[Milsurplus] Need ID of a Navy receiver

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Cal,

If your front panel (and its markings and knobs) is truly identical to your 
friends CAY-46077, then it's either a CAY-46077 or CCT-46077, part of one 
of Radio Receiving Equipment Navy Model RBM through RBM-4. The "A" suffix 
units your friend has will be part of RBM-5. One complete set consisted of one 
of each of the receivers (one MF and one HF), a dynamotor power supply (see 
comment below on rectifier power supply), a cabinet, and minor components. 
The pair of receivers plus cabinet was 46078, but aside from the cabinet 
nameplate and a couple of places in the manual, I don't think this number turns 
up anywhere else.

CAY and CCT are Navy Contractor Codes. CAY is Westinghouse and CCT is 
Stromberg-Carlson. The 5-digit number is the Navy Type Number. The suffix letter, 
if present, indicates a relatively minor (usually) modification to the 
previous version.

Although designed by Westinghouse, (at least according to the chart in the 
NAVSHIPS), Stromberg-Carlson built RBM through RBM-3. Both companies built 
RBM-4's. Westinghouse built RBM-5's. The most obvious external difference 
between RBM-5 receivers and the earlier models is that where the earlier ones 
have a roll-type logging chart, the -5 (all A suffix) models have a simpler 
box with cards stored inside. There are quite a few internal differences as 
well although some are more mechanical than electrical (upright versus 
bathtub capacitors, etc.).

There is also a similar HF receiver, part of RBS, RBS-1 or RBS-2, CCT-46217 
or CCT-46217A. It is most easily distinguished from the 46077(*) by the 
knobs, which have geometric shapes (triangle, square, circle) engraved and 
white filled. 

(*) means any suffix letter, including none.

One application of the RBM was as the receiving set used with the TBW-(*) 
transmitting equipment where it came with a dynamotor supply and a battery 
and battery box.

There were preliminary instruction books done on some (maybe all) six of 
the RBM models. The final manual, which covers all models, is NAVSHIPS 
900,385. I offer a reprint of the latter for $32.90 plus shipping. 

It appears, sorta reading between the lines of the instructions for Field 
Change 1-RBM, that the rectifier supply came later, and was intended or 
mainly intended for use with the HF receiver.

In a message dated 4/24/2010 1:31:54 PM Central Daylight Time, 
catman351 at gmail.com writes: 
> Looking to identify a radio that covers 2.0-20 Mcs in four bands. My 
> radio
> is missing the ID plate but a friend of mine has an identical unit that 
> has
> the plate bearing the name "Westinghouse" and "CAY-40677." He also has
> other radios of a similar genre that have the designations "CAY-46076A" 
> and
> "CAY-46077A." A power supply, bearing the tag ID "CAY-20086 rectifier 
> power
> unit" is also present. Looking to obtain some documentation to start
> resto/repair on this Thanks. Cal. N6KYR/4.
 

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