R1155

[Yorkie]

Re Racal RXs, Rob Filby is the acknowledged expert and has written extensively about them (In Rado Bygones for example). He has all the right gear to test and realign them, and has (or at least did have) lots of spares for them. I don't know his present whereabouts, but some yeas ago he bought a 940 Eddystone from me. I think he lives somewhere near Newark (UK that is). He holds RA17s in high regard. As to HROs and AR88s, it's remarkable that they were designed and developed before WW2, and shows that in just a few years after the superhet principle was developed, such a degree of sophistication was attained.

[Michaelr]

I've compiled the following list as an initial "starter for 10" of how easily available various things seem to be, from my viewpoint, ie very subjective. It's certainly not comprehensive, just what sprung to mind, and I've restricted myself broadly to the WW2 era. mainly British or used by the British forces.

It's based purely on availability, with no link to the price one might have to pay.

Also no attempt to split into modified or unmodified.

1 = hen’s teeth to 10 = common

R1155 9
T1154 7
R1082 3
T1083 1
TR9 1
TR1196 4
TR1143 1
SCR-522 5
R1116 2
R1147 5
R1224 5
R1475 5
R1392 7
R1132 7
BC-348 7

WS12 Tx 3
WS17 4
WS18 4
WS19 9
WS22 2
WS38 7
WS48 4
WS62 8
WS88 7
R107 9
R109 7
R208 7
R206 5
R308 3
PCR 8
Sender No. 76 3

CR100 9
CR150 6
CR200 1
CR300 5
B40/B41 6

DST100 1
AR88 8
HRO 8

If this is of interest perhaps we could develop the list further.

Any comments?

Andy

Crikey Andy ,

Do you live in a mansion?

Mike

[pwdrive]

Thanks for posting your list Andy, there are a few there that are new to me, I think maybe that demand will remain strong for most of this stuff, as was said earlier, on line auctions gives the seller a world wide audience and the internet gives many of us the chance to locate and buy spares etc that would normally be unobtainable, I recently bought an LS3 (Mil.) speaker from the States, it cost quite a bit with the postage and customs but it was in first class condition and was what I wanted so i was happy to pay that price.
I always wanted a Collins receiver, I do not know what I would have to pay for decent example off hand but I am guessing quite a lot of money probably over £600 ? at least all in, I could go to a sun drenched island in Greece for that, but to be frank i would be bored out of my skull, rather have a 390 or something similar every time.
It will be interesting to see how prices go in general over the next few years as when averaged out they do give an indication of relative availability.
Any one know why B40 bits seem to be quite rare, did the Admiralty or whoever ever release their holding of such spares ? if so i must have missed them.

Lawrence.

[Andy M0FYA]

Mike wrote "Crikey Andy , Do you live in a mansion?"

Mike, I wonder if you have misinterpreted the meaning of my list?
The numbers are just my impression of availabilty for sale (on ebay, at the NVCF etc), marked on an arbitrary scale of 1 to 10 where 1 means that item hardly ever seems to appear for sale (irrespective of price) and 10 says they are always turning up.

It is NOT a list of how many things there are in my collection!

And no, I don't live in a mansion, just an ordinary house!

Andy

[Andy M0FYA]

Lawrence,

There have been quite a few of the airborne versions of the Collins receivers and transmitters sold in the two VMARS auctions to-date of items from the late John Coggins collection. There are more auctions to come, so I recommend you join VMARS!
(As it happens I didn't bid on any of the Collins stuff).

Andy

[Michaelr]

Andy,

My apolgies I did not read your reply thoroughly and yes did think it was your collection...... now that would have been a collection !!.

I think it covers just about everything WW2

I would add the Hammarlund SP200 receivers used in the RAF , there was a companion transmitter .

Hallicrafters SX28. They also supplied a VHF receiver the SX27.

Mike

[pwdrive]

Just to add to what Mike as already pointed out, Hallicrafters did a dual mains voltage version of the SX28, according to Henry Rogers (Stateside) it is usually refered to as the SX28(U) for universal maybe. 115/230v AC. so I would say intened for supply to over hear during WW2. I have an old scrap chassis for one of the U versions and an old large size coax socket had been fitted for the antenna input connection, wether done by amature or military I can not say for sure.
I was led to believe that the S27 and similar variants were used by the airforce, something to do with detecting enemy radar/guidence beams ? because of its VHF/UHF coverage, I am only guessing hear, perhaps somebody knows or can add to that ?
Also was the Collins TCS series ever fitted to UK fighting forces ie: ships,, aircraft, land based etc ?
Lots of questions I know but there is still a lot to learn about this stuff.

Lawrence.

[Alistair D]

In the 1970s I was the proud owner of a Vancouver Radio Labs VRL receiver. This set is mentioned by VMARS. I have no idea of the set's history or popularity but I assume the Canadian link has something to do with why it was in the UK.

Al

[Michaelr]

Just to add to what Mike as already pointed out, Hallicrafters did a dual mains voltage version of the SX28, according to Henry Rogers (Stateside) it is usually refered to as the SX28(U) for universal maybe. 115/230v AC. so I would say intened for supply to over hear during WW2. I have an old scrap chassis for one of the U versions and an old large size coax socket had been fitted for the antenna input connection, wether done by amature or military I can not say for sure.
I was led to believe that the S27 and similar variants were used by the airforce, something to do with detecting enemy radar/guidence beams ? because of its VHF/UHF coverage, I am only guessing hear, perhaps somebody knows or can add to that ?
Also was the Collins TCS series ever fitted to UK fighting forces ie: ships,, aircraft, land based etc ?
Lots of questions I know but there is still a lot to learn about this stuff.

Lawrence.

Gosh why did I miss the Collins TCS... Good catch lawrence.I know they were fitted in landing barges and there were dynamometer psu units so they could also be used in vehicles.I also believe that those Island watchers used in the pacific were rigged out with the TCS stuff I will have to read up on that. The TCS 12 stuff was so useable that they were not taken out of service until the late 60's.

Mike

[Michaelr]

In the 1970s I was the proud owner of a Vancouver Radio Labs VRL receiver. This set is mentioned by VMARS. I have no idea of the set's history or popularity but I assume the Canadian link has something to do with why it was in the UK.

Al

Excellent input Alistair , never heard of this receiver before. The one reference I have found so far shows it to be quite a performer

Mike