
From the files at the ARRL Automated Mail Server, (info@arrl.org):

Prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay League, Inc.,
Technical Information Service.

file: manuals.txt updated February 10, 1995

Reprinted from June 1992 QST Lab Notes Copyright 1992 American 
Radio Relay League, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thank you for requesting the following information from the ARRL 
Information mail server. ARRL HQ is glad to provide this information 
free of charge as a service to League members and affiliated clubs.

For your convenience, you may reproduce this information, 
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If you have any questions concerning the reproduction or 
distribution of this material, please contact Michael Tracy, 
American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 
(mtracy@arrl.org).

This ARRL Technical Information Service handout has been derived 
from the June 1992 QST "Lab Notes" column. Information has been 
added to keep it current. You should also periodically check the 
ham-classified section of ham and electronic publications.

How To Locate Manuals and Documentation 

"Excellent rig. Needs a little work." How many times have you 
passed up a good deal because you were certain you'd never find 
the service information? How often have you sent your rig to the 
factory for a bug that you could have fixed if you had the 
documentation? Mike Gruber, WA1SVF, one of our ARRL Laboratory 
Engineers, has searched high and low to find sources for service 
manuals and other useful information. In this month's column he 
gives you his results.--WB8IMY 

Q: Why do I need documentation for my radio equipment? 

A: Unless you're an electronics genius, proper documentation is 
often essential to the repair or restoration of any radio 
equipment. Even a simple schematic can save hours of time that 
would be wasted otherwise. 

Q: Okay, but is documentation readily available--even for my 
antique receiver? 

A: Believe it or not, there is a good chance that documentation 
still exists for almost any radio you're likely to encounter. Your 
success in finding it, however, depends on knowing what type of 
documentation might be available for your particular piece of 
equipment. 

Q: What types of documentation should I be looking for? Where can 
I find them? 

A: Let's save the names and addresses for later and begin by 
taking a look at the different types of equipment documentation 
available. There are several: 

Owner's Manuals: An owner's manual is supplied with the unit at 
the time of purchase. It's intended primarily as an instruction 
manual for the owner. It may not contain a schematic and service 
data is usually minimal. Although it's better than nothing, an 
owner's manual leaves quite a bit to be desired should a repair or 
alignment be required. 

Manufacturer's Service Manuals: Service manuals are usually sold 
by the manufacturer. They contain vital repair, service and 
alignment data. Most manufacturers supply service manuals for 
their products, although some may not provide manuals for obsolete 
equipment. If you're working with old equipment, it's possible 
that the manufacturer may have gone out of business. Keep this in 
mind the next time you purchase a new rig. Obtaining a service 
manual will take a little extra effort, but you'll be making a 
worthwhile investment in the future of your equipment. 

Third-Party Service Documentation: This type of documentation is 
is published by companies other than the manufacturer. It's 
available in several varieties from basic schematics to complete 
service manuals. While modern Amateur Radio gear is usually 
excluded, third-party documentation offers a wealth of information 
on antique receivers and modern consumer electronics. 

Q: Wait a minute. You mean that there are companies that publish 
and sell service data for another company's products? 

A: Certainly! Some of the most noteworthy publishers--past and 
present--include: 

Howard W. Sams & Company Photofacts: Sams started publishing 
Photofacts in 1946 with only 12 employees. Today Photofacts are 
accepted as the standard for accuracy. Complete chassis 
photographs are included and each component is clearly labeled. 

Alignment procedures and normal voltage readings are always 
provided. The extensive Photofacts library does not include modern 
amateur equipment, but you'll find service data for some of the 
classic shortwave receivers made by companies such as Hammurlund 
and Hallicrafters. 

Photofacts are sold in numbered folders and volumes. To obtain the 
correct Photofact, you must find the reference number for your 
particular piece of equipment in the Photofact Index. 

There is an interesting sidenote to the Photofacts story. Sams 
creates Photofacts from actual product samples. Instead of using 
the manufacturer's schematics, the circuits are analyzed and 
traced by Sams technicians! 

John F. Rider Perpetual Troubleshooters Manuals: "Rider's," as 
this series is commonly known, was first published in 1930 and 
covered radios back to 1926. The first numbered volume, however, 
appeared in 1933. New volumes were published at a rate of about 
one per year until the last one, volume 23, appeared in 1953. 
(Rider's for TVs, however, went from 1948 to 1957, volumes 1 
through 18.) 

Rider's is indexed by a system that is very similar to the 
Photofacts. Several index volumes were published, such as volumes 
1 to 7, 1 to 10, 1 to 15, 16 to 22 and 23 only. Unlike Photofacts, 
however, Rider used service data provided by the manufacturers. 

RCA Victor Service Data Books, commonly called "Redbooks." These 
cover RCA receivers manufactured from 1923 to 1950. The first 
volume covered receivers from 1923 to 1928. A new volume was 
published each year until 1950. 

Supreme Manuals: Compiled by M. N. Beitman, these first appeared 
about 1930 and covered radios made as early as 1926. One volume 
per year was published until the company went out of business in 
the 1950s. These generally contain only schematics; Riders and 
Photofacts are far more complete. 

Hugo Gernsback's Official Radio Service Manuals: Six volumes were 
published from 1929 to 1936. 

Mallory Radio Service Encyclopedia: First published in the early 
'30s, the Mallory Encyclopedias contained a very complete listing 
of radios by manufacturer and model number. In addition, an exact 
tube complement was given for each product. This information can 
be very useful if you are seeking service data for an old radio 
with an unknown model number. 

Q: Speaking of tubes, what about vacuum tube data? Is that kind of 
information still available? 

A: It sure is! Data for Eimac tubes, frequently found in amateur 
amplifiers and other high-power RF applications, is currently 
available from the manufacturer. Transmitting tube data can also 
be found in the ARRL Handbook; look for it in Chapter 35 if you 
have a recent edition. Data books for other tube types, such as 
receiving tubes, have been published by several companies. Most of 
these data books are no longer in print. Copies, reprints and even 
old originals can still be obtained if you know where to look. Two 
of the most popular data books for tubes are: 

RCA Tube Manuals: These are probably the most common tube manuals 
-- especially for receiving tubes. Separate manuals were also  
published for transmitting, special purpose and industrial tubes. 
These manuals first appeared in the 1930s and were frequently 
updated. 

General Electric Essential Characteristics Tube                       
Data Books: These are similar to the RCA Manuals.   

Tube substitution guides have also been published by Sams and John 
F. Rider. 

Q: Now that I know what I'm looking for, where can I find the 
documentation? 

A: If you prefer the manufacturer's service manual, start by 
contacting the manufacturer directly. If the manufacturer is out 
of business, or no longer supplies the manual you need, you have 
other options. For example, try obtaining a copy from a manual-
supply company. 

If you're working with military gear, manual-supply companies are 
also good sources. And, some military equipment manuals can still 
be obtained from the government. (More about that later.) 

If you think a Photofact or Rider might be available based on the 
age and type of equipment involved, check with your local library. 
Many city and university libraries have them and will let you make 
photocopies provided that no copyright laws are violated. 

If your local library can't help you, try one of the "schematic 
services" that cater to antique radio buffs. Their prices are 
generally quite reasonable. Don't forget to check the hamfest flea 
markets and yard sales. Service information can turn up in the 
most unusual places! 

For a difficult case, you might try a classified ad in QST. A 
classified ad in a publication that specializes in the type of 
equipment involved (such as Electric Radio Magazine\1/ or Antique 
Radio Classified\2/ for surplus or antique rigs) may be very 
effective. 

ADDRESSES

Q: Come to think of it, I have several radios that could be put to 
good use--if they were working! How about those addresses you 
promised? 

A: Here they are. Good luck with your projects! 

    Alinco Electronics, Inc 
    438 Amapola Ave 
    Suite 130 
    Torrance, CA 90501 
    tel 310-618-8616 
    Supplies Alinco manuals only. 

---

    Amateur Wholesale Electronics 
    PO Box 224 
    1040 Industrial Dr 
    Watkinsville, GA 30677 
    tel 404-769-8706 (technical service and orders) 
    Manuals and replacement parts for Azden Radios. 

---

    Antique Audio 
    41560 Schoolcraft 
    Plymouth, MI 48170 

Older factory manuals for RCA, Zenith (including Transoceanics) 
and several others. Riders volumes 1 through 22, Sams Photofacts 1 
through 600, Beitman's volumes 1 through 10 and Sams Transistor 
Service Manuals volumes 1 through 90. The price is $5 per 
schematic up to 8 pages. Fifty cents for each additional page. 
Written inquiries for schematics preferred. 

---
    Antique Electronic Supply 
    6221 South Maple Ave 
    Tempe, AZ 85283 
    tel 602-820-5411 

Antique Electronic Supply supplies pre-1960 service manuals for 
many electronic products, including communications receivers. The 
cost is $4.50 each. A catalog of antique radio parts and books is 
also available. They offer reprints of some older service manuals, 
tube manuals, a tube substitution guidebook and even a ballast 
tube manual. 

---
    Ardco Electronics 
    PO Box 95 
    Berwyn, IL 60402 

Manuals for 95% of the Hallicrafters product line. The company was 
founded by Anthony Dambrauskas, the Hallicrafters service manager, 
when Hallicrafters went out of business in 1978. Today, the 
business is being carried on by his son Robert. Manuals range in 
price from $7 to $20. 

---
    Brock Publications 
    PO Box 5004 
    Oceanside, CA 92052 

Manuals for for all amateur equipment sold by Swan Electronics. 
Also stocks manuals for Cubic Communications, Astro and Siltronix 
products. Brock Publications is a home business owned by Grace 
Brock who retired from Swan Electronics/ Cubic Communications in 
1990. 

___
    Cardwell Condenser Corporation
    80 East Montauk Highway
    Lindenhurst, NY  11757
    tel 516-957-7200
    FAX 516-957-7203

Manuals for Hammarlund equipment. In addition, they also have a
limited supply of components for Hammarlund receivers and transmitters.
They also manufacture roller inductors and variable capacitors.

---
    Center For Legislative Archives 
    National Archives 
    Washington, DC 20408 
    tel 202-501-5350 

(Record Group 287) US Army Technical Manuals for radio equipment 
manufactured from 1940 to 1979. Photocopies can be obtained at a 
cost of 25 cents per page and a $6 minimum order. A "Reproduction 
Service Order" must first be completed by the National Archives to 
determine the cost of the specific manual you desire. The manual 
on this form must be identified by its proper Army Technical 
Manual number. If this number is not known, contact your nearest 
US Government Depository Library for assistance. (These are 
usually the main public libraries in large and medium-sized 
cities.) A booklet entitled Indexes and Lists to Army Technical 
and Administrative Publications 1940-1979; The National Archives 
Microfilm Publications Pamphlet Describing M1641, also available 
from the Archives, describes this procedure. 
___
    Dean K Kidd, W7TYR
    27270 SW Ladd Hill Rd
    Sherwood, OR  97140
    tel 503-625-7363

Manuals and data for older Tektronix test equipment.
      
---
    Eico Electronics Instrument Co, Inc 
    363 Merrick Rd 
    Lynbrook, NY 11563 
    tel 516-599-5744 

Eico manuals for the last 25 years. Calls are accepted on Monday, 
Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM Eastern time. 

---
    Fair Radio Sales Co, Inc 
    1016 East Eureka 
    PO Box 1105 
    Lima, OH 45802 
    tel 419-223-2196 

Manuals for surplus equipment. Also some Tektronix manuals and 
vacuum tube data. Catalog available. 

---
    Hi-Manuals 
    PO Box 802 
    Council Bluffs, IA 51502 

Extensive collection of manuals from the mid-30s to the 70s. 
Amateur Radio equipment is included. You must order from a current 
catalog and "dropped list." The cost is $3 for both. Many Heathkit 
manuals in stock. They also supply vacuum tube data from the RCA 
Receiving and Air Cooled Transmitting Tube manuals and the Rider 
#35 Tube Substitution Guide. The cost is $5 per tube plus a 
business-size SASE. Your check will be returned if the tube data 
is not available. Hi-Manuals cannot accommodate technical 
correspondence, quote requests or telephone calls.  

---
    Howard W. Sams & Co 
    2647 Waterfront Parkway East Dr 
    Indianapolis, IN 46214-2041 
    tel 800-428-7267 
    tel 800-428-5331

You can order Sams Photofacts through your local distributor 
(saves postage and handling costs), by mail or by phone. Sams 
covers most consumer electronic items manufactured since 1945. A 
photocopy service for manufacturer's manuals and Rider's data is 
also available. 

---
    ICOM America, Inc 
    2380 116th Ave NE 
    PO Box C-90029 
    Bellevue, WA 98009-9029 
    tel 206-454-7619 

Manuals and parts for ICOM products. Call for prices. Most service 
manuals cost around $25 for base and mobile units; $20 for hand-
held units.     

---
    Kenwood (East Coast)                             
    East Coast Transistor Parts, Inc 
    2 Marlborough Rd 
    W Hempstead, NY 11552 
    tel 800-637-0388 (orders only) 

    Kenwood (West Coast) 
    Pacific Coast Parts Distributors, Inc 
    15024 Staff Ct 
    Gardena, CA 90248 
    tel 800-421-5080 (Outside CA) 
        800-262-1312 (CA only) 

    Kenwood product manuals only 

---
    Japan Radio Company 

Service manuals are available from JRC dealers. The three 
companies likely to have JRC manuals in stock are: 

    Electronic Equipment Bank 
    323 Mill Street NE 
    Vienna, VA 22180 
    tel 800-368-3270 

    Gilfer Shortwave 
    52 Park Ave 
    Park Ridge, NJ 07656 
    tel 800-445-3371 

    Universal Shortwave 
    6830 Americana Parkway 
    Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 
    tel 800-431-3939 

---
    Jim Farago 
    4017 42 Ave South 
    Minneapolis, MN 55406-3528 

A complete set of Riders, Volumes 1 through 23, covering radios 
from 1924 to 1954. The cost is $3 per copy plus SASE. The customer 
must provide the unit name, brand name and model number.  

--- 

    Land Air Communications 
    95-15 108th Street 
    Richmond Hill, NY 11419 
    tel 718-847-3090 

Authorized dealer for Kenwood, ICOM and Yaesu manuals. Also 
carries Collins, Johnson, Hallicrafters, National and other 
manuals. Can provide schematics on most equipment dating back to 
1945. 

---

    Manuals Plus
    P.O. Box 937
    Spanaway ,WA 98387-0937
    206-531-8031

Test equipment manuals.

---
    Peter Markavage
    27 Walling St
    Sayreville NJ  08872
    908-238-8964

Extensive collection of Laffayette manuals, also some Nation, Clegg,
Heathkit, etc. Send SASE for list.

---
    Musty Manuals 
    HamHeaven Communication Corp 
    645 Wheeling Rd 
    Wheeling, IL 60090 
    tel 708-634-6467 

An extensive collection of owners manuals, service and maintenance 
manuals, catalogs, magazines and other technical facts on all 
types of early and late model radio equipment--including ham gear. 
Manuals come with updates or articles, product reviews and other 
tidbits of information. Catalog available. 
---
    MECCA 
    1132 Conway Dr 
    Newark, OH 43055 
    tel 614-522-4944 

Used manuals for test equipment, amateur equipment and early 
receivers. Prices range from $5 to $35. Send an SASE with your 
request for price and availability.  

---
    Olde Tyme Radio Company 
    Suite 317 
    2445 Lyttonsville Road 
    Silver Spring, MD 20910 
    tel 301-585-8776 
    Some RCA Tube Manuals and Riders for sale. Catalog available. 

---
    Puett Electronics 
    PO Box 28572 
    Dallas, TX 75228 
    tel 214-321-0927 or 214-327-8721 

Schematic diagrams "for nearly any radio receiver." Cost is $5 
with manufacturer and model number; $15 plus drawing and 
description if the manufacturer or model number is unknown.  
Reproduction manuals, Rider's indexes, RCA Vacuum Tube Manuals, 
and many other service/instruction manuals for classic radios and 
related equipment are available. Some amateur equipment manuals 
including Collins. Test equipment manuals include Hewlett Packard, 
Tektronix, Hickock and others. Also supplies recordings of old 
radio shows as well as tubes and other antique radio components. 
Catalog available.  

 ---
    Radio/TV/Ham Schematics 
    Alton H. Bowman 
    4172 East Ave, RD 2 
    Canandaigua, NY 14424 

A large collection of manuals and schematics for Amateur Radio 
equipment and other electronic products from 1920 to 1970--many 
unusual. Welcomes requests for odd-ball material with and without 
model numbers or labels. Prices are $5 for schematics and $7.50 to 
$10 for manuals. An SASE is appreciated. Alton emphasizes that 
this service is his hobby and not a business. 

---
    R. L. Drake Company 
    230 Industrial Drive 
    Franklin, OH 45005 
    tel 513-746-6990 
    Drake product manuals only. 

---
    Robot Research Inc 
    5636 Ruffin Rd 
    San Diego, CA 92123 
    tel 619-279-9430
    Robot manuals only. 

---
    Slep Electronics Co 
    PO Box 100 
    Otto, NC 28763-0100 
    tel 704-524-7519 

Operation and service manuals; schematic service for old and new 
amateur radios, commercial and military surplus test equipment, 
commercial and surplus military radios, antique radios and 
equipment manuals. Catalog not available due to large stock. Send 
an SASE for price and availability. Include make and model of each 
unit. 

---
    Sony Publications 
    PO Box 20407 
    Kansas City, MO 64195 
    tel 816-891-7550, extension 33 (Customer Service) 
     Manuals for Sony shortwave receivers and other products. 

---
    Steinmetz Electronics 
    7519 Maplewood Ave 
    Hammond, IN 46324 
    tel 219-931-9316 

Schematic copies from a complete set of Rider's and Beitman books, 
some older manufacturer's manuals (consumer radios only) and Sams 
Photofacts. The cost is $3 for the first schematic copy, $2.50 for 
the second and $1.50 for each additional copy. Include an extra 
dollar for research if the model number is unknown (SASE 
preferred). Also carries vacuum tubes and other parts. Catalog 
available.      

 ---
    Surplus Sales of Nebraska 
    1502 Jones St 
    Omaha, NE 68102 
    tel 402-346-4750 

Stocks a complete line of manuals for Collins amateur equipment 
and partial collection of commercial equipment. Call or send an 
SASE for price and availability. Collins parts are also available. 

---
    Ten-Tec, Inc 
    PO Box 8010 
    Sevierville, TN 37864 
    tel 800-833-7373 

Manuals for Ten-Tec products only. Most older manuals are 
available and they will make photocopies. Call or write for 
specifics. 

---
    US Army Military History Institute 
    Carlisle Barracks, PA 17013-5008 
    tel 717-245-3611 

Technical manuals for military radio radio equipment. If possible, 
include the manual number with your request. If this is unknown, 
include a complete description of the equipment including the 
model name, model numbers and the time period in which the 
equipment was in use, if known. Once a specific manual is 
identified, it may be obtained in one of two ways. If the 
Institute possess three or me copies, one may be borrowed through 
interlibrary loan procedures. This process must be initiated at 
the your local library. Alternately, photocopies can be purchased. 
The minimum cost is $6 for up to ten pages. Each additional page 
is 25 cents. Each patron is allowed up to 300 pages per calendar 
year. Selected bibliographies of Institute holdings are available 
through interlibrary loan.      

---
    Varian Associates, Inc 
    301 Industrial Way 
    San Carlos, CA 94070-2682 
    tel 800-432-4422 

EIMAC tube data for tubes from 1-kW to 1.5-kW plate dissipation 
including all glass-envelope tubes. 200-watt, 800-watt and larger 
tubes are manufactured in Salt Lake City, Utah. You can use the 
telephone number shown above to access either plant for data on 
any EIMAC tube. 

---
    VISTA Technology Inc 
    3041 Rising Springs Ct 
    Bellbrook OH 45305 
    tel 513-426-6700 

Newly published manuals for selected models of Rockwell/Collins 
Amateur Radio equipment. Authorized by Rockwell International. 

 ---
    W7FG Vintage Manuals
    3300 Wayside Dr
    Bartlesville OK  74006 
    tel 918-333-7893

They have almost all of the old Collins, Drake, Hallicrafters, 
Hammarlund, Heathkit, Johnson, National and swan owner's manuals.
They also have a fair selection of many other brands.

    Western Nebraska Electronics 
    HC-84, Box 1 
    Potter, NE 69156 
    tel 308-879-4552 

A complete collection of Collins manuals. The cost is $12.50 for a 
reprint copy, or $35 for a printed copy. Also carries a large 
supply of Collins parts. 

---
    Yaesu USA 
    17210 Edwards Rd 
    Cerritos, CA 90701 
    tel 310-404-2700 
Owners and service manuals for Yaesu products. Also sells 
components. 

---Notes: \1/Published monthly by Barry Wiseman, N6CSW, 4 Aspen 
Pl, Durango, CO 81301. 

\2/Published monthly by John Terrey, 498 Cross St, PO Box 2, 
Carlisle, MA 01741, tel 508-371-0512. 

The members and HQ staff would like to thank the following people 
for their contributions to this information file:

WA1SVF

Send any additional information or changes to mtracy@arrl.org. 

73 from ARRL HQ.
