eBay user name: etech21 - Excellent and More Excellent. Fast ship Thanks for the extra trouble, AAA

eBay user name: kc8qdq1 - Ordered yesterday at 4 pm got it at 11am next day WOW

eBay user name: rancher067 - This is a must have for your MK-3 Lots of good info AAA++++

eBay user name: tahoe_tim - Great book , I am still learning from all the information , Thank You..!

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eBay user name: cirrusgenetic - Manual is great, seller is very quick to reply! Will buy from again!

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Above is actual feedback from radio shops, homegrown-techs and CBers worldwide, this manual is getting lots of vintage Mark-III's back in service and sounding better than ever!

You don't need to be a tech to customize a Browning to suit your particular needs.  The less common 'long-plate' audio tubes can be used in both the transmitter & receiver yielding warmer tonal qualities, less noise and are ideal for local rag-chewing.  If DX is your thing...and you need to hear a pin-drop halfway around the world, you'll want a hot pair of 12AT7s in the receiver and a couple real sharp audio tubes in both the transmitter & receiver for more articulacy.  It's that easy...swapping tubes will change both the performance and sound characteristics of your rig.

With over 50-yrs in tube radio, I've formed some strong opinions on both the cheapest acceptable and best glass for your Bird. Follow my tube selection advice and you'll quickly realize...you have one of the best radios ever made (I'm also a ham).  Many of the exotic tubes I recommend are off the radar and can be had for cheap.

From tune-ups to troubleshooting, common quirks and parts that are prone to failure, it's all here. For way less money than a technician's bench test, this manual will make your Browning really perform. Want the cleanest, loudest distortion-free audio for your Bird ? Cheap tubes vibrate badly creating noise (microphonics), great if your a guitar player, no-good for radio communications. Hi-quality audio tubes exhibit almost zero distortion. What does this mean? It means you can drive the snot out of them achieving much more audio-output and forward-swing....with no distortion. Good glass = the loudest possible sound.

This is the latest 3rd Edition - featuring the best new production glass..basically a shootout comparing the various brands of new production tubes and the tonal qualities you can expect when used in a Mark-III.

Not all tubes are suitable for use in Browning's. You can get a 12AX7 tube for $2, $20 or $200 dollars, which one is right for a Browning? Does your squelch seem funny?  Not every 12AX7 will work properly in this circuit...wrong one and you'll have a goofy squelch. I have painstakenly tested both the exotic, and cheaper glass throughout the various stages of the Browning MK-III and offer many suggestions for those that want a louder-distortion-free audiophile status.

They did a great job on the ruggedly built Mark III's as the numerous consumer reports and magazine reviews will tell you. However, after 40-years of use, component aging, dust and other contaminants these radios will benefit greatly from the step-by-step procedures outlined inside this manual:

Brief Company History - did you know Browning president Gar Greene's CB handle was 'Birdman' ?

Transmitter Details - operational functions.

Receiver Details - operational functions.

Mark III Version Identification - serial numbers verses production date, various Mark III differences.

Accessories - includes microphones, speakers, amps and a very informative VFO selection guide.

Restoration - covers complete electronic and mechanical maintenance. Lots of info here!

Service - alignment procedures with lots of detailed color photos and supporting diagrams.

Troubleshooting - shows common issues and parts that are prone to failure.

Microphone - Electro-Voice banana-mic wiring and repair.

Tube Replacement - want your Mark III to really perform...6-pages of MUST HAVE for Mark III owner's.

Capacitor Replacement - don't use standard electrolytic caps in the audio-chain and tips on improved station performance using low-esr replacements in the power-supply circuits.

Dial Replacement - shows proper procedures for HF upgrade, 40 channel dials and much more!

Amplifier Keying - most prefer hard-wired amps as opposed to rf-keying. Shows proper wiring for trouble-free amp keying.

Modifications -  dead-key (lowers carrier), audio upgrades, upper / lower freqs, ping duration +++ lots more !

Did you know there were 3-different versions of the Mark III?  Browning Labs made several production changes throughout the 1971-1976 run of the Mark III. Which version was best?  As an owner of numerous Browning Eagles, I've got my fav.


The 'Buyer Beware' section arms potential buyers with the info needed to evaluate Mark III's like a seasoned-pro. With over three decades of electronics engineering and tech repair experience, I've put together several very important points and purchasing questions to ask when considering any used piece of electronics. The answers yield very important info about the condition and the value of the electronics being considered for purchase.