Hallicrafters 8R40

Object/Artifact

-

Radio Alpha

Image: Chuck Penson, WA7ZZE, collection: westvalleyhamshack.com

Image: Chuck Penson, WA7ZZE, collection: westvalleyhamshack.com

Name/Title

Hallicrafters 8R40

Description

General Coverage Receiver

Category

Receiver, General Coverage

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Hallicrafters

Date made

1950 - 1955

General Notes

Note

The Hallicrafters 8R40 is a single conversion superheterodyne receiver introduced in 1950. It's a tabletop radio with a built-in speaker, known for its solid construction and performance. The 8R40 was designed for general-coverage listening, including the standard AM broadcast band and three shortwave bands, covering frequencies from 540 kHz up to 44 MHz. It was a step up from basic consumer radios, featuring eight-tubes and a more robust design. Key features of the 8R40 include a BFO, an RF gain control, a three-position tone switch, and a RADIO-PHONO switch for direct access to the audio amplifier. The radio was known for its two IF stages, which provided better selectivity than many consumer-grade radios of the time. The 8R40 and its console cabinet variant, the 8R40C, were part of Hallicrafters' post-war product line aimed at both the serious shortwave listener and the budding amateur radio enthusiast. * 6SG7: RF Amplifier * 6SA7: Converter/Mixer * 6SK7: 1st IF Amplifier * 6SK7: 2nd IF Amplifier * 6H6: Detector/AVC/ANL * 6SC7: Audio Amplifier/BFO * 6K6GT: Audio Output * 5Y3GT: Rectifier