[Milsurplus] TCS data plates

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Dave & Mark,

While what you say is basically true, there are some differences over the 
range TCS through the Korean War vintage TCS-15.  One, Collins did not build all 
of them, and I would hold that putting a Collins tag on a Stewart Warner item 
would constitute fraud if the set were then sold to a Collins collector.  -6, 
7, 8, 13, 14, 15 and some 12 receivers were built by other contractors.  5 and 
earlier are the same (and all Collins) although there's some evidence (lack 
of nameplates on the units mainly) that some of the suffix numbers may have 
been assigned retroactively.  6 and later are mostly the same but differ from 5 
and earlier.  6 was the first to have the three handles, and the front panels 
of the early group are not interchangable with those of the late group.  Some 
of the early groups front panels have no holes drilled and tapped for 
nameplates.  Also, I'd have to go and find the details but originally the receivers had 
air core IF's, the RF ammeter was on the hot (output) side of the variometer, 
and the rotary inductor had a four-screw mounting plate inside the front 
panel.  Then the RF ammeter was moved to the ground side of the variometer, IF 
transformers changed to iron core, and the rotary inductor had a three hole 
mount.  I think most of this happened at -6 but not totally certain that all four 
changes did.  Then there were also some variations in detail in the antenna 
loading coils, dual dynamotor supplies and remotes, probably due to what 
subcontractor actually made them.  Oh, and there are three slightly different styles 
of meters on the transmitters. 

However, I would agree with Dave with regard to the model number that might 
have been actually installed in MZ's, but I also understand the problem of 
explaining the facts of life to radio-illiterate judges.

In a message dated 2/18/2005 1:23:36 PM Central Standard Time, 
arc5 at ix.netcom.com writes: 
> The TCS series is almost exactly identical, rig for rig.
> The suffix numbers defined contractors and build runs,
> not real differences in equipment.
> Your TCS-12, 5 etc. are all acceptable
> and correct period rigs to use in your vehicle.
> The people who wrote the specifications in the manuals
> were not "radio" people- they asked someone what
> was to go in the vehicle.  The guy had a -9 book
> in front of him, so he said "TCS-9."  Had it been
> the identical TCS-10 or TCS-12 book, he would have said those.

73
Robert Downs - Houston
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