[ARC5] [Radio Officers, &c] Raft L'Egar Deux

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

I believe I have read that Kon Tiki had a National NC-173 receiver. 
 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
* 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 * 
* (Since 30 Nov 53) * 
* k2gkk hotmail com * 
* Oklahoma City, OK * 
* USAF & FAA (Ret.) * 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
 

 
> From: timsamm at gmail.com
> Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 16:59:29 -0700
> To: n1ea at arrl.net
> CC: spudroscoe at eastlink.ca; ARC5 at mailman.qth.net; armyradios at yahoogroups.com; ANGRY-9 at yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] [Radio Officers, &c] Raft L'Egar Deux
> 
> Hi David - Here's the note you sent me from Spud Roscoe requesting
> assistance in locating a BC-654:
> 
>   Good Evening
> 
> I just learned that the Quebec government is going to sponsor the
> rebuilding of the raft L’Egare Deux that crossed the Atlantic in 1956 and
> the Halifax Amateur Radio Club provided the communications on the first
> part of the voyage. This will be rebuilt at the Maritime Museum 300 miles
> north of Montreal and they hope to have it completed in 2016.
> 
> I promised them that if they rebuilt the raft I would do all I could to
> find a radio for it. Thanks to Fred VE1FA “the radio was a BC-654
> transmitter-receiver, part of the SCR-284 radio equipment. They were first
> used in North Africa in 1942, then throughout the war by army, navy, and
> most of the Allied forces. It covered 3800-5800 KC, and put out about 17W
> of AM or 24W of CW. Pretty basic, but effective! They were run on
> batteries, generator, or hand-crank generator. I read somewhere that about
> 150,000 were made, and after the war you could buy a complete unit for
> $15-20!”
> 
> You can read all about this voyage in my history of the Halifax Amateur
> Radio Club VE1FO starting on page 143 in my web www.ve1bc.com
> 
> If anyone can help me find one of these radios I would be forever grateful.
> 
> 73
> Spud VE1BC
> -----------------------------
> 
> Pretty interesting!  I did a Web search on L'Egare Deux.  I had not heard
> about that adventure....I had heard about the Kon Tiki raft voyage in the
> Pacific - seems it got a lot more publicity.  I understand the Kon Tiki had
> a BC-1306 radio with hand cranked generator and a Hallicrafters receiver
> for backup.
> 
> There is a CBC video about the Atlantic raft
> http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/NL/ID/2239445642/  That pretty much
> confirms that there was a BC-654 aboard.
> 
> The video shows a brief shot of the BC-654 (turned off) and then in
> operation sending CW with a "knee key", possibly requesting a weather
> report.. (Times 3:00 and again at 5:45).
> 
> By way of this this E Mail I am forwarding this request to a couple of
> military radio Groups who may be able to provide a lead for a BC-654.  When
> all else fails, sometimes there is a BC-654 for sale on E Bay if you need
> to go that route.
> Can any of your Mil radio guys lend a hand here in locating a suitable
> BC-654?  As stated, please contact Spud (VE1BC) directly.
> 
> FYI and thanks,,
> Tim
> N6CC
> 
> 
> On Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 3:54 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. <n1ea at arrl.net> wrote:
> 
> > Tim,
> >
> > Can you help Spud Roscoe, VE1BC and the Quebec government find one of
> > these?
> >
> > Answer Spud directly at his email below.
> >
> > 73
> >
> > David N1EA
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Spud Roscoe <spudroscoe at eastlink.ca>
> > Date: Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 6:30 PM
> > Subject: [Radio Officers, &c] Raft L'Egar Deux
> > To: Radio Officers Radio Officers <radio-officers at googlegroups.com>
> >
> >
> >    Good Evening
> >
> > I just learned that the Quebec government is going to sponsor the
> > rebuilding of the raft L’Egare Deux that crossed the Atlantic in 1956 and
> > the Halifax Amateur Radio Club provided the communications on the first
> > part of the voyage. This will be rebuilt at the Maritime Museum 300 miles
> > north of Montreal and they hope to have it completed in 2016.
> >
> > I promised them that if they rebuilt the raft I would do all I could to
> > find a radio for it. Thanks to Fred VE1FA “the radio was a BC-654
> > transmitter-receiver, part of the SCR-284 radio equipment. They were first
> > used in North Africa in 1942, then throughout the war by army, navy, and
> > most of the Allied forces. It covered 3800-5800 KC, and put out about 17W
> > of AM or 24W of CW. Pretty basic, but effective! They were run on
> > batteries, generator, or hand-crank generator. I read somewhere that about
> > 150,000 were made, and after the war you could buy a complete unit for
> > $15-20!”
> >
> > You can read all about this voyage in my history of the Halifax Amateur
> > Radio Club VE1FO starting on page 143 in my web www.ve1bc.com
> >
> > If anyone can help me find one of these radios I would be forever grateful.
> >
> > 73
> > Spud VE1BC