[ARC5] Mystery unit

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 21 Sep 2012 at 18:04, Bruce Long wrote:

> I hesitate to suggest this as I suspect there are many on this email list that know 
> far more than i do about ww2 electronics, but your description brings to mind 
> bombing time intervalometers which provided timing signals to drop multiple 
> bombs are precise intervals. Perhaps this is a variation on that theme using tone 
> busts and a radio link to synchronize bomb releases from multiple aircraft- for 
> what reason I fail to imagine.

Well, that could be. It has a mounting bracket on the back which would allow this to be 
"stored" on a wall, then easily removed, lifted off the mounting bracket, for use. it also has 
two "tags", one on each side that would easily take a carrying strap of some kind.

It also has four "toilet seats" on the front with felt seals. Two cover a pair of 1/4" single-circuit 
'phone jacks, and two cover the square shafts over which the winding key fits to wind up the 
two main-springs.

Under the top-cover, which swings up, there are four push-type binding posts, two toggle 
switches, and a knob with an arrow and "Tone Volume" under it. There is a special fixture to 
hold the winding key, and another fixture which is about the same size and spacing to take a 
3AG fuse, but it is empty.

The two binding posts on the left read "LINE" between them, the two on the right read, "EXT 
BAT." with + and - above and below the two posts.

The two switches are labeled EXT. BAT and INT BAT on one, and OFF and ON on the other 
one. There is what appears to be a battery inside also.

The unit is about 6" wide, by 5" long, by 6" deep and made of steel, painted black, and is 
fairly heavy for its size.

Anyway, it is a curious looking mechanism.

Ken W7EKB