Heathkit AR-2

[Reece]

The AR-2 was replaced by the AR-3 around December of 1956. I was about to order a 2 but then got the Christmas catalog from Heath with the 3 in it. The 3 added an antenna trimmer to the front panel and the case is grey instead of brown. I got it for Christmas of '56 and built it (I was in the 9th grade). I used it a lot for a number of years and still have it. I DXed a lot with it on the many foreign transmitters that operated then and also especially in the 75 meter ham band. Mine did not have wax caps in it, but chunky-looking disc caps that look sort of like ceramics. I am guessing they are ceramic.

[MIPS]

Nope. Seems the caps were not restuffed.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Reece

The AR-2 was replaced by the AR-3 around December of 1956. I was about to order a 2 but then got the Christmas catalog from Heath with the 3 in it. The 3 added an antenna trimmer to the front panel and the case is grey instead of brown. I got it for Christmas of '56 and built it (I was in the 9th grade). I used it a lot for a number of years and still have it. I DXed a lot with it on the many foreign transmitters that operated then and also especially in the 75 meter ham band. Mine did not have wax caps in it, but chunky-looking disc caps that look sort of like ceramics. I am guessing they are ceramic.

The AR2 used a separate 12BA6 for a CW osc tube. The AR3 used some kind of a feedback in the IF, to accomplish it, similar to the Hallicrafter design.
I have a few of those receivers. I replace the 12A6, with a 12V6, as the voltages used, seems too high for a 12A6 and they have a tendency to short.
The tube manual shows that the tube can work at these voltages, but???
The late 50's, early 60's issues, used 12V6 tubes.