[R-390] Question about a R-390A & R-725 with a silver faceplate

[Michael Starke]

Thank you for your replay, Mark.
Yes, the tuning knob of one of the units is from a Racal RA-17, I assume.
The panel lettering is engraved, and it all could have been made this way by removing the original paint.
In any case, it was a well done job.

Next weekend I will start “playing” with the receivers for the first time.
I never had a R-390a before.
Reports will follow.
73,
Michael


Von: Mark Donaldson <wa1qhq at yahoo.com>
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 25. September 2024 14:42
An: r-390 at mailman.qth.net; Michael Starke <mstarke at solutions-handling.com>
Betreff: Re: [R-390] Question about a R-390A & R-725 with a silver faceplate

Hi Michael,

Most certainly some hobbyist has laid his hands on the front panels but did a nice job. The tuning and band changeknobs are not original either. If the panel lettering in engraved, which I suspect it is, they simply removed the paint from a stock panel and then filled in the engraved lettering with new paint,easy to do and looks nice. No R-390, R-725, or R-390A receiver was manufactured with a bare aluminum front panel.

73s

Mark WA1QHQ

On Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 08:17:37 AM EDT, Michael Starke <mstarke at solutions-handling.com<mailto:mstarke at solutions-handling.com>> wrote:


Good morning to everyone in the group.
I have just become a new member, since I stumbled over Larry Haney's articles about the R-390.

Recently one each R-390a & R-725 came into my possession. Both of which have a polished silver faceplate.
Attached you find a photo.

One of the receivers was built in 1951 by the Capehart Corp. (#1830) and the other receiver is an R-725 (#10) by Arvin Industries.

Both receivers have all the features they should have, but come with a very well and professionally made silver polished (aluminium) front panel.
It does not look like if some hobbyist has laid his hands on that.
Since I couldn't find anything one the net about these "silver front panel" R-390's I am hoping that one of the members of this group might shed some light on that.

As to my radio collecting background:
I am an avid radio listener, with unfortunately only little experience in extensive repairs on these beauties.
It all started in 1984, when Bob (WB1GCM) and Kathy (KA1RWY) gave me my first set ARC-5/SCR-274 receivers.
From then on, I started collecting a few BC-348's in all sorts of variants, including the Russian "copy", the US-9 and the US-9 DMS.
Over the years several Hallicrafter models joined the lot, with Hammarlunds, Eddystone receivers, Siemens, Telefunken and many more military radios from WWII all the way up to Watkins-Johnson gear.
Off course it is all too much, but luckily there is the barn, with plenty of storage room.
It is just a fine hobby.

Best regards

Michael Starke
from Kempen, Germany


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