[ARC5] History of radios

[Todd Bigelow - PS]

Same with me. I'd be happy to contribute any data, pictures, or whatever else may
be needed from my current station(although I have a feeling it's all pretty
ordinary) to the project as well.

There is no doubt that the demand wouldn't be close to that of a book on the NY
Times Best Seller list, but my guess is that not only has interest grown in the
last few years, but it will continue to. Chuck Dachis must have realized good
success with his Hallicrafters book since he's come out with a new version in the
last year or so. Granted, his is mostly a picture book for identification
purposes, but it shows a strong interest in just one brand of old radios. Pretty
much every ham I met when first getitng into the hobby had owned, used, or
otherwise knew of this gear. It took me a while just to find out what they all
meant by 'ARC-5', since my first introduction was a BC-455-B 'command set' traded
to me by the professor of my electronics class in the late 70s. (Years later I
found out that ARC-5 gear was actually black, navy-contract gear).

I can envision a great cover for the book: a large, glossy shot of the equipment
installed in a restored WWII aircraft, clean black wrinkle navy versions in racks
with accessories, cables, and tags. Then perhaps an inset shot of a single
receiver, so recognized as the generic meaning of the terms 'command set' and
'ARC-5', likely a bare aluminum AAF model. Maybe an old B&W snapshot included next
to it of a WWII operator at his post inside the aircraft, too...

The most important part will always be the accuracy and completeness, which is why
it should be done sooner instead of later, while we still have so many people
available with first-hand knowledge.

My only fear is that of seeing and learning of more items which I don't have, but
should!

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ

"Paul H. Anderson" wrote:

> A possible alternative is to publish via amazon.com - you can list a PDF
> up there for, say, $5 or $10, and have people download it.
>
> However it is published, I'm a guaranteed buyer of any such book, Gordon.
>
> Paul