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RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - Printable Version

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RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - JoeKer - 05-20-2024

Howdy folks, 
I don't post here as I enjoy reading and learning from you all and don't want to be a pest asking dumb questions. Having said that today I came across an older radio without brand name up front just a Model 40X in the back. There's also a smaller label on the back saying "Licensed only for radio amateur under experimental and broadcast reception" Patents under Radio Corporation of America HAZELTINE AND LATOUR AND AFFILIATED COMPANIES 
I assume radio was produced by RCA for ham radio operators but can find absolutely no info about it on line. Can anyone here help me find some info about it? Thank you in advance.            


RE: RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - DaleHCook - 05-21-2024

The patent licensing notice has no relationship to who manufactured the radio. I don't see a model 40X in the Universal Schematic Locator or in the CD-ROM edition of Bunis. It isn't one of the 1939 RCA series which begins "40X" followed by two digits.


RE: RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - RodB - 05-21-2024

Dale is correct. RCA owned the patent for the superhet design and licensed the design to any company with the right compensation. This notice had to be attached to every radio under the license agreement. Sarnoff was not a hospitable person.

This appears to be a post-war model as pre-war radios with phono jacks were rare.


RE: RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - Radioroslyn - 05-21-2024

Is this a set that you saw or a project? If you have it there is a way to look up the tube lineup and try to figure it out that way.
I'm a little iffy on the 1st IF trans and the pushbutton assby but I'm a pessimism.


RE: RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - JoeKer - 05-21-2024

Hi,
I do have the receiver at home on the workbench. Didn't want to mess with it too much without prints/schematic but I guess now I'm gonna have to. Additional detail radio came from a military gentleman from Hawaii who was a radio collector.


RE: RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - Radioroslyn - 05-21-2024

Your chassis is a bit different in that it uses both standard base and octal base tubes. I would think that it would be a pre war set but we'll see. Here's something to try: https://grillecloth.com/sylvania/tubelist.php


RE: RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - David - 05-21-2024

Thinking about your set maybe it started life as a kit. Looking at the push buttons and the screws on each side. Found a set years ago at a flea market the only markings personal radio. Had wood blocks to align the parts. link to my post. David   https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=19624&pid=151851#pid151851


RE: RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - Arran - 05-21-2024

For a start, the layout, and chassis design does not look like an RCA model, also RCA wasn't really in the habit of mixing tube types with different bases. Given the electric pushbuttons that would make the set 1938 or newer, more likely 1939-40 or newer, which if it were an RCA set would mean it would have an RCA jack and not a pair of pin jacks, and more then likely included a magic eye tube. I'm not sure when the RCA jack debut but it may have been around 1937, the 1935 and earlier models had a pair of screw terminals, none used pin jacks like an old set of headphones.
I do not think that this was a kit, if it were then why would it have "Tested by #11" stamped on the back apron? It looks like something made by one of the Chicago independents, Belmont, Continental Radio and Television (Admiral), Sentinel (though the chassis doesn't like like one of theirs). It's not a Crosley, I don't think it's an Arvin, or a Detrola. It could have been made by Colonial, which was in New York state, they used to make stuff for Sears.
Regards
Arran


RE: RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - David - 05-22-2024

The push buttons just do not add up. Looking from the back of the set me thinks not part of the set when it left the factory. David


RE: RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - RodB - 05-23-2024

David, I think you're right. When leaving the factory it would have a bezel around the buttons. It's a strange one.


RE: RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - radiorich - 05-23-2024

Hello Rob,
I think the bezel around the buttons is just missing because you can see where the wood is a different color where bezel was covering the wood !

Sincerely Richard


RE: RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - David - 05-23-2024

Looking at the push buttons and the knobs just do not match to my old eyes. David


RE: RCA shortwave radio Model 40X ? - Joe Rossi - 06-04-2024

It would be helpful to know the tube line-up.