[Milsurplus] WW2 Beachmasters (PAB-1/PAM-1)

[R. W. Downs - BLB, AL]

Bob and David,

I've never seen one, but the one clue in my database agrees with Dave's
statement that the Beachmaster PA set was the PAB-1.  =


The PAM-1 is a lighter weight (but only by comparison) portable/mobile se=
t.
 I don't have the specs, but I do have one of the amps, and have a friend=

(MV collector) who has most of the system.  The speaker units (horns) wil=
l
each fit into about a one foot cube.  The amp is a little wider than a
BC-614, but quite a bit heavier.  It operates from a 12 volt dynamotor,
which runs off of either portable batteries or a 12 volt vehicular system=
. =

The output tube is a 3C30, a triode with a 4-pin base, and an envelope th=
e
same physical size as an 807, 837 or 1625.  There is a manual around, but=

so far I haven't been able to beg or borrow it for scanning.

On a related nomenclature subject, PAB-1 and PAM-1 don't appear to be
nomenclatures from the Navy nomenclature system.  I base this statement o=
n
the following:

(1) There are no P's in either SHIPS 275 or NAVSHIPS 900,116.  (2) The pa=
rt
numbers of the individual components (amplifier, speakers, etc.) which lo=
ok
at first glance to be typical Navy Type Numbers, are all (or almost all) =
in
the 43000 range (the 43000 range is receiver-transmitters, like the MAB,
TBO, TBX, TBY, etc.).  (3) No one ever mentions a PAB or PAM, which would=

be the first production system (PAB-1 or PAM-1 would be the second
contract, first revision, or both).
 =

73
Robert W. Downs
<rwdowns_wa5cab@compuserve.com>
Houston, TX/Bayou LaBatre, AL