Joined: Jul Fri 10, 2020 4:04 am Posts: 364 Location: La Crosse Ks.
Hello, I seen this receiver on FBMP. I'm trying to figure out what it is. Looks very high quality back in the day. The name "Radio M??? Engineers" isn't familiar to me. I find it odd that there is no writing on any knob on the case to indicate what each knob/switch does. If it is homebrew, it is a very well built one.
Thanks! Richard
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An RME 69. Some of the other early receivers didn't mark the controls either including some of the Breting sets. The model name supposedly signifies 6 bands, 9 tubes. Later models could include a noise silencer which added extra tubes.
Below are its predecessor 9D and successor 70 models
Joined: Jul Fri 10, 2020 4:04 am Posts: 364 Location: La Crosse Ks.
So would this be considered a desirable unit for most collectors? Just trying to decide on this one or another one. Too many radios for sale, too little money!
It was probably the most important product to come out of RME. They stayed in business many years afterwards and brought out some other good receivers but the 69 was what made them famous.
Performance wise, it is good but it came to market in 1935 and technology was changing very rapidly during that decade so performance also changed quickly. The build quality of RME was similar to most of the Hallicrafters sets of that era while National and Hammarlund were a clear step above in component quality and mechanical design.
I live about 30 miles from the original RME factory site and I have most of the models they produced, they are interesting sets and if you plan to own only a single RME then the 69 is probably the one to own. But from that era, a National HRO was a better set in terms of performance as is the Super Pro series from Hammarlund.
Below is the Hammarlund Comet Pro (predecessor to the Super Pro line) and a pair of Breting sets that also lack control labels. If you only owned one receiver and used it every day then the lack of labels wouldn't be a problem. Perhaps the modern equivalent are the current sets with tiny buttons that provide multiple functions depending upon whether you push and release the button, hold it for a second, hit a function key first, etc.
