David Medley
United States
Master Restorer · R-390 Family Specialist
David Medley was one of the most skilled hands-on restorers of R-390 family receivers in the community’s history. A Medley restoration was considered a mark of quality — a receiver returned to a standard of performance and presentation that few others could match. His work was known not just for technical thoroughness but for the kind of care that results in a receiver that genuinely outperforms the specification it was built to.
The esteem in which his restorations were held was captured on the reflector in February 2026 when a Collins R-390/URR appeared for sale that had been restored by Medley — described as likely the last one he did. The listing noted simply that the receiver buried the S-meter when powered up with no antenna connected. For those who know the R-390 family, that is a statement about sensitivity that needs no further elaboration.
The Standard of a Medley Restoration
The R-390 and R-390A are not forgiving receivers to restore. Their complexity — 26 to 32 vacuum tubes, precision mechanical filters, a gear-driven bandswitch, a PTO requiring careful calibration, and a signal path sensitive to component quality throughout — means that a thorough restoration requires both breadth of knowledge and the patience to do each stage properly.
David Medley’s restorations were thorough, technically grounded, and executed with evident respect for the engineering that went into the original design. Collectors who acquired a Medley-restored receiver understood they were getting something that had been genuinely returned to — and in some cases taken beyond — factory specification.
A Legacy in the Receivers He Left Behind
The precise scope of David’s activity on the reflector and in the community is not fully documented, but the regard in which his work was held speaks clearly to its quality. The receivers he restored continue to operate in collections around the world, performing at the level he set them to. That is a more durable legacy than most.
Legacy & Contributions
Primary Focus: Hands-on restoration of R-390 and R-390A receivers to high-performance standard
Community Role: Respected professional-grade restorer whose work set a recognised quality benchmark within the R-390 community
Notable Contribution: David Medley’s restorations were regarded as among the finest available for the R-390 family. Receivers he worked on are still operating in collections today, a testament to the quality and longevity of his craft.
Mike Peace VK6ADA / r-390a.net Administrator
Boatanchor Legends Tribute Series — Preserving the History of the R-390A Community