Hallicrafters S-38C

[7designs]

Well the tube radio bug has bit me hard.
Since the purchase of my Sky Champion I bought a Crosley Fiver 517 that I am restoring and now got this S-38C in today.

Hallicrafters S-38C Before Restoration - YouTube

Bought this classic shortwave radio off ebay. Was listed as not working. After investigation the power switch(on volume control) was not working. Cleaned with a little alcohol and the S-38 powered up. A little cleaning on the band selector and the radio works. I think someone spilled soda or something sticky in it.

I still need to repaint the cabinet and replace the power cord. But there is a loud hum when not tuned to a station, any ideas?

 

[W2NJS]

The loud hum comes from the filter capacitors in the power supply because they've lost their effectiveness and you must now replace them. Odds are that all the other paper capacitors in the radio also need to be replaced.

 

[7designs]

The loud hum comes from the filter capacitors in the power supply because they've lost their effectiveness and you must now replace them. Odds are that all the other paper capacitors in the radio also need to be replaced.

Thanks for the info, I figured a recap would resolve the hum. Will do that once I finish the Crosley.

 

[ridgescan]

Congrats on another great one BTW that Crosely will be sweet-looked it up.

 

[7designs]

Congrats on another great one BTW that Crosely will be sweet-looked it up.

Thanks.

Yes, the Crosley is nice wood cabinet. The wife said only wood through out the house, metal cabinet Hallicrafters stay in my office/workshop.

 

[7designs]

Almost done. Recapped, new power cord, heavily cleaned. Repainted chassis and fixed knobs. Now needs lettering.

Here is a fixed knob. The lip was broken so I removed the lip and smoothed it down by sanding and polishing:

 

[zl2taw]

nice work, looking great in all aspects

 

[ridgescan]

+1! Nice fab on the knob too

 

[kb2vxa]

Nice job but for two things, sky wiring and tack soldering are no-nos.

 

[7designs]

Nice job but for two things, sky wiring and tack soldering are no-nos.

I agree, I was having some issues with my solder gun not wanting to heat up, the tip was loose. I plan to go back and fix these issues.

 

[gewecke]

Very sweet pics!
I still miss my S-108 Halicrafter!

73,
n9zas

 

[acyddrop]

My dad had a couple of old hallicrafters that I thoroughly enjoyed using when I was a youngin'. I remember one had these marks on the dial that was for US war radio or some such. Of course by the time I got to see the radios the frequencies had long since been out of service. But I'd listen anyway just on the off chance that I'd hear something, I think these radios are where I got my love of listening. Well these and an old tube based heathkit shortwave receiver my dad had put together, I completely loved listening to the Sunday night 40m (or was it 80?) radio broadcasts from all over the world. Ah the nostalgia!

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[Token]

My dad had a couple of old hallicrafters that I thoroughly enjoyed using when I was a youngin'. I remember one had these marks on the dial that was for US war radio or some such. Of course by the time I got to see the radios the frequencies had long since been out of service. But I'd listen anyway just on the off chance that I'd hear something, I think these radios are where I got my love of listening.

I believe you are talking about the markings for the CONELRAD frequencies that used to be marked on the dials. There were two CONELRAD frequencies, 640 kHz and 1240 kHz. On some dials these were marked with a small triangle and the letters “CD” inside the triangle, others used a simple triangle.

These markings first appeared in 1951 or 1952, but by law all radios made in the US from 1953 to 1963 and covering the US MW broadcast band (sometimes called the “AM Band&#8221 had these markings.

CONELRAD was basically the predecessor to the EBS, Emergency Broadcast System (1963 to 1997) and the currently used EAS, Emergency Alert System (1997 to date).

T!

 

[acyddrop]

I believe you are talking about the markings for the CONELRAD frequencies that used to be marked on the dials. There were two CONELRAD frequencies, 640 kHz and 1240 kHz. On some dials these were marked with a small triangle and the letters “CD” inside the triangle, others used a simple triangle.

These markings first appeared in 1951 or 1952, but by law all radios made in the US from 1953 to 1963 and covering the US MW broadcast band (sometimes called the “AM Band”) had these markings.

CONELRAD was basically the predecessor to the EBS, Emergency Broadcast System (1963 to 1997) and the currently used EAS, Emergency Alert System (1997 to date).

T!

Thank you for that! That's exactly what they were, small triangles on the dial. I'm sure at the time my dad told me what they were; but this would have been 30 or so years ago. I just remember being fascinated by the whole thing. But I have to admit the biggest thrill for me at the time, was the amazing orangey glow from all the tubes on my ceiling at night. I was probably 7 or 8 at the time.

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