Finished! Restored 1940's Secret Listening Post Receiver, See And Hear It Operate! The RCA CR-88 

To learn electronics in a very different and effective way, and gain access to Mr Carlson's personal designs and inventions, visit the Mr Carlson's Lab Patreon page here: www.patreon.com/MrCarlsonsLab

Dear Mr Carlson. I can only imagine how the original 1940's design engineering team and staff of RCA would feel about your love and attention to their pride and joy all these years later. As you mention, the hours of work, planning and circuit design was significant. All at a time with no computers. You should be highly complimented for your extreme attention to detail. Nothing is passed over, nothing is left as 'it will do'...everything is tested. It's been a delight to watch. From someone who is late Gen X and a licensed HAM from the nineties, thank you so much for demonstrating that those RCA engineers knew their sh*t and you are able to keep their fantastic engineering master pieces alive for another generation to enjoy. Delightful stuff!

Nothing like mr Carlson’s lab on a afternoon while I’m aligning my hammarlund HQ-120

I cant believe we here on RU-vid get all this wonderful knowledge free.. blows my mind. Thank you so much, sir.

The reason I am so attracted to your channel is your attention to detail. Let's face it, many technical "experts" are slobs. They couldn't care less if their expertise has been compromised by shoddy work. When you spend an infinite amount of time making sure that the dial-face of the equipment is correct-you've made your case. Because of this, I will be increasing my monetary increase (patreon) to your channel by 100%. No big deal in the grand scope of things, but it's significant to me and those who share my values!

What a beautifully made piece of equipment. Hard to believe it's 78 years old. Very nicely restored.

I'm telling you Mr. Carlson.. this RCA receiver is now far better than when roll out the assembly line.. indeed you are the best..👍🇨🇦

Hello Paul C!! Another GREAT VIDEO on a GRAND OLDIE but GOODIE!! I received my novice license around 1967 or 68. My interest in radio was spurred on by listening to short wave broadcasts and standard broadcasts on an old Philco radio console.and wonder about those far off voices and music from far away! My Mom worked at G.E. in Bridgeport Connecticut during WW2 and she told me all about tubes and resistors, capacitors and coils when I was about 5 or 6 years old! I would listen to that old Philco radio while just looking into the back of it at the magical Glowing tube's and my imagination would run free about the WONDERS of RADIO at that time in the early to mid 1960's and a little later in years I would meet my 6th grade teacher a Mr Charles C Stantial in my six grade science class that started an amateur radio club of about 18 students and about 15 of us received our! I enjoy your videos Novice class license the next year, code had to be known at 5 WPM then. Yes I am still a Ham now! and I enjoy every one of your videos!! 73 from KC2UVN.

Mr. Carlson, you've made me fall in love with my older gear all over again. So I went and bought another VTVM to restore!

My brother that is a grand old lady!! I love the way you take time and care to make sure she is exactly where she should be on frequency. I personally have and restore vintage Drake amateur rigs. Your videos have given me that additional kick to restore each and every one to factory and better condition. Sure the latest and greatest is nice to have but there is still something about an old "fire bottle" rig that transports me back to when I first got into radio. Sitting in my room and later my folks attic on a cold clear winter night with the "cans" on listening to the internationals broadcast or working 80 and 40 CW were great times. Thanks for caring about these "mature" rigs. Be well and safe,peace to you and yours. 73

Now wouldn't it be outstanding to have a comment from someone who actually operated a receiver like this at a listening post back in the late 40's- early 50's!!!! That would be the cherry on top!

Paul…can’t thank you enough for doing this project. I have one that I can now restore and at least have some confidence doing so. You are a master craftsman. I love mine dearly and only paid 300 bucks for it. Thank you again! Great series.

Mr Carlson, this was a wonderful blast from the past when I was gifted a Hammarlund HQ-180A that pretty had "Wooden Ears" . The restore was pretty much successful but in no way "Lab Quality". Thank you for the wonderful vide from an. Extra Old Extra Class with a GROL+Radar.

Fascinating! I haven't tuned up a radio in 50 years! One of my jobs was a 1929 Philco Storage Battery Company Tuned Radio Frequency (TRF) receiver I got out of a chicken coop. (They made batteries for electric cars and switched to radios when the electric car market dried up). When I showed the original owner that it still worked he was amazed, it had sat for so long (about thirty years). This was in 1962. He bought it for $600 dollars just two weeks before the stock market crash.

It struck me as you were talking about the very specific grounding of the tuning capacitors that the engineer who designed it is much like a orchestra composer. Just like the individual instruments contribute to the sound produced by the orchestra, so do the components of the radio, and how they are connected affects the radio's performance. Thank you so very much for helping us to appreciate the expertise and level of sophistication that went into building the receiver.

I did enjoy this restoration very much and it was also very interesting and helpfull for our repair and restauration projects at Minimuseum radio intercept station Gorinchem.

I rarely write comments but I have to say how much enjoy you channel. Even if don't understand much of what you end up doing I enjoy the process and your throughnes. I hope you can sometime takes through your career and on how you end up amassing such knowledge, specially of all these old devices. Sometimes it seems as if you have lived another life back in the 40s.

It would be interesting to hook a computer up to the audio output on this thing to try and decode some of the computer signaling. Get the best of both worlds... sensitive high-fidelity receiver with the rapid signal analysis of a modern computer. Love this receiver Mr. Carlson! 👍

Man, I can't wait to see what you do with the R390a because the CR-88 has turned out fantastic great job sir.

I know nothing about radios but I produce music using vacuum tubes and I’m always amazed by the components and process you go through to bring these units back to life.

I can’t tell you how you brought memories back for me. I repaired portable radios for a living. I was thought to be persnickity for cleaning chassis and shields. I so love how you clean the radio. Gets rid of all the noise

Exceptional engineering for 1940's and restored to maximun capability by Mr. Carlson. Worth so much that you couldn't afford it but it was a great series to watch none the less.

Paul: I am quite learned (because I don't stop and never will :) ) and you are adding to it tremendously. Don't ever stop doing you. You rock!

I was totally amazed at how good CW sounded on this radio. Thanks for demonstrating its capabilities.

9:06 it looks like an engine ready for the car show, but it’s a radio… I’m absolutely amazed at what you did to it throughout this whole series. Going back all the way from seeking out and troubleshooting every single component failure, the bent capacitor fins (wth?), the fleeting signals (or spirits that haven’t yet moved on from this world) that you could only measure/hear/view on your test equipment, to replacing, refurbishing, engineering, and restoring every part of that system for our edification. A true grande radio restoration indeed. Thank you for the time you spend sharing your knowledge and expertise.

The 2-camera shoot is a great idea. Very handy for your viewers.

I realy enjoyed this restoration of the CR88. In the 1960's when I was in Jounior High School I had an AR88LF and was amazed at what it could receive. Stayed up late many a night working through the bands. It was definatly in need of alignment but even so was better than any other SW receivers I had. Looking forward to more restorations in this series and comparing them to the cr88. Listening to my current Halicrafters SX-10 makes me miss the old RCA even more. You have put the bug in me to go looking for another one.

Wow man, your lab is something out of this world.

I always marvel at your expertise. The meticulousness you put into every project is admirable. And your enthusiasm is infectious. That CR-88 with the black faceplate is utterly gorgeous. Looking back at these classic receivers I'm often agog at just how beautiful they are, inside and out. Your work and this channel are greatly admired and appreciated.

Wow Paul great work, your skill is legendary!

That black pannel really looks good. Excelent sensitivity. I miss my SW radio. I used to listen to it every night in the 80's. I recieved stations from all over the world.

@MrCalsonsLab I wish I had .10% of your knowledge just to take me from ignorant to stupid. I just started subscribing and watching. You are the Bob Ross of electronics. I'm just waiting for you to say , let's make this a happy little capacitor and put a happy resistor right there.. you make it look like anyone can do this. Love your content

I've really been enjoying the Grand Receiver Restoration Series. The CR-88 turned out fantastic. Looking forward to the next receiver you choose to restore. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and skills with all of us.

Thank you Professor Carlson for making this series, it was great. The receiver after it's complete makeover looks and sounds great, almost right out of the box.

Fantastic radio and I would say after Mr. carlsons done this radio could fetch 10 thousand dollars.Just an amazing radio.

That is an amazing receiver with incredibly good sensitivity. Back in the day, we used .35 microvolts/12 db SINAD as the goal for commercial two-way radios. And that was a very narrow band of receive frequencies or channels. So this RCA is crazy sensitive. Thanks Paul!!!

Absolutely super. Hearkening back to when ships were wood and men were iron. What a nice radio. I wonder how many man-hours went in to the manufacturing of each of these receivers. Thank you for an excellent video. Your hard work, diligence, patience, and workmanship are truly appreciated.

What a beautful restoration! Your skill and patience are truly awe inspiring. I couldn't match it, even with my 66 years experience as an electronics design engineer and amateur radio operator. However, I believe we do a disservice to younger hams by representing this receiver as "easy to tune on SSB and CW". Yes, it is quite sensitive and stable for its time. But modern receivers are superior in every way to this unit. Selectivity, noise floor, stability, noise reduction capability and frequency calibration are far and away better due to advances in the state of the art over the 78 years since the AR-88 was built. However, I believe the AR-88 may just be superior in one aspect, its ability to be repaired and restored , even after 78 years!. Today's units would be unrepairable after only a few years because the parts would not be available and the test equipment required is beyond the affordability of the average repairman -- perhaps even you, if we consider the firmware and digital techniques used. Keep up the good work! We all need your example. .... de K4TO

Hi, Paul. I've really enjoyed this restoration. And I'm so much looking forward to the next one. Thanks for all the hard work and effort you've put into this. You must be so proud of the result. Once again, thanks for sharing this with us all.

Stunning in appearance but even more so in how well it works. 0.1 microvolt? You have out done yourself with this restoration series.

The amount of information in all mr carlsons videos blows my mind such good quality 🎉

You truly did a spectacular job, in every sense of the word on that receiver. Cheers

I just wish I had your lab and equipment. You are one of my favorite channels!

Hi Paul. Thank you very much for your intense focus on detail, your calm voice, and of course all the attention and love you have put into restoring this beast of a receiver. This really, really makes me appreciate the engineering of yesteryear, and a feeling that we have lost something in our use it and dispose of it modern world.

Always amazed at the knowledge. Great video.

Wow, all that vintage gear in one room, I know exactly how it smells, and that smell brings back memories !

Love this. Even though my day job is modern solid state low power transceivers that are sub GHz, these old time receivers are amazing and I wish I knew more about them.

I really enjoyed this brilliant restoration work,and the radio is simply magnificent . Mr. Carlson you are the best.

I have bean watching your channel for years now. NO ONE DOES IT BETTER!! THANKS!!!

A very handsome receiver indeed. I love the old-school look, and the rack-mount design. And, as you say, the amber dials contrast nicely with the gray 👍

I loved this series Paul and am sad it's come to an end! A fabulous radio and your videos are an easy match in quality. I have several examples of this radio and will work on them using these videos as a guide. Thanks again. 👍👍👍👍👍😃😃😃

It;s always a pleasure to hear you; take us through very complex items. Thank you Paul for sharing your incredible talents to us kind Sir..

Hey Paul. Your ability to bring these things back to a second youth is amazing... can't wait for what's to come! Many thanks! Cheers

Heck yes Paul, this one had a little of everything. Love the whole series, reeeeeally deep dive is appreciated sir

9:25 I'll say 1000 out of 10 it looks extremely wonderful

Thank you so much for doing the AR88 - I now have a great set of instructions and a high standard to aim for when I do mine. If I can achieve half the results you've managed I'll be very pleased

Incredible restoration!! I have a modest 1966 Philco Transglobe and I enjoy this kind of subject!! Congrats from Brazil!!

incredible restoration journey , i am glad i was there to witness it ! . thank you mr. carlson ! .

Nice rebuild Paul, that is one of a kind.

Excellent job and restoration Paul. Thank you.

Lovely to watch ,and what a great tone from the finished unit .

Magnificent radio and exceptional restoration. Many thanks!

Black stripe on the dials is beautiful. Really pops and helps the dark knobs stand out compared to the grey stripe

The amateur radio operator that could be heard on upper single sideband beginning at about 1:06:30 was Stan, KE5EE Stan from Florida on 14207mHZ. Stan has one of the largest ham radio antenna systems in the world. Stan and others like me that join him, can be heard all over the planet beginning at his sunrise and lasting for about one to three hours. With Stan's help we make contact with other amateurs in places like Nepal, South Africa, Indonesia, Australia. It is lots of fun as we use the gray line, aka the Twilight Zone, from the US to wherever that leads us. Regards or we say, 73 from Jim, W6LG in California.

Paul great final restoration really enjoyed watching the series and Amazing how well that receiver works so well . They really knew what they were doing back then. As always you do a very complete job in explaining what your doing really helpful to learn more and see things done expertly Thanks for taking the time very generous of you best 73s Mike

This beautiful piece of equipment was build just 49 years after Marconi was able to transmit a signal over the Bristol Channel, a distance that's 9 miles, with a spark gap transmitter and a coherer as a receiver. In 49 years, from a coherer to this!

Mind-blowing work taking things to a new level here!!

Having watched all of the CR-88 restoration presentations, all the previous comments are true. You have done, not simply a professional job, you have made a magnificent tutorial, of restoration, with details and techniques that can be used on any receiver of that period. I don't know how you, or anyone else, can afford to devote so much time, to a gem from the past. No doubt, it is a magnificent piece of equipment, and unless there is a specialist need (hello CIA), your devotion is uneconomic. However, it would also be a crime (IMO), for such capable and historic equipment, to become landfill. One suggestion I have for future demonstrations; The stations that were detected during the receiving demonstration; I think it would have been impressive, to splash the station being heard, with call-sign, actual frequency, power, location and distance. I heard someone calling "VK2" during the SSB reception. That's N.S.W., Australia. I'm a little further away from you, in VK6. Would the voice be intelligible receiving LSB? Inspirational! All hail, P.C.

The CR88 is super but Mr. Carlson is the real star here.

Well done Paul. I have an AR-88 that sort of works and unfortunately I don't have the proper test equipment to get it working as well as you have done with the CR-88. I really like this old rig and wish I could do it justice. Thanks for showing the entire procedure.

The sensitivity on that receiver is incredible. It’s better than my IC7300! And comes damn close to my ICR9000, I am shocked how well this performs. Fantastic series, I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Wow. Outstanding work and demo. Thank you for all your hard work to both entertain and educate us.

Thoroughly enjoyed this receiver restoration series and your immense knowledge, I'm also envious that you now have a great radio operating and I sold mine 40 years ago 😒Maybe if the Internet was around then, and all the tech information was available, I would still have it!!

Dear Mr. Carlson! Thank you once again for the amazing instructions on restoration and alignment. I have an HRO-5 receiver and I was motivated from yours vids to go step by step. I think it would be a great idea to make an instructional video on what equipment do an more advanced technician needs on the bench and avoid mistakes! Greetings 😊

What a fantastic receiver! An absolute thing of beauty and a joy for ever. Wish you lots of QSOs on that :)

Wow, that’s a beautiful piece.

Beautiful radio, amazing restoration.

Excellent restoration work done to the machine that was born in 1940........! Well done my friend.....! Great job indeed....

Amazing restoration! Very interesting how much went into the making of vintage equipment and adjustability.

You are simply a master of your craft, looks amazing. I would pay to spend a day with you just to gets some tips on my sx-71!

Mr Carlsons lab your vintage RCA cr-88 shortwave disk top receiver with ssb and cw from 1945 is awesome 👌 👏 👍

In full agreement with the commenters about your restoration of this rcvr. I was also amazed at the speed of the CW operators! I had to put the YT playback speed down to 0.25 to copy....but I'm out of practice! 😉

Just reading a book I got from RSGB about Fort Bridgewoods a secret listening post for intercepting German HF comms. They do mention the similar looking RCA AR-88 and it was thought of as a Rolls Royce of a radio receiver by the skilled operators there. I have seen the RCA receivers at hamfests, and thought maybe too much of a boatanchor to tackle but perhaps if only to see how it got it's reputation.

I would love to be an unpaid intern in your lab. I would sweep the floor, make the tea, and do whatever else just so that I could learn by looking at what you’re doing. I’m absolutely serious.

Paul, another fantastic job on a beautiful receiver! Please consider the BC-348 soon.

This would have been great to listen to in the 40's with all the stations that would have been on at that time. Thanks for the great video.

If you had headphones on and forgot about that volume control your ears would never be the same. 🤣 Thanks for the video. Have fun, Mike

Nice job on the restoration this is a beautiful set !

Mr Carlsons lab you are good at restoring vintage shortwave receivers and alignment of vintage shortwave receivers

What a beautiful receiver! They really put care into making it and you can see the care you put into it. It's hard to believe that something that was built when my grandfathers were in WW2 can work and sound so good. Also I would like to see you do a "quick" video on the MFJ 259B antenna analyzer you have. I have one and I'm curious about the mods you've done. Thanks for sharing.

Finally had the time to watch the entire video. It will be hard to top this one. Another virtuoso performance.

This channel got me through my heart surgery... Both of them ...

Beautiful restoration! Thanks Mr. C! :)

Hard to beleive it's from 1945, it looks absolutely stunning!

Wow what a radio. I love this. I was a radioman in the coast guard in the 70s.

Mr. Carlson: "There will be a comparison of all the receivers......" Pristine, shiny CR-88: "Bring it on......."

If you are an AM radio DXer this is a must have receiver.

Love your restoration work. Like Steam Engines of old, tube radios are works of Art filled with bottled-magic. 👍🏻😊

Looks so cool, but also like it would take up a lot of space. I do enjoy seeing the gear however.

Thankyou Paul brought back memories of my fathers recever .but it got destroyed as the 120ft tower came down in a ice storm and coax drug it across the room and slamed it aginst the wall destroying it😢