RCA AR88D Receiver.

Another one! This is my own AR88D, the main reason for posting this is that I can confirm it is an engraved front panel version.
The front panel is a smooth finish semi gloss black and appears to be original.
It can be seen that an "S" Meter is fitted, however it is not the original "S" Meter as supplied or fitted by RCA, the meter shown was made by Marion and is of USA origin, the meter scale is the right colour and thats about it, it does work.
It can be seen that a hole was drilled by someone in the front plexiglass to accomodate the mechanical set zero adjustment on the meter, I suspect that their drill binded as there is a crack in the plexiglass that runs out from the hole.
I have a good unmarked replacement that will be fitted at some point.
Except for a few under chassis components and the meter the receiver is more or less original and generally un got at, it is due for the full monty at some point.
The receiver works well and is not far off spec as it stands, although not very clear in the picture the receiver is housed in it's original steel case the weight of which is nearly equal to my HRO....
They are a good receiver built with no expense spared (we paid for it all in the end) Not my favourite though.

Lawrence 7/1/2012

Eddystone 358X Coil Packs.

I have only eight coil packs for the receiver, one is in the receiver and the other seven are shown hear, the two missing ones are the two lowest frequency long wave packs.
The coil packs are very well made and are sectionaly screened in their die cast boxes, all adjustments are easily reached. The boxes can be easily dismantled by removing the set screws holding the bottom base to its cover, for trouble shooting the coils can be plugged in without the cover.

Lawrence 7/1/2012

Eddystone 358X with PSU.
According to the serial number this receiver was made c 1946, a variant of the 358 the 358X is the Xtal filter version.
The receiver shown in the picture has a noise limiter fitted, the limiter components and knob are original Eddystone, indications suggest that this was factory fitted.
The receiver coverage is from 40 Kc's to 31 Mc's by the use of ten plug in coil units. The tuning drive is smooth and also incorporates a seperate logging scale.
The receiver has only one RF stage but performs quite well, the xtal filter is of the two pole type and is nice and sharp.
The receiver shown is at present all original and is all workie workie with all the origianal resistors and capacitors, a brief check with a signal generator indicates that it is working close to spec.
The front panel meter is in series with the valve anodes and can be switched to monitor the emission of any of the valves in the receiver in a go no go test, it can also be used to give an relative indication of signal strength when switched to monitor the anode current of the RF amplifier valve, for this the AGC has to be switched on and the RF gain set to full.
According to various sources about 5,000 of these sets were made, I suspect that quite a few have survived.

Lawrence 7/1/2012

View of the top / above-chassis of an RA-17L.

Skywave. Jan. 5th., 2012

Under-chassis view of an RA-17.
Note the extensive screening & 'compartment-isation': essential to keep down the level of unwanted inter-circuit coupling in a complicated multi-conversion receiver, such as the RA-17. This screening is so critical for correct receiver performance that when I had a spurious, self-generated signal at about 17 MHz on mine, it wasn't until I cleaned all the 'fingers' on one of the many screening plates (that you see above) that the fault finally went away. And even then, I found that the torque settings of the 6BA screws that hold those plates in place could be critical too!
As mentioned elsewhere, for proper maintenance of one of there receivers, you must have quality and accurately-calibrated test kit.

Skywave. Jan. 5th., 2012