[Milsurplus] SCR-522 and other Lumpy Brit Radios.

Sat, 22 Jun 2002 06:48:52 -0400

I think the WW2 British bomber HF sets are not any boxier than the
equivalent US radios. Look at the R1155 receiver and the T1154 transmitter
and compare them with the BC-348 and BC-375 of the same vintage. The
R1155/T1154 is a much more sophisticated  - and smaller - set. The BC-375
has the "Flintstone" look next to the T1154...

73, Meir WF2U

Landrum, SC

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	[email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]  On Behalf Of Hue Miller
Sent:	Saturday, June 22, 2002 2:18 AM
To:	[email protected]
Subject:	Re: [Milsurplus] SCR-522 and other Lumpy Brit Radios.

----- Original Message -----
From: David Stinson <[email protected]>

> Please don't misunderstand- The British contributions
> to advancing the communications sciences were far beyond
> any others of the period, so I know it's not a lack of
> talent or ability; they built these radios with this
> "Flintstone" look for some reason.

> One person speculated
> that Brit radios were built square and "boxy" because
> the British mind is orderly and logical (the Labor
> Party notwithstanding),

If it's looks that reflect logic, the Germans would have to
be masters.

>and this style allowed easy repair.

That may be. US gear is nicely repairable, tho, isn't it

> I don't know about that.  Take a look at, say, a
> Lanc vs. a B-17.  One's a large flying box and the
> other is curvy and graceful.  Both preformed their
> function with distinction.
>
> Perhaps this is just indicative of American thinking
> (form over function) vs.
> British thinking (function over form)?
>
> 73 Dave S.

Maybe so, but it's still fun to joke about British engineering.
Radio Bygones magazine, in the UK, recently criticized
the quality of British military electronics, and i have read
other British hams talk about how tacky some fo their equipment
looks compared to US counterparts. The UK didn't have
nearly the production base the US did,  but had to fight the same
size war, same size enemy, and did it for 2 years on its own.
They actually did very well.

On the other hand,  as my co-worker Danny sez: "Picture this
nightmare. You're on a voyage to the Moon, just cruising along,
and decide to check the gauges. But as you glance down,
you suddenly notice with horror, the meter faces all bear the
name, "LUCAS".

-Hue Miller
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