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I have two Setchell Carlson Model 524 Beacon Receivers, also called Range Receivers, up for sale in this auction. Beacon receivers were used by 'ferry' pilots to home in on airfield beacons in the 195 to 420 kHz frequency range. Designed to run directly from 24-28 volts, these tiny radios were bolted into new B-29 and B-17, among others, to be flown from the factory to the final outfitting area.
With five tubes crammed into a space 4x4x6 inches and weighing about 3 pounds, these radios got 3 microvolts sensitivity and put out enough audio to drive headphones over the noise of a WWII airplane.Both of these units have been modified by a previous owner to accept an octal tube in place of the loktal 28D7. I traced one out far enough to see that it had been modified to run directly from line voltage using a 70L7GT and appears to have an 8 ohm output rewiring (that socket says 6SQ7 on it, but that is because the modifier just used an old socket from somew I am including the 70L7GT NOS tube I bought from Antique Radio Supply to test it. The other units mods, besides an octal tube, seem to be incomplete.
We specialize in schematic diagrams and electronic circuit service information for old vintage tube radios. We carry schematics for American made Philco, RCA Victor, Zenith, Westinghouse, Motorola, Admiral, Emerson, General Electric / GE, Sparton, Stromberg-Carlson, Airline, Crosley, Emerson, etc.
All the other tubes are intact. The basic tube line up is 14A7, RF amplifier; 14J7, mixer; 14A7, IF amplifier; 14R7, detector, 1st audio; the 28D7, audio output tube is gone in both.The unit with the line cord has been tested enough to convince me that the 2nd IF coil has failed to an Open. I jumpered around it and got reception from my signal generator- although very weak.
The 2nd unit can be used as a parts unit, or, maybe, since it has fewer changes, it can be fixed up. Either way, I think t are enough pieces to get a good working beacon radio receiver. That was my plan until I got a NIB Detrola version of the BC-1206-A, which is working just fine.
I had this grand plan of setting up some NDBs on the lowfer band and modifying these to be the monitors.Probably these were modified per some old ham radio article to be used as the 'poor man's Q5er' or who knows what else. The external case screws are missing, but the cases are t as you can see in the 'grand view' picture.Note that one receiver is marked with the BC-1206 nomenclature and one only has the Model 524 name on it.I will include a photocopy of the manual (I don't have an original).Both these radios are going to weigh 15 pounds when packed, so email me with your preferred shipping method before making a payment.
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I will pack it carefully and get the exact numbers. Please, no overseas shipments unless you are willing to deal with the really high cost of shipment.