- Country
- United States of America (USA)
- Manufacturer / Brand
- National Company; Cambridge & Malden (MA)
- Year
- 1951–1958
- Category
- Amateur-Receiver (amateur bands, may include broadcast bands)
- Radiomuseum.org ID
- 49625
-
- alternative name: National Toy Co.
- Brand: Thrillbox
National SW-54
National SW 54
National SW 54 vista interno
National SW 54
By courtesy of William Kendrick, USA
National SW 54 Vista telaio
Sams Photofact Folders reference picture.
1952 National advertising in Brazil
Click on the schematic thumbnail to request the schematic as a free document.
- Number of Tubes
- 5
- Main principle
- Superheterodyne (common); ZF/IF 455 kHz; 2 AF stage(s)
- Tuned circuits
- 6 AM circuit(s)
- Wave bands
- Broadcast plus more than 2 Short Wave bands.
- Power type and voltage
- AC/DC-set / 117V = 105 -130 Volt
- Loudspeaker
- Permanent Magnet Dynamic (PDyn) Loudspeaker (moving coil) / Ø 5 inch = 12.7 cm
- Power out
- 1.8 W (unknown quality)
- Material
- Metal case
- from Radiomuseum.org
- Model: SW-54 - National Company; Cambridge &
- Shape
- Tablemodel, with any shape - general.
- Dimensions (WHD)
- 279 x 178 x 178 mm / 11 x 7 x 7 inch
- Notes
-
National model SW-54 is an AC-DC operated multi-band superheterodyne receiver.
coverage 540 kHz - 30 MHz, AM, CW (BFO).National introduced the SW-54 in late 1950 as a 1951 model. It was advertised as "The Mighty Midget", covering broadcast and three shortwave bands. National's target was the low-end market, aimed at the shortwave listener and beginning ham radio operator for whom the 50 dollar price point was important. It did not have a real BFO stage but used regenerative IF as a substitute.
The set used mechanical "bandspread" with a 4 1/2 inch wide clear-plastic second knob with logging scale which was accessible on the right side of the cabinet. That larger knob was directly concentric with the tuning knob.
The SW-54 carried a warning label that the chassis was directly connected to one side of the power line. It was UL approved since the hot chassis was separated from the cabinet by insulators. The control shafts for the bandswitch and volume control were separately mounted on an insulator which protected the user in case a knob came off. The set also used an interlock connector that cut off the power if the back was removed to replace the tubes.
- Net weight (2.2 lb = 1 kg)
- 5.8 kg / 12 lb 12.4 oz (12.775 lb)
- Price in first year of sale
- 50.00 $
- External source of data
- Ernst Erb
- Source of data
- Communications Receivers
- Circuit diagram reference
- Rider's Perpetual, Volume 22, covering 1951
- Mentioned in
- Shortwave Receivers - Past & Present (3rd ed.)
- Literature/Schematics (1)
- Photofact Folder, Howard W. SAMS (Date 8-51, Set 141, Folder 9)
- Literature/Schematics (2)
- Montgomery Ward Catalogs (Wards, Airline) (Fall/Winter 1951/52, page 702. Spring/Summer 1952, page 604. Fall/Winter 1954/55, page 665.)
- Literature/Schematics (3)
- National’s Entry-Level Shortwave Radio;The ‘Mighty Midget’ SW-54,The Spectrum Monitor, 3-2025,
- Other Models
-
Here you find 446 models, 285 with images and 189 with schematics for wireless sets etc. In French: TSF for Télégraphie sans fil.
All listed radios etc. from National Company; Cambridge & Malden (MA)
Collections
The model is part of the collections of the following members.