{"id":2341,"date":"2013-11-23T09:07:40","date_gmt":"2013-11-23T14:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/192.168.50.23\/wordpress\/blog\/?p=2341"},"modified":"2018-04-07T17:07:16","modified_gmt":"2018-04-07T21:07:16","slug":"new-restoration-project-1940-hallicrafters-s-20r","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forths.com\/index.php\/2013\/11\/23\/new-restoration-project-1940-hallicrafters-s-20r\/","title":{"rendered":"New Restoration Project: 1940 Hallicrafters S-20R"},"content":{"rendered":"

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. \u00a0The strong scents of roasting turkey and ham got stronger as I ran down the curved basement stairs to get my holiday hugs. \u00a0My attention would quickly shift, however, to Uncle Walt’s Hallicrafters S-20R short-wave radio, standing just above my eye level. \u00a0It certainly didn’t look like any transistor radio I was familiar with. \u00a0This unit had tubes<\/em>, and took a minute to warm up<\/em> before gradually revealing people speaking strange languages. \u00a0To me, this radio was magical.<\/p>\n

Hallicrafters<\/a> made radios in Chicago starting in 1932. \u00a0Based on the serial number of Uncle Walt’s unit, this specific radio was likely built around August of 1940<\/strong>. \u00a0It’s interesting to compare 73 year old electronics with the modern semiconductors in today’s computers. \u00a0Fortunately, I have the necessary schematic diagrams and tuning manuals to guide me. \u00a0It’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.<\/p>\n

Look at the World War II-era advertisement of the S-20R below<\/a> – talk about scaring your customers! \u00a0I think the advertisement says “Sure, your church and neighborhood will be bombed, but your Hallicrafters radio will survive.” \u00a0This thing is heavy and built like a tank, so that might be true. \u00a0I’m sure war time broadcasts were heard on this radio.<\/p>\n

I’m still in the research phase, but here’s what I know so far:<\/p>\n

1) \u00a0The original battleship-gray enamel paint is in good condition and will be left as-is.<\/p>\n

2) \u00a0The power cord and speaker appear to have been replaced at some point, \u00a0I will acquire the proper size and type of speaker and cloth-covered power cord to make it period-correct.<\/p>\n

3) \u00a0Some tubes will need replacement, but interestingly are still available.<\/p>\n

4) \u00a0All capacitors will be replaced. \u00a0These semiconductors were built around a paste-like material that dries over time.<\/p>\n

I will provide updates here as progress is made. \u00a0This should be an interesting restoration project.<\/p>\n