[ARC5] "Command Set:" What's Scarce or Rare?

[David Stinson]

A bare-bones basic guide to what Command Set
rigs are scarce or rare.
Wrote this for someone else, but I think it will
be interesting to some here.

Command Set Receiver Scarce and Rares:
There are several kinds of nomenclatures and plates.
Of those receivers which have a blue plate on top,
there are AN/ARC-5 sets (R-25, R-27 etc.) and 
those which have lots more writing on them.
Those "more writing" plates will have a line 
in the middle which will define to which 
set they belong. "ARA" is most common. 
If it says RAT, RAV or ARA-1 
(ARA-1 or ARA-2 plate is usually black 
and is a 12 volt set), these are quite rare and valuable.
A black receiver with a large, black and silver nomen
plate on top that states "Aircraft Radio Corp."
are first-run sets and of interest to many collectors.
Any receiver that factory tunes above 9 MC needs
a good look, as does any with an "odd ball" tag.
Also look for those blue ARA/RAT/RAV plates 
on accessories like control boxes and mounts.

Any of the AN/ARC-5 receivers or transmitters with 
unusual plates- black, 14 volts, odd numbers like
R-143, etc. are all of great interest to collectors.

Black, Army SCR-274N receivers and transmitters
which have a black and silver plate on top that 
IDs them as being built by "Aircraft Radio Corp"
are first-run sets and collected by many 
(including me). A black W.E. BC-696 with a small 
plate like those on the side of most transmitters is
the first run of BC-696 and is collectable.
I've never seen a large black/silver, on-top plate
on a BC-696 and would love to see a photo if
one exists.  Any factory transmitter that tunes below
 2 MC or above 9 MC is going to be scare and valuable.

Paper tags that are often found on the sets contain
important information and should be preserved.

73 DE Dave AB5S