[The WS No19] RE: [Milsurplus] Re: British Army Radio During WWII

[Hue Miller]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "WF2U" <wf2u@starband.net>

> No US field radio set in the power range of the WS19 relied only on hand
> crank or pedal generators... There were dry battery packs for the receiver
> sections (BC-654, BC-1306, TBX) and only the transmitters could be run on
> human power. 

Well, you tell me, how much more powerful in either CW
or A3 mode, the 19 is than the BC-654. The batteries for
the receiver were relatively longlasting, and easy to pack
spares. NO wetcells, no carts in the jungle.

> I wonder how long they could hand-crank those sets. After a while, batteries
> might not seem so bad.
> -John

It seems to have worked. You pick the biggerst gorilla in
the company, of course. 
While the coastwatchers in the Pacific (apparently) only
used gas engine generators and wet cells, the guerillas
in the Philippines used US sets with handcranked 
generators. Maybe this was because that's all the US
had in it's storehouse, maybe because these forces
were surrounded by greater enemy numbers and had
to be more mobile?

I like the 19 set, actually, or else i wouldn't have 5 of them.
But you have to admit, for purely tank use, the FM Jukebox
was a better idea, when it appeared. You push the button
for the channel, you talk. Maybe not as much fun for the
aftermarket.
Hue