hallicraft: SX-38; Model Challenge

This is in reply to one of the administrators upon my request to have this model (Hallicrafters SX-38) removed.

Raymond Moore's Communication Receiver book, which this model's existance on this forum is founded, is a great reference tool and often the first book I turn to as a collector of communications receivers. However, the book is full of errors (the 4th edition less so).  In the mid-90s, I wrote an article on the National section, correcting many errors and adding several models. Mr. Moore used that information for the 4th edition (see that I am cited in the National section).

Much of Mr. Moore's research was done through vintage catalog and advertisements of these radios, as well as second-hand information. Some of that information is unreliable.  For instance, I was recently researching the National NC-44 receiver and ran across an ad for Henry Radio Sales showing a NC-44 in a configuration I hadn't seen. Looking at the NC-510 in the same ad, I noticed the NC-44 picture and then realized that the pictures and descriptions of the NC-44 and NC-510 were reversed. A typographical, or typesetting error, not a new version of the NC-44!

It would be easy to see how an ad for the Hallicrafters SX-28 might be erred as a "SX-38". And in this case, the "SX-38" would indeed seem "similar to the SX-28" (Moore's words). 

Secondly, the reference is to the model being from 1944 is strange.  During 1944, Hallicrafters was producing radios for the military and not civilian use. A few radios were available to "war effort" civilians, one of which was the SX-28. (See QST of that era.) And Hallicrafters was definitely not coming out with new civilian models at that time, which the "SX-38" would have been, since the "SX" was a civilian model designation and not a military designation.

Also, Hallicrafters did not make a habit of using the same model number for different radios except for variations of the model.  For example, the S-38, S-38A, S-38B, etc were all variations of the same radio.  Also, the "S" and "SX" models were the same, except the "SX" models had crystal control.  However, the "SX-38" version in question would have been a sizable difference compared to a S-38 receiver, if indeed it was similar to the SX-28.

Finally, a close examination of the Chuck Dachis book on Hallicrafters, which is a more thorough work on Hallicrafters, will find no mention of a SX-38 receiver.

So,with no reference given the "SX-38" entry in Moore's book, we may never know for certain. However, it seems likely that Mr. Moore was referencing a misprint, and not actually an existing radio. Also, just because it's in a book, doesn't make it so.  I can find lots of books saying there were (or weren't) multiple shooters in the Kennedy assassination, but it does not make it true. Without further verification, it would seem that this model should not be allowed, and at the very least, should be noted as being unsubstantiated.

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Dear Wayne
Thank you very much for your very true article. I received this by that admin you mention because he wanted to put it sticky to the model page showing the SX-38 - with the information in red that we believe it is not existing.

Please in such a case don't use the tic field "A question - awaiting an answer." but the tic field "Information".
I had (long ago) organized that the system will automatically put the article into the internal "Talk" if no answer comes up after 5 or 6 days. Therefore also this "vanished" again from the model page. Only my "answer" will let us now enable to stick it to the model page permanently.

We are only not in line with you at the point that this model page should have not been created - but understand that in the meantime you see our point: We are not an usual model list but we try to build a reference work. This should in first place give valid information to newcomers to our collection field!

At least the ordinary member (99,? % of people) who would find the entry of this model in the mentioned book might create a new model page if it is not mentioned. The present or future admins can not know all this and would accept as a true model page! Naturally the book or journal must have a certain circulation (dissemination of public information).

In contrast to your political issue, here we can put together facts and really decide from there. There is no political, religious or financial interest involved!

Good that you help getting such errors published and described as such - with good facts. Please go on so. :-)

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I very much believe in what the Radio Museum is trying to do.  And it is not only a database for radio collectors, but we are preserving our small part of history for the world. There is a massive amount of information being collected here, and in that, there will be times when we get it wrong, or not as correct.  When that happens, there needs to be a means of correcting that information and I think there is.

My initial challenge was of the model existence, not a challenge of the Radio Museum.  It seems from the response I got from the admin, he took it as displeasure with the Radio Museum.  Not the case.  I was merely trying to correct an inaccuracy.

Sometimes when we write information, we are writing from our own perspective, and we make things too definitive.  For example, I ran across a reference in the Hallicrafters R-42 model description which stated that the "speaker is intended for use with the SX-42." While that is true, it might lead one to believe that Hallicrafters intended the R-42 speaker to only be used with that model.  This is not the case.  In Hallicrafters literature, they recommend that speaker for several other models.  So it's not that the original information is wrong, but it's misleading and at best inaccurate.  If someone has a more accurate depiction of information, there should be an outlet for changing that information, and those changes should be welcomed.

So for me personally, I try to add information where I have practical, hands-on experience, or at least a general working knowledge. You won't find me checking information on European radios, because I don't run into many European radios here in the states. Point being, we all have our areas of expertise and should help out it those areas.

I am slowly learning the particulars of the website.  Your admins (John, Gary and Thomas especially) have been most helpful.

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Dear Wayne
You are so right! Since years I tried to establish that only US model admins will be active for the USA. There will always be misunderstandings if somebody writes in English with not sufficient knowledge of languagae and behavior.

Now slowly there is a small group of US members who began administrating. Nice that you have contact to them. :-)

The wording of an article is also quite important to be transparent for beginners and for specialists. Not an easy job, I know. But I'm sure you will do the right thing.

I close the thread now. But you can always ask me for reopening. Our forum is also quite different than other forums. We try to be most factual and short (not many posts, sometimes even changing the subject) where possible.

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Wayne was so kind to send me the two pictures below. The first one is showing some data for the Hallicrafters S-38-family on page 96: Moore, Raymond. Communications Receivers, a book which had its fourth edition in 1997.

We find a list of different S-38 (like S-38E, S-38EB, sometimes called S-38B, S-38E in blond cabinet, S-38EM, sometimes called S-38M and S-38E in mahogany cabinet). They are all sold in the years 1957-61 for around $ 55. This is followed by a model SX-38 for 1944 for $ 255 with the remark "Similar to SX-28".

The second picture shows a text from the book "Radios by hallicrafters" by Chuck Dachis on page 49 (above right), telling us his view about the SX-38: "The little I know about this model is rumor and hearsay. It is supposed to be similar in appearance and size to the SX-28 and bears no resemblance to the standard S-38 series. I have never seen or known anyone who has seen one of these units and I have no technical data or photographs. It may have been an experimental prototype based on the SX-28 that never went into production."

I can confirm this from my book, which is the revised and expanded 2nd edition. Unfortunately I did not find my book "The Hallicrafters Story" by Max de Hensler from 1988, which is the first book for Hallicrafters I know of.

9.11.16 corrected 2 typos

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