I recently got a RCA R5, playing but I plan to recap it.
There is an interesting modification I found that I'd like to
know if anyone has seen. This set has a small piece of green
enamled wire wound once around the wire from the detector coil-
to tuning cap stator lead and then coiled a few times on the
antenna coil ground-tuning capacitor frame lead. It appears
this was added for capacitance. It appears to be held in place
on the leads insulation with wax. I have not tried the radio
without this wire, I plan to leave it in place as I can get the
chassis apart to recap it without disturbing it. Anyone recognize
this as a factory recall or service tip or something common to R5s?
I have never worked on one and the "Riders" and RCA service manual
don't seem to talk about anything like it.

: I recently got a RCA R5, playing but I plan to recap it.
: There is an interesting modification I found that I'd like to
: know if anyone has seen. This set has a small piece of green
: enamled wire wound once around the wire from the detector coil-
: to tuning cap stator lead and then coiled a few times on the
: antenna coil ground-tuning capacitor frame lead. It appears
: this was added for capacitance. It appears to be held in place
: on the leads insulation with wax. I have not tried the radio
: without this wire, I plan to leave it in place as I can get the
: chassis apart to recap it without disturbing it. Anyone recognize
: this as a factory recall or service tip or something common to R5s?
: I have never worked on one and the "Riders" and RCA service manual
: don't seem to talk about anything like it.

Bob
This radio is unsusual in that the regeneration feature of the detector is wound on two coil forms coupled by a few turns of wire. Could this be what you are seeing? There is a write up in Rider Vol 1 page 1-10 RCA.
Norm

: : I recently got a RCA R5, playing but I plan to recap it.
: : There is an interesting modification I found that I'd like to
: : know if anyone has seen. This set has a small piece of green
: : enamled wire wound once around the wire from the detector coil-
: : to tuning cap stator lead and then coiled a few times on the
: : antenna coil ground-tuning capacitor frame lead. It appears
: : this was added for capacitance. It appears to be held in place
: : on the leads insulation with wax. I have not tried the radio
: : without this wire, I plan to leave it in place as I can get the
: : chassis apart to recap it without disturbing it. Anyone recognize
: : this as a factory recall or service tip or something common to R5s?
: : I have never worked on one and the "Riders" and RCA service manual
: : don't seem to talk about anything like it.

: Bob
: This radio is unsusual in that the regeneration feature of the detector is wound on two coil forms coupled by a few turns of wire. Could this be what you are seeing? There is a write up in Rider Vol 1 page 1-10 RCA.
: Norm

Norm,
Thanks for your observation and I'm impressed with your
knowledge. I am aware of the "double regeneration" design
of this set. The wire was something someone added. I tried
the radio without it and it doesn't seem to affect the performance.
The radio is pretty sensitive for an "economy" circuit design
and I'm sure recapping will make it even better. Except for
one electrolytic wired in, and tubes the radio is original.
Bob Rosengarten