[Milsurplus] TCX/RBD, and WA5CAB's Manual

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Mike,

I'm glad to hear that the manual arrived safely, especially this time of 
year.  And thanks for the kind comments.

I don't know the answers to the questions.  As I wrote to someone recently, 
one observation is that the set could have been more popular had the form 
factors of the receiver and transmitter been the same (like the TCS) or 
similar (like in the SCR-506 and AN/GRC-19).  So that the two simply looked like 
they belonged together.  I doubt that anyone who didn't know anything about 
them would think they went together if they were spotted on some surplus 
dealer's shelf.  I know that there are several examples of sets where the 
receiver and transmitter don't look anything alike but in most cases one or the 
other (or both) units existed before they were paired up.  The receivers were 
used with several different transmitters.  Generally, the same contractor 
did not build both units.  And in all cases I can think of, they have 
separate manuals.  

I think two list members have one of the receivers.  Perhaps they would 
post the serial numbers here.  I don't know of anyone who ever said they had a 
transmitter.

One possibility did occur to me, which the two receiver serial numbers 
might shed light on.  And that is that maybe the contract was terminated early, 
with only the manual and a few units built and delivered.

In a message dated 12/31/2009 10:19:09 AM Central Standard Time, 
kk5f at earthlink.net writes: 
> Speaking of manuals, Robert, I got that TCX/RBD manual last week.
> Of course, it meets all the high standards that have characterized
> the many that I've obtained from you (including an AN/ARR-15 manual)
> during the past 15 years.
> 
> I've got some questions that perhaps the list membership can address.
> 
> I'd never previously heard of the GE TCX/RBD.  It looks like an
> interesting set, but one that the Collins TCS would have easily
> superceded in every respect.  Maybe that's why it's so rare.
> 
> This September 1943 manual indicates that it applies to sets up to
> serial 500.  I wonder if so many were actually made?  That's more
> than ten times the number of RAT and RAV sets made (got WA5CAB 
> manuals for those too).  Yet those rare sets seem to have left
> more traces than the TCX/RBD.
> 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480