[ARC5] Ranger Aircraft Radio Div. 209 & 120

[Rick Nasti]

With all the boat anchor gear I've been through in the 40+ years since I was 10, including the 3000 SF I insanely own at the moment, I've neither had or seen these Ranger sets that Dave has made us privy to.
Seeing something "new" (to me) is truly refreshing and reminds me of why I became so enamored with this stuff all those years ago.
Back then the mil surplus type BA's were wildly popular. It seemed as if everyone, even the most dedicated appliance operators, had some sort of surplus device, be it communications gear or test gear.
The popularity was based upon the functionality of the equipment combined with a huge cost/benefit ratio as compared to commercially available equipment.
Being the contrarian (wierd-O) I am, I got deeply involved in collecting this stuff as much for its aesthetics as it's function. For me, a lot of gear is electronic sculpture.
Dave's Ranger sets are an example. Take a look at the tuning dial on the receiver. I can envision just the front panel assembly hanging on a wall at the Guggenheim!

Seems Dave is a creative sort, take a look at his Christmas card:  http://home.netcom.com/~arc5/xmas274N.JPG  I think it's beautiful!

I'd like to see more of the Ranger sets. From the description, it seems like they jammed a lot of stuff into what appears to be a relatively small transmitter.
Thanks to Dave for sharing this with us.


Dave opined:
Been beating life back into late-1945 light aircraft sets
produced by the "Ranger Aircraft Radio Division"
of Electronic Specialty Company.  
The transmitter is a model 209 and 
the receiver is a model 120.
The transmitter will also match-up with the E.S. Ranger 
model 116 receiver.

I've got them on-the-air and worked Texas, Miss.
and Alabama this morning with good reports for 
10 watts out.  Here is a crummy photo of the set
in a temporary lash-up:

http://home.netcom.com/~arc5/rangerset.jpg

I temporarily replaced the transmitter antenna connector
until I can get the correct one.
The 209 transmitter has an internal vibrator supply
with a pair of 6X5 rectifiers which powers the entire set.  
Antenna and power switching is in the transmitter 
and connected to the receiver via the Jones plugs
on the front of the transmitter and rear of the receiver.  

Transmitter is a 12A6 crystal oscillator driving an 807 PA
running 400 VDC with a parr. tuned tank and coil tap 
to match the antenna.
Haven't tried to tweek the output for exactly 50 ohms.
A 12SL7 mic amplifier drives P-P 6V6 plate modulators.
There is also a 12J5 screen clamp tube to protect 
the 807 from loss of drive.  
73,

Rick