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Author Topic: National sw 54  (Read 448 times)

N4MJG

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National sw 54
« on: July 28, 2022, 04:39:09 PM »

I brought this old sw 54 years ago at bramham hamfest paid 20.00 the radio work and missing bottom cover so went online found the bottom cover, someone replaced everything under the radio i think tube was eiter orignal or replaced ! anyway i plug it in and it works i tune it around i found morse code on 160 meter not only pick up morse code but music too wrmi in  fla the  oldie station has anyone have the old sw 54? what year it was made? i'm guessing late 50 to 60's
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JACKIE GREEN

DL9BDM

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Re: National sw 54
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2022, 05:04:52 PM »

Osterman says 1950 - 1957, Rider's & Co says since 1951

https://antiqueradio.org/nat01.htm
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/national_sw54.html
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W6HB

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Re: National sw 54
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2022, 11:11:16 PM »

Dad bought one at the base exchange in Kodiak, Alaska in 1955. Fun toy but be careful as the chassis is tied to one side of the line and can ZAP you on occassion!
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N4MJG

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Re: National sw 54
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2022, 05:30:53 PM »

W6HB

It never zap me yet even when plug in i'm ver carefull about it as i said i found the cover for the bottom was missing find online for 10.00 buck and works great !

73Jackie
N4MJG
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Dad bought one at the base exchange in Kodiak, Alaska in 1955. Fun toy but be careful as the chassis is tied to one side of the line and can ZAP you on occassion!
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JACKIE GREEN

NI0C

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Re: National sw 54
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2022, 03:28:44 AM »

Glad to know that a SW-54 still receives! I used one as an SWL starting around 1957, then as a Novice ham in 1959. You can see it in a picture of my Novice station on QRZ.

It wasn't a very good receiver even back then, and I recall wishing it had an electrical bandspread, instead of the large dial called "bandspread." I also received shocks from the metal cabinet, and soon learned to take care when plugging it in. The house I grew up in had wiring dating from the 1890's.
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WA8NVW

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Re: National sw 54
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2022, 01:09:31 PM »

JACKIE, PLEASE before you do anything else, replace the old line cord with a new 3-wire cord so you don't kill yourself.  A local ham should be able to assist you in getting the wires sorted out correctly.  Black connects to the hot lead, white is the 'cold' side, and green goes directly to the chassis.  If it pops the breaker when you plug in in the first time, swap the black and white.
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