[ARC5] Tuning Cable Question

[Mike Hanz]

And I would respectfully point out that the dichotomy existed long 
before the war began.  The "working Bendix standard" was an accepted 
industry standard *before* Bendix started using it.  I think Gordon 
White put his finger on the issue.  Managing a group of engineers 
provided me with an interesting perspective:  when one is surrounded by 
a large numbers of alligators in the swamp you are trying to drain, then 
one holds fast to things that, while not exactly optimum for the 
purpose, at least "ain't entirely broke".  Faced with the rapid 
development of aircraft radio in the early 1930s, it is no wonder that 
engineers simply slapped the prevailing wisdom about tuning cables on 
the BOM for the project of the moment.  Easy and simple, no?  Bendix 
simply carried on that time honored tradition.

Gordon's point about the ARC Type K was that it was a new "miniaturized" 
radio, and as we have long since begun to appreciate, Dr. Drake was a 
superb *systems* engineer.  It seems clear that his company offered him 
the opportunity to reassess the engineering of each and every component 
of the system.  That obviously included the drive cable design.  
Otherwise he would have stuck with the prevalent choice, and said, "Done!"

So, it would be my conjecture that it was a seminal moment when ARC 
management provided the spark of "do your best" that led to the change 
in sheath diameter.  I don't blame Bendix engineers for sticking with 
the old technology.  Aircraft were becoming more powerful and able to 
lift heavier weights, so why adopt a new design in the late 1930s?  Why 
even change well into the 1940s? *That* is where you get the "doncha 
know there's a war on" attitude.

Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it...:-)

  - Mike

On 5/30/2014 9:04 PM, J. Forster wrote:
> I'd put it a bit differently.
>
> Since a working Bendix standard EXISTED, there was no pressing need to
> invent something. Furthermore, any 'improvement' would not be very much
> better.
>
> After all, there was a war on.