Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Georges Ringotte (F6DFZ), who writes:
Recently my “radio brother” Bruno F6CRN gave me a vintage Hallicrafters SX-130 from the mid seventies. The receiver was extremely nice for a 55 years old rig, had never seen a soldering iron for repair and had original Hallicrafters tubes but was not performing very well.
After some research , I found a solder joint between 2 pins of a tube support, and this solder joint was done during manufacture!
After alignment, the receiver performed relatively well for that kind of somewhat low cost receiver.
These low to mid cost receivers, made by Hallicrafters, Hammarlund and National are single conversion design, with a low frequency IF near 455 kHz or 1.6 MHz. Their frequency calibration is rather poor, they drift, and have poor image rejection, but can perform reasonably well on AM, and also on SSB and CW on the lower bands. Generally, these American receivers are powered on 117 VAC, have no built in speaker, and the crystal calibrator was optional or an outboard accessory.
To use it, I decided to built a small console with an isolation transformer to reduce the European mains from 230 to 117 VAC, a good quality 4 ohms speaker, and a 1 MHz calibrator Manhattan style.
With this console, the receiver looks great, give a taste of the few remaining broadcast stations and warm the shack.
Oh wow! What a beautiful SX-130, Georges! What a great friend you have in Bruno.
Thank you for sharing!
