[ARC5] T-126?

[Michael Tauson]

Hi, Folks,

I'd like to add my thanks to Mr. Cotton for the information he so
graciously forwarded to me.  (I wonder if I can get enough parts units
to create a satisfactory T-126 upper deck for photo purposes.)

I'd like to remind y'all that A.R.C. did have a hand in the design of
the BC-950 & T-23 as well as the associated receivers.  That was to
keep WE from redesigning the SCR-274-N and ARC-5 in their own image.
WE had previous experience with VHF (The 233 which later was called
the ARC-4) while A.R.C. wasn't too thrilled with either VHF or crystal
control until late in the game.  On another undesignated appendage,
the work that A.R.C. did with their own VHF sets proved valuable in
designing the Type 12 equipment.

Mike's right.  The Type K is an excellent 30s design, one that was
updated as the ARC-5 which brought it closer to a 40s design.  But the
BC-191, BC-348 and so much else were 30s designs as well.  As a
result, the fact that the Type K came out in the 30s doesn't set it
apart from much used during the war.  But the key word here is
"excellent."  ARC-5 equipment in general was in use in to the 60s (The
control box I have as the C-40 replacement was made in 1960.) and at
least the R-23 lasted well into the 70s.

Dave's right.  My goal is to do the impossible and list every possible
piece of A.R.C. equipment made as well as the company's history,
wiggling around the missing documents as well as I can.  I'll fall a
bit short on the equipment lists (including connector lists et al) but
not for lack of trying, and the history ... well, I know of no history
that is really complete.  There will be gaps and that's unavoidable
but I know that already and am prepared for it.

I hope to devote one chapter to non-A.R.C. equipment, in part to put
it into context and in part to show how they were integrated into the
systems.  I also want to cover competing equipment in that same
context including the SCR-240 and the SCR-134, the latter with a
timeline with it and both the Model B and model D based SCR-A*-183
sets in relation to the Airmail Disaster of 1934.  (As a side note,
that mess was the trigger that launched the preliminary work for the
Type K sets we all know and love.)

Equipment not designed or made by A.R.C. like the already discussed
VHF sets, the ARR-1, ARR-2 et al will be in the lists but they will be
designated as "Not an A.R.C. product" to differentiate them from the
good stuff.  The fact that the T-23, R-28 and associated accessories
are integral with the ARC-5 makes it a bit difficult to tell who
designed what, though I suspect the C-30(A) & C-38 are both A.R.C.
products designed to integrate the WE equipment.  Also, what do I do
about the single receiver rack & shock mount and the receiver
dynamotor used with the ARC-5?  They're all ARR-2 components so
technically aren't A.R.C. equipment at all despite having A.R.C.
4-digit designations.  But this is what makes life so exciting, right?

And, yes, I have a rather odd definition of "exciting."

I guess that added enough confusion to the pot.

Best regards,

Michael