Hallicrafters S-40B Communications Receiver in Excellent Cosmetic Condition Needs Work

This Hallicrafters S-40B Communications Receiver in Excellent Cosmetic Condition. It powers up okay but is not receiving signals so it will need some work or perhaps tube replacement.

 I did not want to see this one go to the scrap heap as it looks really nice and is in great shape.

 I prefer a pick up on this receiver and you will save money picking it up (I live near Green Bay, Wisconsin)

 I am very proficient packing heavy vintage so I can pack very well.

 If I do ship it will be at the risk of the buyer for any damage not covered by insurance.

Shipping heavy items like this has gotten expensive as are the double wall cartons to properly pack.

My Shipping estimate should be close but may have to be adjusted up or down depending on your location.

I am selling this beautiful receiver as is, as described for the family of a silent key who was my friend.

The S-40B is a single conversion general coverage receiver covering 4 bands from AM broadcast to 44 MHz. It is a minor upgrade of the S-40 and S-40A with one less tube but all the same functions.

 All of these sets feature electrical bandspread, BFO, an RF amp and two stages of IF amplification. The S-40 and S-40A use a type 80 tube rectifier and a 6F6 audio output tube. The S-40B uses a 5Y3GT and a 6K6GT for those functions. Other tubes in this set are 6SG7 as RF amp, 6SA7 converter, two 6SK7 for IF amps, 6SC7 for BFO and first audio, and 6H6 for detector, AGC, and noise limiter. 

Description

The S-40 Hallicrafters line began in 1946 and lasted until 1954. With eight tubes, Model S-40 was the mid-level Hallicrafters receiver of the late 1940s and early 1950s. The S-40B was made from 1950-1954 and sold for $129.95.

Below is a magazine ad for the S-40, dating from 1946.

The entry-level receiver during those years was the six-tube S-38, one of the best-selling shortwave sets of all time, retailing for about $40 to $50. If you wanted a top-of-the line Hallicrafters in 1946, you went for the fifteen-tube SX-42, which retailed for $275, roughly double the price of an S-40 and almost six times the price of the original S-38.

The tubes are: 5Y3GT (rectifier), 6SQ7 (RF amplifier), 6SA7 (osc. mixer), 6SK7 (1st IF amplifier), 6SK7 (2nd IF amplifier), 6H6 (detector/automatic noise limiter), 6SG7 (BFO/1st audio amplifier), and 6K6GT (audio power amplifier).

The large left dial is the main tuner and the small center dial is the bandspread, which allows very fine tuning. The light green dials are very pretty, in my opinion, and reminiscent of the SX-42. This radio was also available with tan colored dials. To the right of the dials is the rectangular integrated grill for the internal speaker.

The controls in the bottom row are:

• Sensitivity, adjusts the radio's sensitivity.
• Band selector, to switch among the four bands.
• Volume, adjusts audio gain.
• AVC/OFF, switches automatic volume control, which automatically regulates the audio level for radio signals of different strengths.
• CW/AM, switches to CW for code listening, AM for broadcast and shortwave.
• Noise limiter, switches the automatic noise limiter circuit, which reduces noise from electrical interference.
• AC OFF/Tone, turns on the power and chooses one of three tone settings (high, medium, low).
• Pitch control, adjusts the pitch for CW signals for code listening.
• STANDBY/RECEIVE, switches between receive mode and standby mode, for use with a ham transmitter. In standby mode, the DC voltage is turned off, but the tube heaters remain at operating temperature, so you can instantly resume listening.

The top lid of this radio is connected with a long piano hinge at the rear, so to replace tubes, etc., you simply lift the lid and swing it back.

On the back of the radio are terminals for the antenna/ground and optional external speaker, plus a jack for a remote standby switch.