[ARC5] SCR-274N Paint Lineage

[David Stinson]

I thought one of the reasons we had these lists
was to learn the interesting details about them 
and dispell the many myths.  Room for everybody.

Anyhow-  In case it's of interest:
All of the early production orders of
SCR-274N were fully-painted black wrinkle.
Early production had a large black-and-silver
nomenclature plate on the top in the front.  
It's very common to find "swapped tops."
Tops have the order number on the plate.  
Yellow paint on the back skirt gives the 
contract number.  If the pieces go together
they'll match the list below. 
The serial number will usually be on both,
but not always.

Aircraft Radio Corp order 1470-NY-41 
    Contract W-227-SC-2586 (built only the first few hundred)
Western Electric order 1509-NY-41
    Contract W-227-SC-2586 (finished contract for A.R.C.)
Western Electric order 6375-NY-41
    Contract W-227-3406
Western Electric order 293-PHILA-42
    Contract W-2124-SC-15

After these came "middle" WECO production runs.
Middle production were still painted black but
the nomenclature plates are smaller
and mounted on the side of the rig.  
Many times the painted top will have the four 
rivet holes for the larger plate present.
The first Colonials appear here.
Painted Colonials are scarce; I've seen one.

This is "middle" is where you start to see radios
where the top of the chassis isn't painted- 
just the outside of the case.  It's also the time 
the BC-696 was added.  Very early BC-696s
will have the small tag screwed on the top where 
the big tag used to be.  These are scarce.
I've seen two and they had done rough service.
Later painted BC-696s have the tag on the side.

The first completely unpainted production began 
with Order 77-WF-42.

An interesting aside:
The first Western Electric production of SCR-274N 
Command Sets, order 1509-NY-41, came 
right on the heels of the first really big order 
of SCR-287 Liaison Sets, 1508-NY-41.  
That order was produced during November of 1940.

GL OM ES 73 DE Dave AB5S