Category Archives: Boat Anchors

Jeffrey re-caps his Hallicrafters SX-110

The restored SX-110 sitting on the bookshelf in the shack.

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Jeffrey Fritz, writes:

During the summer of 2012 you were nice enough to run an article in your blog about my reviving a 1961 Hallicrafters SX-110 General Coverage receiver. The radio has continued to perform reasonably well during the last few years. However, recently I acquired several pieces of professional test equipment. That encouraged me to delve even deeper into the restoration of my old receiver from my novice ham radio days.

Over the past week, I completely recapped the SX-110 (except, of course, for the mica and ceramic caps as they still good, and the electrolytic caps as they were replaced in 2012.)

The SX-110 isn’t a complex receiver, but there are quite a few caps, so I worked methodically and carefully. I started working from the audio amp stage and continued working back through the IF stages and the BFO to the RF stage. I recapped each stage replacing the old caps with new Orange Drop caps. Each stage was tested before I moved on to the next stage. Here’s a photo of the recapped chassis:

Here are the capacitors that were removed from the receiver. Most are the old Bumble Bee caps–called that because of the color stripes that mark their value:

Virtually every Bumble Bee cap tested leaky and out of tolerance.

Next, I tested every tube replacing the weak or bad ones with NOS (New Old Stock) tubes. Every pot and switch was cleaned with DeOxit and moving parts were lubricated where appropriate. Finally, I did a complete re-alignment following the instructions in the Service Manual.

As with all vintage tube gear, restorations require patience, care and a decent knowledge of electronics. It’s easy to make a fair radio–even a good radio–into a disaster if you are not careful. Also there is enough voltage and current inside of the chassis of a tube radio to toss you across the room. So care is always the order of the day as is a VARIAC to bring the radio up to AC line voltage slowly.

The receiver now sounds as good as ever–perhaps even better than ever. It has marvelous AM audio and can pick up ham and broadcast stations on all bands with nothing more than a wire in my basement. It even does a decent job on SSB–something that I don’t recall it ever bring adept at in the past.

That say that you can’t keep a good man down. Similarly an old radio, with some new parts and some TLC, can run virtually forever.

I agree with you: you can’t keep a good radio down! Repair work is certainly the commitment we make when we fall in love with these old rigs. It’s a good thing that almost all of the parts are still available and relatively affordable.

Thanks again, Jeffrey!

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Review of the SSTRAN AMT3000 AM transmitter kit

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Regular SWLing Post readers know that I’m a sucker for vintage radios––especially those of the WWII era. Indeed, I’m pretty much a fan of anything from the 1930s and 40s. I love the technology of that era and have an affinity for the culture and history, especially film and music.

Last year, I acquired a beautiful Scott Marine Radio Model SLR-M––a receiver that quickly became the centerpiece of my modest vintage radio collection.

Scottie (yep, I call her Scottie) produces beautiful, rich audio from her internal speaker. It’s truly an amazing piece of over-engineered technology that still sounds this good after 70 years.

Edythe Wright

Only a week or so after plugging Scottie into an antenna, my wife and I picked up a $1 CD at a church yard sale. The CD featured big band music from the late 30s/early 40s. Though we already had much of the music on the CD, we bought it anyway to keep in our car. One beautiful fall day, I was driving down a rural road and had the CD playing when a Tommy Dorsey recording of “The Music Goes Round And Round” with Edythe Wright on vocals, began playing. It had been ages since I heard this song…I then wondered how many GIs might have heard this song during WWII via GI Jive or the Armed Forces Radio Network. Perhaps they heard it on the Navy version of my Scott Marine radio, the Navy REH?

It was then I decided to finally pull the trigger and order a proper low-power AM transmitter for our home––something with which I could broadcast period music via my vintage gear.

There are a number of AM transmitters on the market, but the one that always stands out from the crowd is the SSTRAN AMT3000. My buddy, The Professor, has one and uses it to consume much of his digital audio content including podcasts and Internet radio stations. He sang the AMT3000’s praises, and I trust the Prof; he’s something of a medium wave guru.

Thing is, the AMT3000 only ships as a kit. In the past, this had stopped me from ordering the transmitter as I figured it was more than my beginner kit-building skills could manage. But after building David Cripe’s Ozark Patrol regenerative receiver, and loving the experience, I felt confident enough to make the order.

And, boy, am I glad I did!

The SSTRAN AMT3000 kit

The kit arrived within a few days of ordering it. Upon unboxing it, I felt like I had gotten my money’s worth, as it was packaged carefully in a quality box: components were clearly labelled in their own poly bags, the board was clearly marked with component numbers and the assembly/instruction manual was in a plastic binder, all clear and straightforward.

SSTRAN suggests taking your time building the kit, as there are a lot of components to solder, and you risk making mistakes that aren’t necessarily easy to remedy if you rush through the process. I tried to follow this advice––well, I intended to follow this advice. Thing is, I find it very difficult to put down a kit once I’m in the zone, so I zipped along a bit more quickly than I intended.

But it helped that SSTRAN took out a lot of the head-scratching and guesswork; the process couldn’t have been more smooth. I carefully checked and double-checked each component and marked it off the assembly list. First, you install all of the resistors, then capacitors, and on to other components. Other than having to hunt for some of the component locations on the board, it really was quite simple.

I started building the kit on a Friday afternoon and actually finished it the following Saturday morning. Much to my delight, after performing the tuning procedure, the transmitter worked on the first go. Whew!

Powerful (low power) broadcasting

The AMT3000 can be configured to work with the supplied simple wire antenna, which will essentially broadcast AM to radios throughout your home, or it can be configured for a Part 15 compliant outdoor base-loaded vertical antenna which will extend your range up to 3/4 of a mile, should your shack be down the road or in an outbuilding.

For the moment, I have my transmitter set up for in-house broadcasting only. If I ever want to build the base-loaded vertical, I only need to make a simple modification to the board to do so.

The supplied manual does a great job of explaining the best ways to maximize your signal, reduce any electrical hum and tweak your audio fidelity.

I’ve been using the AMT3000 nearly every day since I finished building it in mid-November. It seems to have a 100% duty cycle, does not overheat, and has no drift.

It produces high fidelity audio with a flat frequency response––and of course, with modulation and compression controls, you can tailor the audio to your particular taste.

Result? It sounds amazing piping WWII-era tunes through my Scott Marine SLR-M, Hallicrafters SX-24, and SX-99 and my Hammarlund SP-600.

As a bonus, I can hook my shortwave receivers up to the AMT3000 and listen to received audio via other radios throughout my house. Many times, I’ve listened to live broadcasts of ERT Open on 9,420 kHz via my kitchen AM radio…Very cool!

I also hook the AMT3000 up to my shack PC and stream my favorite internet radio station: the UK 1940s Radio Station via TuneIn radio. Absolutely brilliant!

I set my transmitter to 1410 kHz, and have left it there. You’ll need to do a medium wave (AM) survey to find the clearest spot on your AM dial. I’m sure results will vary, depending on the level of medium wave broadcast activity in your area.

Here’s what my Scott Marine SLR-M sounds like playing “March of the Toys” by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra via the SSTRAN AMT3000 (note that this was recorded with just an iPhone, so audio fidelity is somewhat lacking):

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a high-quality, low-power legal AM transmitter, I highly recommend the SSTRAN AMT3000. Even if you’re a novice kit builder, with time and patience, you can successfully construct the AMT3000, too. If I did it, you certainly can!

If you’d prefer buying a pre-assembled AMT3000, they do occasionally turn up on eBay. Click here to search.

As for me, I’m happy to have achieved my modest goal of being able to broadcast 1930s and 1940s music to vintage radios of the same era.

SSTRAN sells the AMT3000 directly on their website. Click here to view.

SSTRAN AMT3000 Models and Prices (via SSTRAN)

AMT3000
10 kHz channel spacing for use inside North and South America. Includes enclosure and 120 Volt AC Adapter. The single surface-mount IC is pre-soldered on the board.
Price: $92.95

AMT3000-9K
9 kHz channel spacing for use outside North and South America. Includes enclosure and 120 Volt AC Adapter. The single surface-mount IC is pre-soldered on the board. *
Price: $92.95

AMT3000-9KNT
Same as AMT3000-9KSM, except the US-standard 120 Volt AC Adapter is not included. **
Price: $88.95

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A Photo Tour of the National Capital Radio and Television Museum

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On Tuesday afternoon, I made a pilgrimage the to the National Capital Radio and Television Museum in Bowie, Maryland, USA. The museum is located in a modest and beautiful historic house on the corner of Mt. Oak and Mitchellville Roads in Bowie.

Museum Curator and volunteer, Brian Belanger, kindly gave me a private tour of the museum collections (the museum is closed on Tuesdays).

Many thanks to Brian for taking time out of his day for the tour, and for allowing me to take some photos for the SWLing Post!

The museum has a number of display rooms with radios broadly grouped by style and decade. The first room offers examples of some of the earliest radios produced–including the venerable crystal radio (below).

[Click photos to enlarge.]

Like Brian, numerous volunteers work to keep the collections in working order. This isn’t a place where vintage radios come to die; they actually come to life here.

Even examples of some of their earliest radios are on the air and can be tuned to local and international stations.

This RCA “portable” (below), housed two batteries on either side of the center faceplate. Note the ad on the wall above–a couple enjoy the RCA as they recline on a beach.

Speakers of the day were pretty amazing, too–check out this hand-painted 1927 Air Chrome Double Cone Speaker, below.

The museum also has an extensive collection of studio and off-air recordings that can be played over an AM carrier throughout the building.

By the late 1920s and early 1930s, radio manufactures built gorgeous console radios, features in the living rooms and parlors of many lucky homes.

This E.H. Scott All-Wave 23 console (above and below) sported not only twenty-threee vacuum tubes, but a large, robust internal speaker. Radio collectors consider the All-Wave 23 to be one of the finest performing radios of the vacuum-tube era.

The museum also features the Zenith 12-S-232 tabletop radio with working shuttle dial–a futuristic band-switching mechanical wonder with a stunning dial.

A number of tabletop and portable radios that span the decades have found their homes in this museum. No doubt many SWLing Post readers cut their teeth on these classics!

I love the design of the Garod Model 5A2–wow! And I’m sure many kids of the fifties wished they had an official Hopalong Cassidy AM radio (below).

The museum, of course, also houses a large number of classic televisions.

Radio stations and benefactors have also donated many items used in the industry, both in broadcast and retail.

Brian was also kind enough to take me to the building, next door, where they repair radios and store others for eventual rotation into the collection.

Museum volunteers also teach radio repair and restoration classes.

The number of classic ham radios, home brew receivers and transmitters was simply amazing. Indeed, I felt like a kid in a candy shop!

By the end of the tour, I had decided to become a member of the National Capital Radio and Television Museum. Even though I live a few states away, I like knowing that my membership funds not only help preserve vintage radios and televisions, but also provide me members-only access to many of their scanned archives. Click to view a full list of benefits for a modest $25 membership.

Again, many thanks to Brian Belanger for the amazing tour of this wonderful museum! Brian, I’ll be back next year…

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The Hallicrafters SX-88: a rare find and a gem of engineering

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Yesterday while glancing through the QTH.com classifieds ads, I noticed a rare boat anchor for sale: the Hallicrafters SX-88.

The seller, Jeremy, describes this SX-88 as follows:

Hi [t]here, I have one SX88 in minty shape and is one of a handful that came in military green on [the] front panel for evaluation by the military. This is an exceptional radio in amazing condition. I can provide pics for someone who is seriously interested. I am open to a fair offer on radio. Please, no low-ballers. We all know what [it’s] worth…

“We all know what it’s worth“–?

Well, it just so happened that my good friend (and Elmer, or ham radio guru) Mike Hansgen (K8RAT) had recently provided me with a little history lesson on the subject of the SX-88, so I did know what this rig is worth: a great deal of money.

But curiosity got the best of me, so I contacted Jeremy (a nice fellow, by the way) and asked what he was expecting to receive in exchange for his Hallicrafters SX-88? Jeremy’s reply:

“…$5,500 USD will take it. It is a very rare unit; it was… only one of about 6 [painted green]…for presentation to the military for evaluation.

That price is firm. [I] will not negotiate downward, and shipping [from Ontario, Canada] is extra.”

After receiving this response from Jeremy, I happened to think that I have the reference guide to rare/used shortwave receivers: Fred Osterman’s Shortwave Receivers Past and Present 4th edition. (Click here for more info.)

Osterman’s wonderfully comprehensive guide mentions that the SX-88 is a “highly regarded, rare and collectible model.” As for the rarity of the SX-88, he describes it thus: “Extremely Scarce.” The used price range he gives is from $3,500-7,000 US.

I also have Chuck Dachis’ book, Radios By Hallicrafters; in it, he states that the SX-88 is, “the most sought-after Hallicrafters model.” Wow.

After thanking Jeremy for his response, he replied:

“It’s a lot of money for a receiver for certain, but it is a fantastic shortwave receiver as the audio that comes out of it is amazing.

It has 10 watts of audio and into a big speaker–it is second to none. The fidelity is amazing and it is the king of its kind. [For those who like] tube rigs, it is the best of its kind.

For ham purposes on AM it is amazing, and on CW I find it incredible to use.

[W]hen they built this thing they intended to pull all [the] stops out and build the best radio they could for the day with the military in mind. It was an engineering marvel for the day.

Anyway, I have played with it for years now and need to thin out the herd.”

Impressive. And while I just don’t have that kind of money to fork out for a receiver, I did ask myself the question: “If I had $5,500 to blow, would I get that Hallicrafters SX-88?”

And my answer? Yes. In fact, I would personally drive to Jeremy’s home in Ontario and bring it back; no way I’d trust it to a parcel carrier or the post office…

Click to enlarge (Source: AntiqueRadio.org)

Come on, you may say. For a guy who rarely pays over $50 for a vintage receiver, how could you possibly justify that kind of financial and time commitment–?

Well, let’s think of it this way. I remember when when I paid well over two thousand for my first laptop in college. How much is it worth now? Maybe twenty dollars–?

Many people have retirement funds in investments, some of which are in a variety of innovative companies that they actually patronize–for example, Apple or Microsoft. But how often can you find an investment that you can actually play with? One which you can turn on, tune in, work the controls, and enjoy?

Yes, I’m sure this is just the sort of justification voiced by many a vintage car collector…So, why not for a museum-worthy radio? After all, they’re not making these anymore.

I expect this Halli will not only hold its value, but will probably increase in value over time.

Ah, well; fun to ponder. My question to you: Would you buy a $5,500 vintage receiver if you had it to spare?

If your answer is yes, and you do have the money, then you might want to contact Jeremy.

I’m very curious if there are any SX-88 owners among our readership? If so, please comment with your thoughts about the ’88!

And for the rest of us, just so we can revel in the vicarious pleasure of ownership, I’ve included some additional information about the Hallicrafters SX-88 below, including two videos.

Resources (courtesy of Jeremy):

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Want a “new in box” Signal Corps BC-454-B?

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My buddy, Eric (WD8RIF) noticed a rather unique find on eBay this morning: a “new in box” Signal Corps Western Electric BC-454-B receiver. While BC-454-Bs are far from rare, it is certainly a treat to find one with its original box and in mint condition.

I have no plans to bid on this unit–I’m sure the ending bid will be a little too rich for me–but it will be fun to see how high the price climbs. Some day, I hope to acquire a functioning BC-454 of my own. (Santa…are you listening?)

Click here to view on eBay.

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Jonathan’s interviews with Gerry Wells

Shortwave Receivers, Past & Present: a book for every radio enthusiast

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Last month, I received an unexpected–and most welcome–package: a copy of Fred Osterman’s Shortwave Receivers Past & Present, now in its fourth edition. My copy was a signed version, sent to those who contributed to the volume. Although my contributions to this impressive and highly comprehensive work are quite modest, I was grateful nonetheless; author Fred Osterman is not only a good friend, but a radio mentor. He’s also a supporter of my non-profit, Ears To Our World (ETOW); indeed, without his warm encouragement, I doubt I would have launched that enterprise so successfully. Fred continues to support ETOW in innumerable ways. And more than anyone else I know, Fred is a guru of all that is shortwave radio. As the president of Universal Radio, he has the good fortune of seeing a number of new/used radios appear on his doorstep every day, many of which are quite rare. In short, Fred Osterman knows his stuff.

But what a pleasure, to be able to recommend whole-heartedly this book, not because my long-time mentor penned it, but because it is…well, good. Really good. The first time I opened Shortwave Receivers Past & Present, I couldn’t put it down for nearly an hour.

Why? First of all, to say that this reference is chock-full of information about shortwave receivers is an understatement. It catalogs virtually every model of any significant receiver about which I’ve ever heard; that alone is fascinating. But there’s more. This volume lists receivers–and even manufacturers–that are entirely new to me. Clearly, if you’re intrigued by all things shortwave, this book has much to teach…

Each section of Shortwave Receivers Past & Present lists the most relevant information about each receiver model–features, specifications, internal components, accessories, readout type, physical dimensions, review notes, current pricing. (Click to enlarge)

The book is logically laid out by manufacturer and model; each section devoted to a particular model and all of its iterations are noted. As you can see in the example above, in-depth information including the author’s comments are provided, as well as the vitals on each rig–features, specifications, internal components, accessories, readout type, physical dimensions, review notes, current pricing–all beautifully and clearly presented. Clear black-and-white pictures of the radios as well as manufacturer logos are also shown.

While one can, of course, research radios online, rarely can you find all the information you seek so complete; this book has done all the painstaking work for you, and made it infinitely more convenient.

Secondly, Shortwave Receivers is a quality publication. Back in the 1990s, I had the good fortune to work in university archives for a period of time; since then, I notice things others might overlook–binding, paper, quality of print. This book feels like the archival volume it is, with heavy, glossy pages, a robust binding and sturdy spine. It feels like one of those heavy encyclopedias you might have found in libraries in the past, created to endure many page turns and, indeed, stand the test of time.

As heavy as this book is–and it is very heavy, I admit–I think I might start carrying it to hamfests, especially to those with antique radios (i.e. “boat anchors”) on offer. With this work in tow, not only could I determine, on the spot, if a particular model of radio is a bargain, but also tell at a glance if it’s rare, if the components can be sourced readily, and anything else noteworthy I really ought to know about it. This would give me a leg up when bargaining, not to mention, make the whole radio experience more fun.

Indeed, if you collect or restore vintage shortwave receivers, or dream of doing so, this book is an absolute must. That’s the power of a proper reference book with an author who is as passionate about these receivers as the readers.

In short: I highly recommend Shortwave Receivers Past and Present. At $49.95 US, it’s pricier than most individual books; however, considering its role as an all-in-one encyclopedic reference, it’s a value that will serve you for decades.

But if you do obtain a copy of Shortwave Receivers, I leave you with a warning: if you’re like me, you may find it just about impossible to put this book down.

Purchase Shortwave Receivers Past and Present, Fourth Edition at Universal Radio.

[Note to international readers: international shipping costs are substantial on this book, no doubt due to its significant weight and dimensional size. Just make sure you note shipping costs prior to purchasing.]

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