[Milsurplus] ARC 5 and others

[David Stinson]

GPersons wrote:

> One of our ham radio club member is cleaning out his shack. 
> He offer up several ARC 5 radios. I said I would take them.
> (most if the club member thing I am bonkers 
> because I like green radios)...
Forgive them their ignorance.
After all- leaves more for us ;-)

> What do I need to look for?

Take them all- even the "sad" ones.
They can be parts donors and lots of people can use them.
Otherwise, they might go in the dumper.  

The name "ARC 5" has come to denote a 
whole class of similar-looking radios.  
The line includes receivers, transmitters 
and a host of accessories.

Here's how to tell if any of them are "rare" or uncommon:

Any receiver that covers frequencies above 9 MC.
Any transmitter that covers frequencies below 2.1 MC or above 9 MC.
Any receiver which, on its nomenclature plate, says:
 "A UNIT OF MODEL RAT" or models RAT-1, RAV, RBD.
Any receiver or transmitter with a black nomenclature plate
that says *both* US ARMY SIGNAL CORPS *and* AIRCRAFT RADIO CORP.
Any transmitter or receiver factory marked for 12-14 volts,
or with X, Y or Z appended to its model number.

Here are the more common model numbers:
Transmitters:
T-18, -19, -20, -21, -22 and VHF T-23 (looks different)
BC-457, -458, -459, -696
 
Receivers:
R-23, -24, -25, -26, -27 and VHF -28 (looks different)
BC-453, -454, -455

While all are of value, anything not marked
according to the list above are of special interest.

Hope this is helpful to you.
73 Dave S.