Also, Collins on the nameplate means nothing more than Collins on the
nameplate; because the individual modules are interchangeable among
various manufacturers. Now if you can find one with Helena Rubinstein
on the nameplate, you've really found something.

This is definitely true of the R390-A, but less so of the non-A model. Pretty
sure Helena R. only got into the "A" production.

My R390-A has every module by a different maker, which is the way I like it,
since it shows off the modular nature of the radio.

I think my non-A is limited to Collins and Motorola (no lipstick smears :-)

BTW, I got my R390 (same model as the one on eBay) for $150 near the end of a
radio swap meet. The guy practically begged me to buy it out of his trunk. I
got it home, plugged it in on the garage floor, stuck in a pair of phones and
-- it WORKED on all bands! Still does, even tho my "A" model quit on me.

SW content listeners and AM Hams prefer the non-A for sound quality, while
DXers who try to dig out weak signals and CW Hams prefer the A. Both need to
be "hacked" for good SSB.

For $3500 you could buy a decent R390, pay someone to fix it up, then put 100
hours of your own time into making the cosmetic cleanups to equal the one on
auction. --Mike K.



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