[ARC5] [Milsurplus] Huntsville, AL, Military Show This Weekend - HS-33 Question

[aafradio]

Mike Morrow wrote:
> I acquired something less exotic...an excellent unused condition USAAF/USAF headset
> with boom microphone that is somewhat similar to the USN H-46/UR shown at Mike Hanz's
> site:  
>
> http://aafradio.org/flightdeck/Peripherals-headsets.html
>
> In contrast, this assembly is built on a standard HS-33, utilizing a M-6/UR mic element
> in a MT-521A/U boom attached to the right ear cushion assembly by a MT-522A/U swivel
> bracket.  The MT-521 and -522 look almost identical to the MX-314/UR boom and MT-368/UR
> swivel bracket shown at:
>
> http://aafradio.org/flightdeck/H-46.html
>
> The headphones terminate in a PJ-054R plug, and the mic in a PJ-292 plug.  Oddly, the
> phone cushion assemblies are labled NAF 48490-1.
>
> I assumed this headset is USAAF/USAF, yet those NAF numbers and the fact that the PJ-292
> mates with the JK-48 jack that is at the end of all those (usually missing) mic cords on
> the J-16 and J-22*/ARC-5 jack boxes makes me uncertain.
>
> If anyone knows the official "overall" designation of this headset, I'd appreciate
> knowing it.

I suspect it's still labeled as an H-46, Mike, though probably in the 
H-46A/UR form.  The MT-522 appears identical to the MT-368/UR except 
the-522 is Parkerized or some such coating as opposed to the galvanized 
steel appearance of the prototype MT-368.  There is a tech order on 
microphones and headphones which I can't readily find that has the H-46 
in it...thought I scanned that, but a computer crash a few days ago so 
far stymies that information route.  I think it has the MT-522 in it.  
The original contracts were with Telephonics and Western Electric, and 
that is the period in which the USAAF began to access Navy contracts a 
lot more as an acquisition vehicle rather than rolling their own.  I 
doubt if there is anything more to the story.

Interestingly enough, I snagged an NOS "JTH-46" from Joyce-Telectronics 
that had the NAF cushions, and the swivel and boom assembly was all made 
of stainless steel.  Just to confuse things further, in addition to the 
company logo, the swivel bracket has MT-522A/U engraved on it.   :-P   
The microphone has M-51/UR molded into the phenolic, and is still listed 
as a replacement part on their website...I think it has a better record 
against carbon granule cementing than the older M-6/U suffered from.  
The PJ-292 was used by both Services for many years.

73,
Mike