Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Ken McKenzie, who writes:
Came across this ad on the local Craigslist. I’m not interested
but I know there are tube guys out there who may find this
very interesting.
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/nvn/ele/5401857934.html
Here’s the seller’s description:
Vintage 1942-44 Marconi CSR-5A – X2
Commercial Communication Receivers – SW & LW
The CSR-5A receiver was described by the Canadian Marconi Company as a high grade instrument especially designed to provide the maximum reliability for fixed and mobile station operation.
It was designed to provide maximum sensitivity and stability under the most severe conditions of operation, such as vibration and high humidity.
The frequency ranges covered are in 2 groups – 79 to 518 kc and 1.5 – 30 mcs.
The ranges are covered in 6 colour coded bands, the dial assembly being reminiscent of the Marconi R1155 aircraft receiver.
Both in good working order
Includes 1 power box and 1 Marconi Speaker
WOW! If I lived anywhere near Vancouver, British Columbia, I would snatch these up in a heartbeat! They’re an absolute bargain at $95 CDN! The speaker alone may be worth that much.
Here are a few more photos from the listing:
Just check out that gorgeous dial!
Thanks for the tip, Ken!
I should mention: since this is a Craigslist ad, you should do your due diligence to make sure this isn’t a scam. This listing doesn’t have any of the hallmarks of a scam, but Craigslist has no real seller or buyer protections like, say, eBay.
My tips? Communicate with the seller directly, meet with them in person to make the purchase (don’t try to have anything shipped) and pay in cash.
In addition–especially with a piece of vintage gear like this–ask them about the radio’s history. Every radio has a story.
I hope some lucky SWLing Post reader in the area picks this package up and gives it a good home! If you do, please let us know! (I’ll be a few shades of envious, of course!)
These sets, whilst of an attractive design, certainly in the dials, and band indicator, have an Achilles heel, much like another war time communications set, also produced in Montreal, the RCA AR-88LF. Both the CSR-5, 5A, and AR-88LF have two, now largely useless, longwave bands, but exclude the AM broadcast band. I too saw some CSR-5s on Vancouuver craigslist recently, but both appear to have been stored under uncontrolled conditions, given the visible rust. The same seller had some Nationals, Hallicrafters, a Hammarlund, and yes another RCA AR-88 (though I didn’t note which version as one is general coverage). The Hammarlund, and the Hallicrafters ones have sold more recently, don’t recall what happened with the National, but the CSR-5s, and the AR-88 were still there, but marked down in price. Again this is not too surprising, unless you only want one of these receivers as a vintage project boat anchor just for the HAM bands, they are not really that useful.