[ARC5] Set designation - Air Force SCR-274N sets in black

[Leslie Smith]

Hello Group,

This is a re-hashing of that perpetual question.  My question is based on a statement made by Ray Robinson (VK2ILV) who has an impressive collection of military gear.  (Lovely bloke, from Wahroongah, NSW, Australia)

Here is Ray's statement:

  "The Command set is a general title for several groups of receivers and transmitters used in World War 2, which are more specifically called the (United States Army Air Force) SCR-274N, (United States Navy) ATA/ARA, and the (United States Navy) AN/ARC-5. They were used for Air to Air, Air to Ground communications and for receiving Navigation signals. They are a unique design of that era, in that most radios would use a band switch to change to a different frequency band, whereas this design selects a completely different receiver or transmitter. Here is more complete list posted by W6RIC. After the war, they were still used. I have one that was used in Australian Civil Aircraft which was reconditioned in 1956."

  "The Army SCR-274N series radios were available in black wrinkle paint, or natural aluminium finish. The Navy ARC-5 were in black wrinkle paint. Externally they looked identical in appearance, and only differed in colour and frequency coverage. Internally they were very similar, with only minor differences, apart from the obvious ones relating to the frequency. The SCR-274N series had BC-454 type names and the ARC-5 had R-25 and T-20 type names for the receivers and the transmitters. The adapter drawer on the front had a different knob and label for Army and Navy. Some of the low frequency receivers had a different antenna connection so that a loop aerial could be connected. The circuits were almost the same, with only a few small changes because of the frequency coverage. The valve line up was the same, except that some ARC-5 receivers used a 12SF7 second IF valve instead of the 12SK7 which was more common. Here is a list of differences compiled by Ray Mote."

End of notes by Ray Robinson.

"The Army SCR-274N sets were available in black wrinkle paint or natural aluminium finish"

Comments (with supporting argument if available) received with interest.

Thank you,

Les Smith
formerly VK2BCU

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