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Thank you for the compliment (I collect them).
I suppose restoring classic cars is similar, one can wind up
replacing nearly all the parts and come out with what amounts to a new
car that looks like something from the past.
Even if the old components (of a radio) were the best obtainable
when it was originally built many would have worn out or aged badly and
they were often NOT the best available but those which met the economic
necessity of competitive marketing. So, we replace virtually all
capacitors, sometimes even the longer lived ones, and nearly all the
resistors and often other components like transformers, speakers, dials,
etc, etc. So, what do we have left that is original? Sometimes not much.
Does the set work as it did when new? Maybe. Sometimes better because
the new parts are better than the original ones were when new. With some
luck the thing will look as it did, or at least close.
If you had experience with something when it was new, and have a
good memory, maybe you can tell where it stands viz its performance.
My first short wave radio was a Hallicrafters S-38B, bought new
after a lot of nagging. For a kid with no experience, it was magic. I
still had its remains until recently. I do have an S-38 which one day I
may rebuild/restore. In fact, the S-38B was a glorified AA-5. It worked
quite well for what it was and was a good introduction. I am not sure I
would have appreciated anything better at the time; too naive (means
ignorant and inexperienced). Did not really know the difference between
AM and CW then. Would have helped if someone had given me a Radio
Amateur's Handbook but not sure how much of it I would have understood.
I have currently an S-20R, which I rebuilt, would have run circles
around the S-38B but I am not sure I would have recognized that.
In any case, here we are restoring ancient stuff, some of which
comprise old dreams. Sometimes what we drooled over in our teens turns
out not to have been so wonderful (including some of the girls I lusted
after) some of it was, indeed wonderful. Actually, my S.O. goes back to
my late teens and IS wonderful.
I would say that Hallicrafters fueled more dreams and lust than any
other brand. Part of their success was to appeal to the dreamer in us
and to make stuff that was not too far out of reach. An S-38B was
attainable while a Collins anything was not really in the same universe.
I see classic cars sometimes that don't quite look real; too
perfect. They are shelf queens, if you drove one you might get a spot of
dust on it; too bad, back to the shop to be cleaned and made perfect
again. Not my taste. At least with radios I can make them so they are
usable. No one must wear gloves to touch the knobs.
Hallicrafters cared about appearance; a lot wound up as movie stars.
They are still attention getters, and, unlike the movie queens of the
past, still look the same. Hail Hallicrafters and what a wonderful hobby.

On 6/17/2024 11:26 PM, Jim Whartenby via wrote:

On Monday, June 17, 2024 at 03:01:03 PM CDT, Richard Knoppow
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Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998