[ARC5] RE: [Milsurplus] Praise for Australia's WWII Engineers

[WF2U]

David,

You lucky devil you for managing to acquire that equipment. Just looking at
the photos I'm drooling over all that AWA equipment.

I can also echo the same opinion regarding the quality.

 I have 2 pieces of WW2 vintage Australian radio equipment: a Kingsley AR7
(an HRO type receiver) and an A679-J receiver (manufactured by STC in
Sydney). The dial mechanism of the A678-J is one of the smoothest I've ever
used. Both receivers are still running on the original capacitors and
resistors, and most of the original tubes. They're built very well, and the
wiring/assembly is first class.  If needed, servicing should be very easy.

They're nice pieces of equipment and even today they're very decent
performers.

73, Meir WF2U
Landrum, SC



> -----Original Message-----
> From: milsurplus-bounces+wf2u=starband.net at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:milsurplus-bounces+wf2u=starband.net at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf
> Of David Stinson
> Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2006 1:08 PM
> To: Milsurplus Radios; ARC5 at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Milsurplus] Praise for Australia's WWII Engineers
>
>
> I am having a good time working on some "new to me" equipment
> built by Australia's Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd (AWA).
> Through the kindness of some of our members and trades, working
> on an AWA AT-5 transmitter / AR-8 receiver "general purpose wireless set,"
> which saw service in many ways but mostly in aircraft.
> I'm very impressed with these radios, especially the components.
> The designs are not unique; the circuits are fairly standard 1930s stuff.
> It's the forethought that went into the construction and the quality
> of the components that impress.  The engineers designed
> this set to be serviced in the field by a private with a screwdriver,
> a cigarette lighter and a forked stick.  Components are mounted
> to be easily and quickly changed.  The radios can be disassembled
> into modules for quick repair or replacement.
> But I'm betting they didn't need much repair beyond that caused
> by physical abuse.  For example:  The majority of the AWA-made capacitors
> look like "black beauties."  I thought I'd have a world of them to
> change in the receiver (which was working when I received it).
> I tested nearly every cap in it.  I found exactly *one* that needed
> changing, and the leakage in it was microamps at full rated voltage;
> I may put it back, since I'm running at reduced B+.
> All the rest of them tested within tolerance.  I stopped checking the
> resistors after about a third, since none was more than 10 % off.
> The receiver runs very well on reduced B+, so I don't expect any
> of these original parts to fail any time soon.
>
> Our U.S. designs may have been more "cutting edge," but the
> engineers gave little (sometimes no) thought to the poor guy
> in the trenches who has to fix the thing- a problem I still
> cuss about today, by the way.
>
> Just wanted to give our Australian friends a "five-star" rating
> on this AWA wireless set.
>
> You can see photos/background on this very cool set at:
> http://www.qsl.net/vk4czt/at5ar8.htm
>
> 73 Dave S.
>