[Milsurplus] Rebecca - Eureka list

[Morrow, Michael A.]

Robert wrote:

> Until fairly recently, you couldn't give away the pieces of
> the Korean War FM sets, especially the mounts and control
> boxes.

This is a shame, too, because that equipment was rather
advanced for its era.  The full-blown AN/GRC-3, -5, and -7 sets
had main and auxiliary receiver-transmitters that could be
configured through an integral C-435/GRC control for full-duplex
or re-transmit (repeater) functions.  Plus, an auxiliary receiver
allowed monitoring of an additional channel.

Even the long remote control accessory AN/GRA-6 is clever.  It
allows a remote box to select and key either one of the two
RT units, convey mic and phone audio, and provide a ringing
circuit between control boxes, all with just a two-wire connection
between boxes.

The main technical aspects I don't like are the use of vibrator 
power supplies throughout (the sets mentioned above have a total
of five vibrators) and the use of 1.5 vdc tubes.

> Now all of a sudden, you can't even find the mounts or the
> antenna mast sections.

It took me nearly a year to find a MT-297/GR for my AN/GRC-7.

I'm still in doubt about any surge in popularity of these sets
with the boatanchor community.  I think most of the demand is
coming from military vehicle collectors, and to a lesser extent,
re-enactors.  Many of these people don't care about the condition
or history of the radio gear, as long as it "looks" OK.  I had one
re-enactor tell me he had a BC-1000, and he was planning to rip
out the insides so he could install a CB radio inside.

That's as bad as any of the idiotic ham hack jobs of the 1940s and
later.

73,
Mike / KK5F