[ARC5] RAT, RAV, ARA, and RAX Questions and Observations

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

In a message dated 7/10/2009 11:58:50 AM Central Daylight Time, 
kk5f at earthlink.net writes: 
> The RAT/RAT-1 is an interesting set.  I'm curious about:
> 

1.  Was there a "non-preliminary" manual issued?
The only manual I have seen is titled "INSTRUCTION BOOK FOR ...", not 
"PRELIMINARY...".  However, the manual number, NAVAER 08-5Q-137, was assigned 
after the fact.  I no longer have the original (although I know who does) but 
the NAVAER number was on a white sticker affixed to the front cover when I 
requisitioned the manual in 1968.  Date on the manual, which is also the date 
of the Contract, NOs-67258. is June 24, 1939.

> 2.  Are there manuals of any sort surviving today?

One that I know of.  Plus I can do a reprint.  Plus August may have had 
one.  I know that he had two on the RAV, one of which I have.

> 3.  How was the 50 set total divided between the RAT and the RAT-1?

I haven't seen the source document(s) but Dave said 50 of each, not 50 
total.  However, the paragraph in the manual explaining how serial numbers were 
assigned implies 50 plus 50.

>    (The RAT-1 appears to have been notably later than the RAT, judging
>      CBY-46xxx designations.  See below.)



> 4.  What was the year of introduction?

See 1. above.  The Contract was for both models.

> 
> 6.  When did the RAV (or xRAV) appear, compared to the RAT?

The Contract for the RAV, NOs-72445, is dated March 13, 1940.  The manual 
is also titled "INSTRUCTION BOOK FOR ...", not "PRELIMINARY..." but my 
original manual never got the NAVAER number stuck on it (if one was assigned, as 
it probably was) so I presume the manual must have been issued to someone 
before one was assigned.  I didn't get this manual until 1995, and not through 
the Navy supply system.


> 7.  What are the production figures for the full eight-receiver RAV?
>     (less than RAT???)
> 

Reading between the lines in the Serial Number explanation paragraph in the 
RAV manual, which is similar to the one in the RAT/RAT-1 manual, there were 
46.  Each of the eight types of receivers was serial numbered 1 to 46.  The 
368 dynamotors were serial numbered 1 to 368.  And so on.

I don't know the answers to the other questions.

Robert Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480