On Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:39:10 -0500, K3HVG wrote:


Looking at the photos, I'll vote for homebrew or, possibly, a rough kit
of parts supplied by a wholesaler of the period. The fact that the rear
of the cabinet reveals a too large opening for the chassis

The radio does seem to be homebrew but the size of the chassis is
appropriate for the cabinet. The large opening in the rear of the case
is used to access any connections on the back of the chassis. There is
no way for a populated chassis to pass through that opening, The
chassis is mounted to the front panel and then the assembly is secured
to the opening in the front of the case.

and its
lopsided sort of bodes homebrew, too. Tube vintage is.. what.. octals,
late 30's or 40's? The underside may well be the answer.... Nice find,
though.

The 1936 ARRL handbook describes a receiver which uses a pentode as a
regen detector and a triode in the audio stage. Suggested 6.3v tubes
include a 6j7 and a 6c5. As the OP suggested the rx's 6j5 may be a
replacement for a 6c5.

73 de n4jvp