Here's the recipe that I found, that is close to the one in my Rival book, circa 1974 ... that I lost!

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Bachelor's Stew
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Combine
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
Toss with 2 lbs. lean stewing beef, trimmed and cut into one inch cubes.
Place coated beef cubes into slow cooker.

Add
1 yellow onion, quartered (or more, dependent on size)
3 carrots, cut into thick strips
4 stalks celery, chopped
1 tsp. dried basil
1/3 cup quick cooking tapioca
8 oz. can sliced mushrooms (including liquid)
1 tsp. soy sauce
2 - 10 oz. cans condensed tomato soup
1 cup beef broth

Stir well. Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 10-12 hours or on high for 3-5 hours.

I have it! Rival Crock Pot Cooking from 1975! That stew is wonderful, they call it crock-pot stew. Yummy!