MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, FEB.10/98 INDEX: MYSTERY RADIO; The BC-745/SCR-511, Part V, by Dennis Starks WHATSITS; BC-1278, CH-139? BC-1158 WANTED; MEMBER PROFILE; Bob Simpson BOB's WANT's & TRADE's; COLLINS URC-32/KWT-6 MUST GO; HUMOR; **************************** MYSTERY RADIO; The BC-745/SCR-511, Part V, by Dennis Starks THE MYSTERY, With all the information that has been presented on this radio in the previous four chapters, you might now be wondering, what's the Mystery? Well I have a LOT of questions. We'll start in reverse order of importance. #3). Most, if not all HF/AM voice radios that were built, regardless of their size or intended purpose, were supplied from the factory set up for operation on 3.885mc. Much the same as VHF/FM equipment for the following 30 years would be supplied on 51mc. This is the reason that the most common frequency found in the BC-611 today is 3.885mc, and for the PRC-6, PRT-4, PRR-9 etc. 51mc. The BC-745 wasn't, not only that, but it was not supplied with a standard channel module (BC-746) for that frequency. It is true that a channel module could be built up using BC-611 parts, but this does not make sense. Also, only a few of the channel/frequencies that were standard for the BC-745 were compatible with the BC-611. Here we have two radios that were always used in conjunction with each other, and in some applications, interchangeable in their use, so why? #2) As can be seen in all the available historic documents and photos, the BC-745 was most often used with the T-39 chest unit for portable operation. Of the items of rare equipment today, this T-39 is of the rarest. Only a handful are known to exist. The radio set had the added ability to be used with the PE-157 vibrator supply for vehicular, semi-fixed, or semi-portable operation. The PE-157 used the very common BA-54 2 volt wet cell battery. The mystery? PE-157's today are relatively common, far more so that what the radios themselves are. But this is in total contrast to virtually ALL other surviving equipment, of every type, be it Signal Corps, Navy, ground or airborne, where the power supplies are much rarer than their companion radios. Why so many power supplies, and so few radios? #1) And the biggest mystery, what happened to the Pogo Stick after the war that would account for it's extreme rarity today??? Only very few could be found on the surplus market boom of the postwar years, and fewer still would make it into the hands of MARS members. The normal explanations do not apply! Normally the smaller radios that were built in higher quantities, used at the lower echelons are the ones most common today. There are more BC-611's than BC-284's, or BC-1306's. There are more TBY's than there are TBX's. There are more PRC-6's than PRC-10's or GRC-9's. More SCR-274's, TCS's than BC-375's, TCK's. And more PRC-25's than VRC-12's, the list goes on. The BC-745 was also a low man on the Totem Pole, built in relatively large quantities. To illustrate this chain of command as it applies to quantity of radios, refer to Ref.#15 and the list of equipment transferred from the Army to the Navy: 2ea SCR-299's, 8ea SCR-284's, 20ea SCR-511's. This equipment was obviously acquired for the express purpose of outfitting a particular fighting force, including spares. Note that there are ten times the radios used at the lowest echelon(SCR-511), as compared to those at the highest(SCR-299). An additional note, though unrelated to the current topic. We can surmise that the above force was most likely of fair size having at least 10 companies, and 4 Battalions. As I am not familiar with troop count versus command sizes of this period, and they differed between Army and Marines, I can't speculate on just how large this force was. But it would be interesting if one of you historians out there could extrapolate this force size, and the date this equipment was transferred, to come up with the possible campaign all were involved in. It could possibly have been a joint Army/Marine/Navy one requiring some compatibility in equipment. There is the viable argument that radios that were not in production at the wars end are harder to find today than those that were. This is true, but these examples can be found, it's just a little "harder". Other radio sets that didn't survive production until wars end, yet are relatively common today include: TBY, TBX(2-7), BC-222, 322, 223, 654, etc. Of these the BC-654 is the best example as none were built after the introduction of the BC-1306, it's decline began about the same time as the SCR-511, yet it also remained in widespread use till the wars end, exactly as the story goes for the BC-745 and BC-1000. If logic were used, the BC-654 should be rarer than the BC-745 as it was a higher echelon radio, thus fewer were fielded. But it's not, and for some reason, logic does not apply here! To compound the mystery is a manual that I have in my library(Ref.10). Sadly, the cover is missing so we can not properly date it, or confirm it's origin. But it was printed sometime between 1947 and 1950, most likely by one of the Signal Schools. It contains descriptions, condensed operating, and installation procedures, and some excellent pictures, of all the common radio equipment in use at the time. What makes the manual significant is that among other radios it covers, the following are included: SCR-506, GRC-9, SCR-536, SCR-511, and SCR-619. NOTE, there is no SCR-694, or SCR-284! Most significant is that this manual includes the GRC-9, and not the SCR-694/BC-1306, the later being a viable radio long after WW-II. And although design of the GRC-9 began before the end of WW-II, the earliest known examples are dated 1949, and government printed manuals long after this. Also the SCR-619 appeared VERY late in the war, and there is much speculation as to whether or not it ever saw service. Then in the company of all this confusion is the Pogo Stick. What's it doing here?? Obviously well after WW-II!! Did the BC-745 survive WW-II in sufficient quantities to go on and serve in the Korean War as many others did? Then these quantities used up? If this is the case, we will probably never know for sure. As this is the most neglected period of history in the entire history of this country, to our great shame! Did the U.S. give away all the remaining sets as postwar lend lease to an ally as was the fate of many MANY thousands of other radio sets? If this is so, it was not to NATO, as all these examples have turned up on surplus markets in the last 15-20 years. The post Korean War years saw many more thousands of U.S. WW-II vintage radios diverted to Southeast Asia, and the French. But the SCR-511 was not among them. The commonality, rarity, or fate of any item of radio equipment can almost always be explained one way or another, but this is not the case with the Pogo Stick! To my mind, a hero has passed without proper acknowledgement, and this bothers me! Perhaps this series of articles will bring some more information to light. I sincerely hope so. Dennis Starks; MILITARY RADIO COLLECTOR/HISTORIAN military-radio-guy@juno.com I don't remember which radio was to be next featured as a MYSTERY RADIO, so you all pick one. #10) Post WW-II mystery manual, date and history unknown, cover missing. #15) MYSTERY RADIO; The BC-745/SCR-511, Part IV, by Dennis Starks MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, FEB. 9/98 **************************** WHATSITS; BC-1278, CH-139? Was housecleaning again. Ran across several items that I hope some body can identify. Item one: BC-1278 Control Box. Is some sort of device for switching from one antenna to another. Has three 3 position rotary switches. Thier 1 is 81-145 MC, Tier 2 is 45-84 MC and Tier 3 is 27 to 46 MC. I have the control box and the three antenna holders. Would like to find out what it was used on/for/with/ etc. Item two: A wooden spare parts chest. Data plate missing. Is painted with 6F839 CH 139. This was inspected 12/49 so I assume it was for a WW II set or just post WW II set. Any clue as to what set it is for/goes with/etc. Third item: A gray plastic adapter that mounts two 9 pin tubes on top and plugs into an octal base socket. It is called a GAP/R Model K2W. Was made by George A. Philbrick Researches, Inc of Boston, Mass. What is this? One person guessed it was for an early tube type computer. Anybody know what any of these things are for? Bill Howard e-mail wlhoward@gte.net **************************** BC-1158 WANTED; Wanted: I am interested in a BC 1158 transmitter. William Smith smithr8@juno.com **************************** MEMBER PROFILE; Bob Simpson n0ntc@train.missouri.org Retired in 1990 after twenty-one years in the Navy, Chief Electronics Technician with experience in HF and UHF communications systems both shipboard and shore. Also, microwave and shipboard radar. Mainly interested in military communications receivers of the vacuum-tube era for personal use. I hope to collect reception-verification cards from all FORMERLY-COMMUNIST countries. Have five from Eastern Europe so far. Currently living in the middle of the Ozarks in a four-room shack I built myself. Might be a day or two late answering E-mail. Just about every adult male in my family has been in military service, but I was the first to actually retire after twenty years. I was an electronics whonk all through high school, my corner of the garage was always crowded with radio and TV chassis'. My first "REAL" radio was an NC-57 that came from a local ham in Riverside, CA for $35.00. That was 1965, and I sure wish I had that set back now! After four years in high school electronics, I sailed through ET(A) school at Treasure Island with no effort, got to ET(B) school, and then two (C) schools in a row,(COMSEC, don't ask!) After that, spent two years at NCS Kodiak, time in the P.I. at NCS San Miguel, Ground Electronics at NAS Lemoore CA, and my first ship, USS SHASTA, AE-33. I wasn't worried about being on an ammunition ship; if it blew, I'd never feel it. Nerve impulses don't travel that fast!! This was where I got my first military radio; an R-390A pulled from a dumpster on the pier. The Shasta had just finished converting to R-1051B's and wasn't able to dispose of the old radios in the usual manner; over the fantail in deep water! I carried that old set around the country for over a decade before trading it at a Hamfest. After the Shasta, it was Boardman OR for bomb-crew duty at the target range. Made ET1 here. Then, NSGA Adak. Loved it enough to go back again after a tour on the USS QUAPAW, ATF-110. Now I was a Chief ET, and doomed to push paper. I was the guy who sent over 36 tons of test equipment to DRMO San Diego. After an earthquake, (R-7.7), I was suddenly in charge of the transmitter site for an extensive technical rebuild. Saw my fill of 100KW TMC transmitters (AN/FRT-62) and the real problem child; AN/FRT-72 200KW VLF by Continental. After "saving the day", my crew and I were rewarded with a barbeque. Last duty station was NAF El Centro CA. I loved the desert! Me and old 4X4 GMC looked into every crack and cranny in the Anza Borrego desert park. I've still got that GMC by the way. Retired in 1990 with a medal for scoring high as 3M Coordinator. By this time, most of my luggage was old military radios. #1 My interest in collecting? My Navy career shaped my interest in 1940's and 1950's vacuum-tube communications receivers. I saw a bunch of these radios being replaced by solid-state sets of dubious reliability, and wasn't suprised to see these old veterans returned to service after the new radios became a maintenance nightmare. So far, I have six of the heavy old classics from the fifties, and am constantly on the look-out for others, and for racks to hold them. #2 I live in the Ozarks! Robert E. Simpson, 9570 Haney Dr. Houston, MO 65483 PH: (417) 967-3535 N0NTC #3 I just plain love the solid old comm gear. This stuff was built to last a century, and here it is, available with lots of life still left. My den looks like a NAVCOMSTA! Robert E. Simpson, ETC USN(Ret.) n0ntc@train.missouri.org ed) I hate ET's! But this one ain't too bad. **************************** BOB's WANT's & TRADE's; Bob Simpson n0ntc@train.missouri.org Wants: Navy HF communications receivers in the SP-600 or R-390A class. (Made by Hammarlund, Hallicrafters, Collins, TMC, Motorola, etc.) six-foot rack cabinets to hold all those big receivers. Signal generator AN/URM-26 and manual. Trades: -R-278/GRC UHF Receiver, excellent condition, complete except for guard-receiver chassis not needed for main receiver operation. Has schematic engraved on case! 120VAC 60cps, 225-400MHZ AM. $100.00 trade credit plus shipping. -AN/URM-120 Directional Wattmeter with slugs and case, 2-1000MHZ measures up to 1000 watts on HF slug. Current calibration expires OCT 98. $100.00 trade credit and I pay shipping. -RT-68, PP-109, R-110, with vehicle mount and all cables, original manuals and five new PA tubes. NRA Very Good condition. $180 trade credit plus shipping(HEAVY) -CPRC-26, fair condition, needs four replacement modules, includes five = crystals in 6-meter band. Also have headphone with web straps and cable. $40.00 trade credit and I'll ship this little thing. -GRR-5 receiver,(doesn't everybody have one of these?) Original manual, good operating condition $120.00 trade credit plus shipping. -FREE technical advice from retired Navy Chief Electronic Technician specialized in HF and UHF communications systems and making sense out of military tech manuals. Robert E. Simpson, ETC, USN(Ret.) n0ntc@train.missouri.org **************************** COLLINS URC-32/KWT-6 MUST GO; I really hate to part with it, but must! It's just too big & I ain't got the room. Collins 1.8-30mc, all mode, 500watts(conservative), synthesized transceiver. Fully operational, with manuals. Yul hafta come and get it. What you got to trade that ain't so big? Dennis **************************** HUMOR; Why do men fart more than women? Because women won't shut up long enough to build up pressure. Why did cave men drag their women around by their hair? Because if you drag them by their feet, they fill with dirt. How is a woman like a laxative? They both irritate the shit out of you. What's worse than a male chauvinistic pig? A woman that won't do what she's told. What's it called when a woman is paralysed from the waist down? Marriage. Why do women pay more attention to their appearance than to improving their minds? Because most men are stupid, but few are blind. What's the difference between a woman with PMS and a pit bull terrier? Lipstick. Why is a woman like a dog turd? Because the older it is, the easier it is to pick up. What's the most active muscle in a woman? The penis Why do women have tits? So men will talk to them. How do you make love to a fat chick? Jerk off in your hand and throw it at her. Why do women skydivers wear tampons? So they don't whistle on the way down. What's the definition of a male chauvinist pig? A man who hates every bone in a woman's body - except his own. Why was the woman crossing the road? Who cares? But what the fuck was the bitch doing out of the kitchen? How many women does it take to change a light bulb? None. They just sit there in the dark and bitch. Why are cyclones/tornadoes usually named after women? Because what starts off as a small blow ends up taking half your house. Why did god create lesbians? So feminists couldn't breed. Why is a fat woman like a moped? They're both fun to ride, but you wouldn't want your friends to see you on either. Why can't you trust women? How can you trust something that bleeds for five days and not die? What's the best thing about a blow job? Ten minutes of silence. What's the definition of a woman? a life support system for a pussy. Why do women have arms? Have you any idea how long it would take to lick a bathroom clean? ----------------------------------------- A farmer and his wife are in bed . He reaches forward and feels her breasts. He says ' You know if these were bigger we wouldn't need the cow.' She reaches back and feels his dick. She says ' If this was bigger we wouldn't need the farm manager.' If they can put one man on the moon, they should be able to put them all there. One day, God calls on Adam and says, "Adam, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that I gave you a penis and a brain. The bad news is that I only gave you enough blood to operate one organ at a time. How do you know God isn't a woman? If God were a woman, spunk would taste like chocolate. How did Pinocchio find out he was made of wood? His hand caught fire. Why are dumb blonde jokes so short? So men can remember them. What did God say after creating man? "I must be able to do better than that." What did God say after she made Eve? "Practice makes perfect." Husband: Want a quickie? Wife: As opposed to what? Husband: I don't know why you wear a bra; you've got nothing to put in it. Wife: You wear briefs, don't you? How many men does it take to screw a light bulb? Five - one to actually do the screwing, four to listen to him brag about it. How are men and parking spots alike? The good ones are always taken. Free ones are mostly handicapped or extremely small. What is that insensitive bit at the base of the penis called? The man. Man says to God: "God, why did you make woman so beautiful?" God says: "So you would love her." "But God," the man says, "why did you make her so dumb?" God says: "So she would love you." **************************** EDITOR; Dennis Starks; MILITARY RADIO COLLECTOR/HISTORIAN military-radio-guy@juno.com