The AR88 receiver: its name?

[Skywave]

Many of us here are familiar with the famous radios manufactured by RCA - the Radio Corporation of America. In particular, the AR88D, the AR88LF and, perhaps, its far less known fore-runner, the AR77E (often referred to as 'an AR88 but with bandspread'). But what is the significance of the prefix 'AR'? As this set was primarily developed for point-to-point commercial communications purposes but soon became heavily used during WWII, the 'AR' can't stand for 'Amateur Radio' (even though post WWII, many of them ended up in AmRad shacks - & some are still there, of course! ) As for the suffixes, anyone can understand the significance of the 'LF' in the AR88LF, but what of the 'D' in AR88D. Was there an AR88C on the development table that never made it? And why '88' . . . etc., etc. . . . . .

So many intriguing questions - can anyone throw any light on these issues, please?

Thank you.

Al. / Skywave / March 24th. //

[MichaelR]

Hi Al,

This is the most comprehensive site I have read on he AR88. No answers to your questions that indicate the naming of the sets.

http://www.radioblvd.com/ar88.htm

great restoration reference.

Mike

[Gerry, VE7GUH]

I think you will find that article (http://www.radioblvd.com/ar88.htm) does have some discussion on the suffixes. The 'D' stands for 'diversity' and the 'LF' stands for 'low frequency'. I have an AR77 and AR88LF and I don't think the AR77 really compares with the AR88 (bandspread or not), except perhaps in weight...

[JHGibson]

The radioblvd site hints that the predecessor of the AR88 was the AR77, an amateur radio. So AR probably stands for Amateur Radio.
John.

[MichaelR]

Originally Posted by Gerry, VE7GUH

I think you will find that article (http://www.radioblvd.com/ar88.htm) does have some discussion on the suffixes. The 'D' stands for 'diversity' and the 'LF' stands for 'low frequency'. I have an AR77 and AR88LF and I don't think the AR77 really compares with the AR88 (bandspread or not), except perhaps in weight...

Hi Gerry,

If you read again I think you will find it states that the D does not stand for diversity , it is the F versions that were diversity.

Mike

[Skywave]

Thank you, gentlemen. All Posts read, understood - and appreciated.

Al. / March 25th. //

[Dave757]

Originally Posted by JHGibson

The radioblvd site hints that the predecessor of the AR88 was the AR77, an amateur radio. So AR probably stands for Amateur Radio.
John.

Hi John,

There appears to be an 'intermediate' model between the AR77 and the AR88, - the AR80. I have only ever seen one, and it is very similar to the AR77 rack model. There are minor differences in the controls, and for some reason it is fitted with a rather odd external light which shines onto the dial from the outside.

This was properly labelled with the RCA patent list inside, showing the Model AR80 and the Camden 'CMI' number. I cannot remember the number, but it fell between the AR77 number and that for the AR88.

Hope this information is of interest

Kind regards

Dave G0ELJ

[Dave757]

Hi All

I have now found a load of pics of the AR80 receiver and its internal label which I took at the time should anyone be interested.

Kind regards

Dave G0ELJ

[Skywave]

Hi Dave,

Well, since I have never heard of an AR80 prior to your earlier Post - then yes - I would really like to see what one looks like!
At the same time, if you can produce any pics. of an AR77E, those would be of interest also. (It's a long, long time ago since I last saw one of those!)

Cheers,

Al. / Skywave.

[flyingtech55]

I'd always assumed it stood for Admiralty Receiver model 88. Although I suppost it would been RARRFTUO88 (Receiver, Admiralty, Radio Reception For The Use Of)!

TimR

[Dave757]

Hi Al,

As requested, I am attaching 3 pics of the AR-80,
showing the detail of the (rather tatty) label, the
front view of the set, and a general rear view,
showing the label in situ. I have quite a few more
photos, - too many to attach here, so I will
contact you privately to send them to you.

Kind regards

Dave

[dave walsh]

Thanks very much for the photos. I suspect that this will be a very interesting new model for most of us. Where did you see it and take all your photos? It does indeed look like an extension of the AR77 [interesting in itself] but I suspect that both models must be regarded as early pre-war designs superseded by the classic AR88 which was probaly developed with advanced knowledge and the urgency created by the war effort. I used to visit a local amateur in the sixties and his 88 [to me] seemed like a Rolls Royce, even with only the one IF!
Dave W

[Skywave]

Thank you Dave (pictures of the AR-80).

TimR: in the prefix AR, I think it is unlikely that it stands for Amateur Receiver simply because in the USA, the term Ham Radio is used instead: that would have made it HR. And besides, 'Admiralty' is a naval term used in the U.K., not in the USA.

So why was "AR" chosen? I don't know ~ that's why I asked. But following the Posts here, FWIW, the following train of thoughts have crossed my mind. The 'earliest' 'AR' reference I have heard of is the AR-77. Then there were later models with numbers higher than 77. That implies that here were numbers lower than 77. Since '77' is a large number, it's tempting to ask "Was there ever an AR-1?" Possibly not such a daft question as it may seem of first sight because when an engineering company is in the initial stages of the development of a new product, it will be given some reference name. Many potential products never get 'off the drawing board'. Hence, there could well be many 'AR-somethings' that never became manifest.
As for "AR", since the earliest receivers would have arisen during the pioneering days of radio, the prefix AR could stand for "All-wave Receiver", the term "All-wave" being the term of choice for a multi-band coverage radio.

All pure speculation, I know - but for me, the mystery of the history is fascinating.

Al. / Skywave.

[Dave757]

The AR-80 used to belong to a friend, who had been a radio dealer.
He hadn't seen one before so he asked me to do some research
for which I took the pictures and I didn't come up with a thing,
including a blank from an RCA Collectors Association in the States.
It was fairly obvious that it was a development of the AR-77, the
main differences appeared to be a multi pin socket on the rear,
the lights, and the arrangement of controls on the front panel.
It would be interesting to see if the bandspread on the AR77
is calibrated for the amateur bands rather than say marine, as this
would point to the main market for the series.
The set was sold around three years ago to a private individual in
Birmingham.

Kind regards

Dave G0ELJ

[Skywave]

Thanks Dave: very interesting; the plot thickens, especially, quote "and I didn't come up with a thing, including a blank from an RCA Collectors Association in the States".
My! I bet that made a few of them sit up & take notice!

Al.

[zebmobile]

How about 'Apparatus Recieving'

[M0ALK Richard]

The AR88D covers 550KHz to 1500KHz which is the Domestic band.

[dave walsh]

D for "Domestic" ? An interesting suggestion Richard but I think unlikely unless there was a specific intention to cover Broadcast Bands for intelligence purposes? Still there aaren't too many explanations so far. These were hugely expensive top of the range comms in 1942 and Military items generally seem to have had capital letter designations based on service use. Also, I suppose that the interpretation of a "domestic" band can perhaps vary depending on the "domicile" of the user anyway.

It is a bit strange that info is so lacking on this aspect of the 88!

Cheers Dave W

[M0TGX Terry]

Isn't "AR" just the noise you make when you try to lift it?
Terry

[Station X]

Interesting AR88 webpage here:-

http://www.radioblvd.com/ar88.htm