminster South Carolina.
In 68 - 75 I was expected to do two a day every working day (6 -2) for over four years on the bench.Then I taught new technicians how to do it for a couple years and supervised a shop shiftwith 15 guys doing their two each a day for a couple more years.
I was picking up receivers as tail gates at swap meets pre arranged.Now I am in Michigan and it is all packed up.
If I show up I will have my spline wrench and screw driver in hand and be opening up the hood and checking the engine and brakes.
I know what is needed for part C-533 and where to find it.If decks have needed recapping for years.A poorly recapped deck is more trouble than an original deck to get operating at peakcircuit ability.
A good recapped deck will outperform the original production. (better component parts)
The RF deck needs some caps.
The weight is a problem.Take the picturesPost the receiver on ebay for auction and give it two weeks. Subtract $50 for each problem you can not exclude as possible from a $300 power and play and you have a price floor.
The R390 operators who want to own one read these pages These readers follow all the auction sites.We will see the eBay saleWe will tell the world to lookAny one close enough to pick it up will look at the ebay and make you an offer.
This 25 year old community reflector stuff is so amazing.
It has more than one moving part and looks complex. 
Had you put a QTH in your post you may have already sold the receiver.
Roger AI4NI