{"id":30055,"date":"2018-01-10T07:23:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-10T11:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=30055"},"modified":"2018-01-10T07:23:00","modified_gmt":"2018-01-10T11:23:00","slug":"the-national-hro-5ta1-parting-is-such-sweet-sorrow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/the-national-hro-5ta1-parting-is-such-sweet-sorrow\/","title":{"rendered":"The National HRO-5TA1: Parting is such sweet sorrow…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As I mentioned in a previous post<\/a>, I’m in the process of selling and giving away radio gear that I no longer use or that’s been sitting on the workbench way too long.<\/p>\n

This is an easier process when it involves modern gear, as I have comparatively little attachment to radios I could go out and purchase once again, should I feel so moved. The only modern portables I keep, regardless, are those I must have on hand for comparison testing and reviews. And, yes, I do have a number of favorites I never intend to sell.<\/p>\n

But when it comes to vintage gear?\u00a0 Letting go is hard to do.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A few years ago, I acquired a bunch of vintage gear and accessories from a friend whose father was a radio operator in WWII. Since then, I’ve been selling this equipment and giving the proceeds to our non-profit (ETOW<\/a>). I’ve also donated a lot of equipment to the Hickory Aviation Museum\u00a0<\/a>in North Carolina\u2013\u2013I’m a member, and have been piecing together an\u00a0AN\/ARC-8 system for permanent display (only now lacking a good BC-348).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The only receiver I kept for myself was a National HRO-5TA1<\/strong>. It’s totally original and has likely not been operated since the late 1940s.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In a sense, this is the radio equivalent of a “barn find.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I love the HRO dial and the overall aesthetics of this vintage set.\u00a0 It absolutely shouts “1940s” radio\u2013\u2013! These sets were initially manufactured during WWII under some large orders. Indeed, the “H.R.O.” acronym is said to be the National internal designation of the series…meaning, “Hellva Rush Order.” There were many variations of the National HRO; mine was the 1946 “5TA1.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The HRO-5TA1 uses coils to change bands. My HRO has the full set of coils and even the coil box. To change coils, you simply pull out (unplug) the coil from the front of the receiver and plug in a new one.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The power supply is self-contained and connects to the HRP-5TA1 via a four conductor plug.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The back panel of the receiver couldn’t be more simple.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Inside, it’s impressively clean for its age; check this out:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a>If you can’t tell, letting this one go is going to be one of the toughest I’ve experienced. Parting will, indeed, be sweet sorrow. I must give someone else an opportunity to put this girl on the air, else it will sit here for many more years before I have an opportunity to do the necessary upgrades to make her airworthy again (needs at least recapping).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This weekend, my buddy, Vlado (N3CZ) and I will reserve a couple of tables at the Greenwood, SC hamfest<\/a>. Unless I sell the HRO-5TA1 beforehand, you’ll find it on my table there!<\/p>\n

On that note, readers, please comment if you have a suggestion what I should charge for this set. You can also comment if you think I’m crazy for selling it. It’s not going to be easy!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As I mentioned in a previous post, I’m in the process of selling and giving away radio gear that I no longer use or that’s been sitting on the workbench way too long. This is an easier process when it involves modern gear, as I have comparatively little attachment to radios I could go out […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,305,43],"tags":[1146,4277,3233,6746,681],"class_list":["post-30055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-shortwave-radio","tag-boat-anchors","tag-hro","tag-national-hro","tag-national-hro-5ta1","tag-vintage-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-7OL","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":21616,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/10\/ebay-find-exceedingly-rare-national-hro-500-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":30055,"position":0},"title":"eBay Find: “exceedingly rare” National HRO-500 Receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"October 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes: The number of times a shortwave classic becomes available\u00a0in this condition over the course of decades, can be counted on two hands, let alone one in new unopened condition: Click here to view on eBay. Thanks for the tip, Dan!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"national-hro-500-receiver","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/National-HRO-500-Receiver.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/National-HRO-500-Receiver.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/National-HRO-500-Receiver.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/National-HRO-500-Receiver.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54297,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/10\/dan-spots-an-ultra-rare-national-hro-600-on-buyee\/","url_meta":{"origin":30055,"position":1},"title":"Dan spots an ultra-rare National HRO-600 on Buyee","author":"Thomas","date":"October 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes: Wow. Appearing on the Japan Buyer site is one of the top rarities, the National HRO-600 https:\/\/buyee.jp\/item\/yahoo\/auction\/m1066450646 As veteran SWLs may recall, the HRO-600 was pictured in the old Communications Handbook receiver sections. The radio sold for the then astronomical\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/National-HRO-600.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/National-HRO-600.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/National-HRO-600.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/National-HRO-600.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33222,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/boat-anchor-tuesday-national-hro-50t\/","url_meta":{"origin":30055,"position":2},"title":"Boat Anchor Tuesday: National HRO-50T","author":"Thomas","date":"July 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Price Kagey, who shares the following photo for Boat Anchor Tuesday and writes: \"My wonderful HRO-50T. I have replaced all tubes and now need to start on capacitors and resistors.\" What a beautiful radio, Price!\u00a0 Once you've re-capped and replaced the resistors in this girl,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Boat Anchors"","block_context":{"text":"Boat Anchors","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/boat-anchors-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/National-HRO-50T.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/National-HRO-50T.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/National-HRO-50T.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/National-HRO-50T.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24876,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/guest-post-national-hro-500-unboxing-and-initial-tests\/","url_meta":{"origin":30055,"position":3},"title":"Guest Post: National HRO-500 Unboxing and Initial Tests","author":"Thomas","date":"March 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, for the following guest post: HRO-500 Unboxing and Initial Tests by Dan Robinson It is amazing that in these days of waning shortwave broadcast activity, there are still those occasional time capsules -- radios that appear on the used market via Ebay\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/HRO-500-Dan-Robinson.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/HRO-500-Dan-Robinson.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/HRO-500-Dan-Robinson.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/HRO-500-Dan-Robinson.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48215,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/1940-when-sears-roebuck-sold-a-wide-array-of-radio-gear\/","url_meta":{"origin":30055,"position":4},"title":"1940: When Sears Roebuck sold a wide array of radio gear","author":"Thomas","date":"March 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Charlie (W4MEC), who shares a PDF of the 1940 Sears Roebuck Co. catalog section featuring a wide array of radio gear and test equipment. This file is hosted on the Pro Audio Design forum and can be downloaded as a PDF (15.8 MB) by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sears-Roebuck-1940-Radios-Nostalgia-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sears-Roebuck-1940-Radios-Nostalgia-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sears-Roebuck-1940-Radios-Nostalgia-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20063,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/07\/milwaukee-aes-to-become-ham-radio-outlet-store\/","url_meta":{"origin":30055,"position":5},"title":"Milwaukee AES to become Ham Radio Outlet store","author":"Thomas","date":"July 15, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow, for sharing the following press release from HRO: (Source: Ham Radio Outlet) RE: HRO-Milwaukee, Amateur Electronic Supply's closing on 7\/28\/2016 On July 1, 2016 Amateur Electronic Supply (AES) made the decision to close down their entire organization and terminate all retail operations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"logo_hamradio","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/logo_hamradio.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30055\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}