[Milsurplus] Electric Radio - February 2006

[WF2U]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Mike Morrow
> Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 8:05 PM
> To: wf2u at starband.net; milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: RE: [Milsurplus] Electric Radio - February 2006
>
> ........  You wouldn't happen to have your
> own RMCA Type 4U console that was WWII Victory Ship standard,
> would you?  I believe some of these old WWII vintage consoles
> were still on duty as late as the Vietnam War on US merchantmen

I wish I had a 4U...

The Federal Radio and Telegraph/McKay console is the equivalent of the RMCA
4U and many Victory ships had those. I don't know about the Liberty ships,
but my FT-102 manual mentions both Liberty and Victory ship installations.
I don't know the ratio of RMCA vs. Federal consoles installed in Liberty and
Victory ships.

Reading the specification of both, they're equivalent in frequency coverage,
power and maybe even tube line-up, they just look different.

>
> It's a shame that maritime Morse for all practical purposes
> disappeared, but less than ten years ago.  For years I kept a
> receiver tuned to 500 KCs at my bedside to listen to at night.
> That, and the HF maritime Morse bands, were far more entertaining
> than anything found on the ham bands.  It's sad that there's no
> one listening to 500 KCs anymore as the minute hand of the radio
> room clock sweeps the 15 to 18 and 45 to 48 silent periods.

It is a shame indeed, but periodically the Maritime Radio Historical Society
runs traffic on CW on the maritime frequencies, including 500 KCs. I always
listen in...
>
73, Meir WF2U / NNN0AAF
Landrum, SC