[Milsurplus] TDQ info and parts needed...

[Todd Bigelow - PS]

A TDQ followed me home this past weekend (with a little help getting 
into the truck). The funny part is that I was given this radio maybe 10 
years ago but never found the time to go get it from the fellow, who 
moved about an hour or so away. I didn't have a clue what it was either, 
I was picturing something about 6 feet tall in an olive drab cabinet 
when he said "WWII VHF transmitter in a rack, runs those funny output 
tubes". Apparently he got sick of waiting for me to remember it, so he 
got some help loading it and brought it to a hamfest where he knew I'd 
be. When he said "Hey, I've got your transmitter.." I replied "yep, I 
need to get up there and get it from you before it turns to dust". Then 
he said "No you don't, I have it out in the back of my vehicle". He also 
had 5-6 boxes of tubes, many NOS in the boxes which I bought from him. 
Gave him $10 more than what he wanted too, just because the TDQ is such 
a neat little box and seemed worth *something*. It even has shockmounts 
on it!

At first glance it looked unhacked, albeit dirty with oxidized wrinkle 
paint. The black transformers are flaking off their paint and rust is 
covering them, some of the oil-filled caps are freckled up pretty well 
too. No real damage outside of a couple small bends (former owner 
removed the rear and side panels to prevent damaging them), including 
one to the power supply deck where someone had tried to pry it out. 30 
seconds with a small piece of 2x4 and hand sledge put it back where it 
belonged, and another couple minutes had the stuck deck out of the rack. 
Overall it looks pretty good, and the design is clever. Reminds me of a 
T-3, reduced considerably in size (and weight). This thing has a great 
rack and roller system.

Further inspection revealed that one mod seems to have been done, the 
right-facing on/off switch which was mounted horizontally had been 
removed and a vertical push-button switch installed in its place. I 
think if I can find an original switch and switchplate, it will look 
cosmetically correct despite the 'work' done on the panel.

Unfortunately is is also missing the nomenclature plates from the mod 
deck. In fact, I wasn't sure what I was looking at until I got it home 
and looked at the back panel, revealing a very well-preserved 'TDQ' 
label inside.

So - here's the list of bits needed:

- on/off switch and control plate located on the right-facing side of 
the power suply panel
- knob for reset switch (or a picture of one so I know what to scrounge 
for), same panel
- nomenclature plates/tags from right-facing side of modulator deck
- rack handles - these are rubber coated, some are torn up - any hints 
on how to recoat them?
- RCA emblem on top center of cabinet (screw and nut are still there, 
emblem is missing)
- lower side mounting plate for cabinet, to cover holes for connectors 
or conduit (only need 1)
- manual

The controls seem to have lettered knobs for each stage of tuning, some 
of these are worn down as well but I'm not too concerned right now since 
the knobs are present. All of the control labels are there, save for the 
one changed switch.

Knowing next to nothing about this transmitter, I'd sure appreciate any 
information, tips, and/or stories anyone can pass along. It looks like a 
great little transmitter, built so well that they were probably prime 
candidates for home-brew conversions. Fortunately this one was stashed 
away, and avoided any real hack up attempts.

 Thank you -

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ