New Restoration Project: 1940 Hallicrafters S-20R

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of the holiday gatherings at Uncle Walt’s and Aunt Eleanor’s house on Nottingham Street in Detroit.  The strong scents of roasting turkey and ham got stronger as I ran down the curved basement stairs to get my holiday hugs.  My attention would quickly shift, however, to Uncle Walt’s Hallicrafters S-20R short-wave radio, standing just above my eye level.  It certainly didn’t look like any transistor radio I was familiar with.  This unit had tubes, and took a minute to warm up before gradually revealing people speaking strange languages.  To me, this radio was magical.

Hallicrafters made radios in Chicago starting in 1932.  Based on the serial number of Uncle Walt’s unit, this specific radio was likely built around August of 1940.  It’s interesting to compare 73 year old electronics with the modern semiconductors in today’s computers.  Fortunately, I have the necessary schematic diagrams and tuning manuals to guide me.  It’s interesting to see the tubes inside the radio, and I’ll likely have to replace a few of those, but the real work will occur under the chassis, where most of the original electronics will need to be replaced.

Look at the World War II-era advertisement of the S-20R below – talk about scaring your customers!  I think the advertisement says “Sure, your church and neighborhood will be bombed, but your Hallicrafters radio will survive.”  This thing is heavy and built like a tank, so that might be true.  I’m sure war time broadcasts were heard on this radio.

I’m still in the research phase, but here’s what I know so far:

1)  The original battleship-gray enamel paint is in good condition and will be left as-is.

2)  The power cord and speaker appear to have been replaced at some point,  I will acquire the proper size and type of speaker and cloth-covered power cord to make it period-correct.

3)  Some tubes will need replacement, but interestingly are still available.

4)  All capacitors will be replaced.  These semiconductors were built around a paste-like material that dries over time.

I will provide updates here as progress is made.  This should be an interesting restoration project.

About Kevin Forth

Always learning, Kevin is an IT professional that likes to tinker with electronics, motorcycles, and whatever he can take apart.

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6 Comments on “New Restoration Project: 1940 Hallicrafters S-20R”

  1. I like the way it say’s it’s BOMB proof. Being over 70 years old it sure doesn’t look to be in that bad of a shape. Now that I am looking at it more I kinda remember one like this many years ago in my family. Can’t pin point it but I can see it on top of a end table right next to a lamp. Old age keeps me from totally remembering. Must be that decease called “Alkahimers”
    Well the good thing is you can work on this project in the house instead of the cold garage. Be interesting to hear it when you get done. I can see the bidding start at maybe $150,000.00. Go for it Kevin. Enjoy and have fun.

    1. These old radios aren’t worth a lot of money, but this will be a fun project. It has sentimental value, mainly because it was my Uncle Walt’s radio. Should be a real challenge to get it working again.

  2. Your Aunt and Uncle were special people. You’ re preserving history. “Creativeness often consists of merely tuning up what is already there”.
    You sure know how to make things happen.
    Good luck with this project and I know you will make it new again.

  3. How about actually working on the house and fixing what needs to be done around there instead of trying to make old crap from the basement work! French doors in the loft need to be finished,drywall needs to be fixed where the leak was,etc.

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