[ARC5] [Milsurplus] 26003A Navy aviation key

[Mike Morrow]

 The ME was a 1927 receiver-transmitter built by Westinghouse operating 3 to 4 MHz A1.  It pre-dates the 1931 Navy Type Number system, which assigns Class 43 to receiver-transmitters.  The earliest Navy Type number CAY-43000 was assigned to the MF-2, 08/19/32.

I can find no information in SHIPS 242 about ME-1.  As expected, there was no navy type number assigned to ME or ME-1.

I doubt that there was a key with type number assigned to the ME...too early for type numbers.  I doubt that the Bendix MT-11B type of key existed in 1927.

>From the NAVSHIPS 900,109 Navy Type Number book of September 1945, the followong information is provided on the four nt-26003* keys:

CN-26003     GM     CN-G-115
KEY-TELEGRAPH
FLAME-PROOF
INSULATED FRAME.
05/03/33

     -26003A     GO     RE 26F 111
HAND TELEGRAPH KEY:   (NAF #37153)
FLAME PROOF,
INSULATED FRAME.
KNOB OF LAMINATED MATERIAL SPEC. 17-P-5 TYPE-PBM.
10/11/33

CME-26003B     VA-1     GRE 26J 1154A
KEY, TELEGRAPH
FLAME-PROOF
(SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPONENTS)
01/06/38

CME-26003C     VA-2 & VB-1     GRE 26J 1156A
KEY, TELEGRAPH
FLAME-PROOF
SAME AS -26003B EXCEPT FOR LARGER TERMINAL TUBE FOR ARMORED CABLE
10/04/39

Note that nt-26003 is associated with transmitter GM, and that nt-26003A is associated with transmitter GO.

nt-26003B is associated with visual signaling equipment VA-1, and that nt-26003C is associated with visual signaling equipment VA-2 and VB-1.

This key is my favorite military key.  I have owned five that were pulled from USN patrol aircraft being scrapped that had AN/ARC-25 (AN/ART-13 with AN/ARR-15A), AN/ARC-38, AN/ARC-38A, or AN/ARC-94 HF radio sets installed.  ALL.were nt-26003A keys.  At least one had the two-minute key-down caution.

Mike / KK5F
-----Original Message-----
From: Hubert Miller <kargo_cult at msn.com>
Sent: Jun 9, 2023 5:07 PM
To: arc5 at mailman.qth.net <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>, milsurplus at mailman.qth.net <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Milsurplus] 26003A Navy aviation key

I assume because of the caution text on the knob skirt, this key was part of a specific radio equipment. Which set was that ? I bought it at SeaPac, thinking it might be a good fit for the ME-1 radio i have. Manual doesn't list the key, but it does say the finals are operating at their dissipation limits.
-Hue Miller
 
 
 
 



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