EAC R-390A / URR radio receiver
Date: 1960-1965
Inventory Number: 2004-1-0414
Classification: Radio Receiver
Subject:
Maker: United States Army (founded 1775)
User: Department of Physics, Harvard University (founded 1884)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
26.7 × 48.3 × 42.2 cm (10 1/2 × 19 × 16 5/8 in.)
Accessories: operator's Manual, published by the Department of the Army on 16 January 1961.
Description:
A large and very heavy metallic case that could be mounted on a rack, with a front panel and handles to lift it or insert it on a rack.
The front panel has about 14 knobs, two dials, an analog frequency indicator, and two needle indicators for line and carrier level.
The front panel has about 14 knobs, two dials, an analog frequency indicator, and two needle indicators for line and carrier level.
In Collection(s)
Signedplaque: RECEIVER, RADIO R-390A/URR / PART NO. [blank] SERIAL NO. 53 / ELECTRONIC ASSISTANCE CORP. / RED BANK NEW JERSEY / 115/230VAC / 48-62~ 220W
on manual: HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, 16 JANUARY 1961.
on manual: HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, 16 JANUARY 1961.
FunctionA device that can be set to receive signals at a specific frequency.
The R390A/URR was a very successful radio receiver first developed for the Army by the Collins Radio Company in the mid-1950s. It continued to be produced by several companies including the Electronic Assistance Corp / Hammarlund until the 1984. Starting in the late 1960s, it was available for civilian use. It is reputed to be one of the finest receivers based on vacuum tube technology.
There exists very extensive documentation on the R390A/URR among enthusiasts online, including scanned operating manuals. A good website to start can be found here.
The R390A/URR was a very successful radio receiver first developed for the Army by the Collins Radio Company in the mid-1950s. It continued to be produced by several companies including the Electronic Assistance Corp / Hammarlund until the 1984. Starting in the late 1960s, it was available for civilian use. It is reputed to be one of the finest receivers based on vacuum tube technology.
There exists very extensive documentation on the R390A/URR among enthusiasts online, including scanned operating manuals. A good website to start can be found here.
Historical AttributesThis particular instrument was used to receive high-frequency signals emitted by a sample during negative spin temperature experiments (see 2004-1-0412a,b,c, and 2004-1-0413).
Curatorial RemarksU.S. Army surplus?
ProvenanceUsed in Harvard's advanced undergraduate physics lab (Physics 191r) before coming to the collection.
