[ARC5] Interesting meter (A.R.C. Model D)

[Mike Morrow]

Ben wrote:

> I bought a lot of RU/GF test meters...There are the standard 0 to 35 mA
> meters with cords and phono plugs used with...RU- and GF- series of
> receivers and transmitters.
>
> One of them is interesting as the tag says:
>
> TEST METER
> NO.  3140
> CONT/ NOs 48369  DATE 5-16-1936
> AIRCRAFT RADIO CORPORATION
>
>On the rear is a stamp saying:
>
> ARC
> RELEASED OCT. 1936
> (Navy Anchor symbol)
>
> The 1936 date was interesting to me.  All of the SCR-183 / RU / GF stuff
> I've seen go thru my hands has been 1940 at the earliest, and very few
> pieces have been ARC-made.

These USN meters have no SCR-*-183/283 equivalents.

There were 14 different models of GF/RU command sets, 1932 to 1941.
A.R.C. made 12 of those models, 1932 to 1939.
WECo made 2 of those models, 1941.

There were 21 different models of SCR-*-183/283 command sets, 1932 to 1942.
A.R.C. made 7 of those models, 1932 to 1939.
Graybar Electric made 8 of those models (3 for WECo), 1934 to 1939.
WECo made 5 of those models, 1940 to 1942.
Philco made 1 of those models, 1942.

The data above will likely alter your impression of A.R.C.'s production and the associated time frames.

The meter you have would have been made as part of the 1936 GF-4/RU-5A command set or RU-5 liaison set, based on contract number.

Mike / KK5F