[Milsurplus] TCS Tx and RX identity

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

OK.  You're welcome.

I have now looked at the drawings and photographs in the three manuals (56Q 
transmitter and TCS and TCS-4 sets).    In all three, the photographs are 
identified as Model (or Collins Model) 56Q Transmitter.  There is no 
nameplate on the front panel, nor any holes for mounting one.  The lettering is 
engraved.  And there is no plate made like a circle with an "X" through it 
behind the roller coil knob.  In the latter two manuals the receiver is 
identified as a 51Q and the top third of the front panel looks strangely bare.  It 
took me a while to realize why.  No nameplate,

So my conclusion is that you have a 56Q transmitter.  And which of the 
first five contracts it was built on will probably never be known (unless there 
is anything on the top of the cabinet or inside the chassis).

As I said earlier, I do not have a TCS-5 manual.  The 56Q manual is undated 
but internal evidence (a reference to an R&SB issue) dates it to later than 
31 July 1942.  The TCS-4 manual is dated 31 March 1942.  And the base TCS 
manual is dated 16 April 1941.  The (non-Collins) TCS-6 manual is dated 29 
October 1942.  So presumably the TCS-5 is in between March and October 1942.

Look for evidence on the back of the receiver front panel of nameplate 
mounting holes.  Two could have been cut out by the meter hole but if you find 
the other two, my opinion would be that it is a TCS-5.

Also, in my previous I used as an example TCS-14.  Some might read into 
that that this was the final order or model.  There was a TCS-15, also made by 
Air King.  So there were a total of 15 "models".  Which is not a record 
number.

In a message dated 11/24/2010 7:02:54 PM Central Standard Time, 
davprin1 at optusnet.com.au writes: 
> Thanks Robert
> 
> Cheers
> Dave
> 
> On 24/11/2010 2:17 AM, WA5CAB at cs.com wrote: 
> >> Dave,
>> 
>> Yes, that photograph is from the TCS entry in NAVSHIPS 900,116.  I had 
>> never noticed that the plate behind the roller coil knob was missing.
>> 
>> "TCS" can be either generic (meaning any model) or specific (meaning the 
>> equipment ordered on the first contract (think of it as TCS-0).  The Navy 
>> had the bad habit of incrementing what should have been the model or 
>> revision indicator with most (but not all) re-orders, whether any modifications 
>> were made or not.  So TCS-14 was the 15th variant.  A few of the variants 
>> were ordered multiple times with different contract numbers but the same 
>> "model" number.  But most were not.
>> 
>> The color is black.
>> 
>> If the three manuals I mentioned yesterday shed any light on the subject, 
>> I will let you know.
>> 
>> In a message dated 11/23/2010 4:07:14 AM Central Standard Time, 
>> davprin1 at optusnet.com.au writes: 
>> >>> Many thanks, Robert.
>>> 
>>> I found a pic of what purports to be a TCS (whether or not 
>>> it means TCS or a TCS variant I'm not sure) at
>>> 
>>> http://www.hnsa.org/doc/ecat/cat-1172.htm
>>> 
>>> Although not a clear pic, it seems to show that the Antenna 
>>> Loading control does not have the extra 'plate' behind the 
>>> control like mine. It would be interesting to know at what 
>>> variant it appeared. The pic also seems to show the paint as 
>>> not being black when compared to the knobs and meter flange.
>>> 
>>> Cheers
>>> Dave
>>  
> 

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