[ARC5] An interesting marking on ARA set sn 4839

[Mike Morrow]

>> I have seen this "GFE PV1" marking a few times
>> on Command Sets.  Does anyone have insight on it?
>>
>My guess
>
>GFE  Government Furnished Equipment
>
>PV1  Lockheed Ventura patrol aircraft.

That's it exactly.  That stamp was the only thing that I found interesting about an ATA CBY-52211 transmitter on abay a couple of weeks ago that Les and I discussed privately.  I said that it adds a lot of character because it identifies where the unit was and where it went at one point..GFE PV-1 means that particular unit was at the Los Angeles Vega/Lockheed facility in 1942 or 1943 provided by the government for installation on a PV-1.  IMHO that info takes a unit away from the anonymous masses of post-war surplus that never left the box until Happy Ham Hacker/W666FUBAR took it new out of the box, his wonders to work!  :-)

It will be found, of course, with different aircraft designations.  Jack, doesn't some of your ZA gear have those GFE stamps?  In my gear it's on a ZA receiver, an ARA single receiver shock mount, and a few others.  It would be interesting for folks to post the GFE stamps found on their gear.  I'll check my stuff next time I'm at my storeage buildings.

Mike / KK5F