[ARC5] Re: [Milsurplus] Command key ?

[David Stinson]

Military1944 at aol.com wrote:
> Hi all, 
> 
> Just finishing off a Command set up here, 
> 2 x rx and 2 x tx layout, 
 > was just wondering what the correct mic and
> key are with these sets ? > 
> thinking T-17 and J-37 ? 
> guess there may have been slight variations 
> depending upon aircraft fit but what was used in the B-17 etc?

Concerning the microphone:
As Mike said; the T-17 would be "valid,"
but not common after 1942 in combat aircraft,
John Wayne movies notwithstanding ;-).
1942 B-17 and B-24 radio installation manuals call for
the T-17 or T-20, which would connect, not directly to
the Command Set, but to the the interphone amplifier.
Amplified output was fed to the BC-456 modulator,
along with keying lines which were "straight-through."
These were later replaced by throat mikes which left
both hands free, and many a B-24 pilot will tell you
it takes both hands to keep that beast in the air,
even if it isn't full of holes.
The transmit key for the throat mike was a button
mounted on the aircraft control yoke.

The SCR-274N was not issued with a Morse key,
because it was not intended as a primary Morse radio.
The "key" button on top was for emergency use
and to provide a constant key-down for DFing.
The Radio Op could, of course, plug in his key
and use the set if his Liaison rig was out.

That being said, it is certain that somewhere
in some installation, the set was used as a Morse
primary, probably in a "dual-role" or in a
ground installation.  I say this in perfect
confidence; it was a big war, and the Radio Ops
fighting it used what they could get in many
combinations to do every kind of job, hang "the book."
In that instance, it's likely the key was
a J-37, since they were most available
and the 274N's "environment" usually included a J-37.
But don't count anything "out;" I have a
big, black "flameproof, Navy-Knob" key,
the kind many of us have with the big
Navy anchor stamped on the bottom.
Turn this one over, and there is a
square Signal Corps inspection stamp.
Never say "never..."

73 Dave S.