They Don't Make 'em Like This Sexy Beast Anymore

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

This sweetheart followed me home Friday night after dinner with friends. Like certain cars, old motorcycles, or any number of interesting machines, some things just look like they should. Old radios are no exception, like the SX-28. This one really screams COOL! from the massive Art Deco emblem to the two tone wrinkle cabinet. RCA AVR-11 circa 1937-38, 140 kcs - 23 mcs in 4 bands. A pair of 6F6s in shove/yank configuration for audio output, and a removable tuning section referred to as the 'Magic Brain' (ala Hammarlund SP-10, 1936). Used in airport control towers primarily, though some well-heeled hams apparently had access to a few. Figured I'd share a few shots before tearing into it much more, in case neither of us comes out the other end.  

Spent part of the weekend getting it to play, it now receives well but the accompanying buzz and crappy fidelity confirm what 'JN and KM1H had already reminded me of: old condensers that need re-stuffing. Aside from two missing electrolytic cans, there doesn't appear to be any real hackage involved, just the usual gob of electrolytics tacked under the deck. No extry holes, and only a few mounting screws missing.

If anyone out there has one of these or knows someone who does, I'd sure like to hear from you. Aside from one in the collection of Mr. Hallicrafters Chuck Dachis, no other receivers or information are readily-apparent. I've got a schematic copy from a 1939 aviation book thanks to K4OZY via K4NYW, but a manual would be great to find. Would also like to talk with any ACR-111 owners since they are similar in layout and design.

Wasn't really looking for another project, but sometimes you really don't mind!

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Too cool. Two magic eyes - that's hot! I recall seeing this RX in a few station photos in old QSTs. They were always sans the matching speaker.

[WQ9E]

I really like the big RCA emblem also, never saw one like that before.

Nice find!

[w3jn]

I think the one magic eye is a dummy, for panel symmetry.

That is absolutely one of the coolest receivers I've seen!

[k4kyv]

I think the one magic eye is a dummy, for panel symmetry.

That is absolutely one of the coolest receivers I've seen!

If the dummy one isn't powered up that would be a good place to store a spare for the real one. But I'm surprised RCA would do that, especially for a non-consumer item.  I'd disconnect the filament if it is hooked up but the tube doesn't serve any purpose.

That receiver would make a nice set-up for monitoring the European AM broadcast stations in the 150-200 kc/s range, down below the aircraft beacons.

[Superhet66]

Score! Very nice. Considering the airport use, I wonder if there was a xmtr of the same class/design. That would be a pair...
                                                           D.

[AB3L]

Would look cool with two magic eyes going in parallel. Tremendous RCA emblem.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Johnny is right about the dummy slot, instead of a real tuning eye RCA mounted a plastic window with the image of an eye tube on it, even tinted it green (which is why it looks lit in the photo). Behind it they placed a bracket with a pilot lamp that illuminates when the receiver is in standby.

RCA apparently had strong feelings about symmetry. Beneath the dummy tuning eye they added a screw and panel washer painted and placed to match the headphone jack on the left side. Looking on the back side, absolutely nothing is attached to it. The same things shows up on the Dachis receiver:

http://www.hallicraftercollector.com/other_collectibles/avr-11.jpg

though someone apparently replaced or polished the phone jack. Mine is still painted black.

The only big issue with mine is the missing dial cover, but fortunately RCA used the same escutcheon on a number of their broadcast radios, and several sources offer nice reproductions.

[Bill, KD0HG]

Make the second eye functional, then have them blink at you..

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Yep, put the second eye on the output of the detector. It would blink in concert with the received audio.

[W3GMS]

Todd,
Glad you got the receiver home!  As others have said, it is really a cool looking receiver.  I am sure you will give it a good home and do a great job with the restoration effort. 
Joe, W3GMS

[Ed/KB1HYS]

That's an awsome example of artdeco style. Wow.

[Carl WA1KPD]

Todd,

Nice looking rcvr and thanks for the email. I had something similar only a civilian version with the speaker mounted down below and w/o the deco. I also dont think it went to LF. It now resides within the Vortex and looked pretty sharp. He had done some nice work on restoring it. As I recall the dial and pointer have all sorts of bends in them. Really interesting when you take the escutcheon off.

73

Carl
/kpd

[W1GFH]

I wouldn't be surprised if you picked up transmissions from Amelia Earhart on that thing.

[KA8WTK]

That is a sweet looking radio.

[W2JTD]

2 winking eyes and a winged logo?
What a woman!

Easy on her, Todd.

[AB3L]

A close relative..?

[W3SLK]

Damn, I got instant wood!!!!! Nice receivers, (both of them). I have an old AR(?) (designation escapes me now). It was built in 1938 and sold for a cool $500 then. Global Radio took it out of service in 1998!!!! Right now it sits down at the Vortex awaiting Joe to work his magic on it.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

I'm guessing that would be the AR-60, Mike(y). Neat rig, I know a guy who'll take reeeeeally good care of it if you ever decide it needs to leave.

That ACR-111 is maybe a year or so newer than the AVR-11. I'd like to find someone who has one with the cabinet who can take a few shots for me. You can see the same green dummy eye on the left.

Speaking of which, it does sorta wink atcha when you flip between standby and operation. If RCA hadn't used the space for the standby lamp, you can bet I'd stuff another eye tube in there just for fun, maybe lash it to the other for...... synchronous tuning!

Had to clean up that emblem, the crud on it was deesgustin. Of course, it makes the paint issues more noticeable, but at least the crud is gone. And it confirmed my early suspicions that the grill had been flocked. I can only image the possible comments flying through 'JTD's head now about furry grills....

Anyone remember the places who re-flock speaker grills? There was a guy in Kalyfornia named Mort who did Collins grills, but not sure if he does others. It will certainly clean up the front panel having that taken care of.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Forgot I had a couple inside shots taken last weekend with the 'Brainbox' (yuk yuk) removed. You can clearly see the two eye openings. The stand-by lamp is in place, but the tuning eye is laying next to the radio just out of frame.

Carl, I'll let you know what I find with the dial needle. Was going to remove the escutcheon until I discovered the screws weren't tapped into the panel but pass through with nuts on the back, requiring the panel be dropped. Of course, you need to do this to access the lower pilot lamps anyway.

If you have any shots of the set you sent to the Vortex, I'd really like to see them. Was it in a similar RCA cabinet?

[k7yoo]

I have the equipment to flock grills and have the grey for the Collins speakers in stock. Other flocking colors are available. I have never advertised the service but usually do 10-20 at a pop.
Please, no flocking wisecracks.
Skip Green
k7yoo@yahoo.com

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Well, flock you Skip.

[W3SLK]

Todd said:

I'm guessing that would be the AR-60, Mike(y).

That's it Todd. For whatever reason I couldn't remember the designator. I have it on "extended loan" down at the Vortex. The rubber wire was becoming a bit un-nerving and I know Joe works with that kind of issue more than I do. Heavy bastard but your's isn't no fly weight either. I really dig the RCA Winged-emblem. 

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Same issue with mine, Mikey. The green rubber wire on all of the grid leads (and everywhere else, for that matter) is brittle and crumbling when even bumped. Need to find some good standard wire with a similar color and coating. The colth covered wire isn't quite as bad since the cloth gives it some amount of integrity, but 70+ years is a long time. I'm just going to do it in stages, wires then components.

Skipper, when I get the grill out of the speaker panel I'll take a picture of it and send it to you. I'd guess it to be at least 10"x10" with black flocking. $20 strikes me as pretty cheap, even if I pay for the black flocking. I checked into doing it myself but decided I didn't need more equipment around that would probably get used once more in my life. Glad to hear you have the stuff.

[k7yoo]

Todd: I usually do 10-20 grills at a time! If you want just one done then we need to discuss cost. The glue and flock are generally the same color. I can buy 1/2 pint cans of the glue and a small bag of the flock. I have done some research and I can also get a wide variety of screen to duplicate the originals. It is amazing all of the different pitch and wire diameters there are (this is to duplicate originals from scratch). Restoring originals is also a challenge because stripping the vestiges of old flock and rust requires chemical stripping and glass bead work. This is why I have generally done them in large batches. In any case I would be glad to help you out.

Skip

Steve: I knew you couldn't resist a flocking comment!