[Milsurplus] Interesting (IMO) Setchell-Carlson Beacon Band Sets

[Mike Morrow]

The AN/ARR-13

http://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-WWII-Military-Radio-R76-ARR-13-Receiver-/370450559026

This is the seldom seen R-76/ARR-13, a.k.a. the Setchell-Carlson Model 512.

This is definitely NOT a common BC-1206-C (S-C Model 524) type of radio.

1.  It has a pull switch for the common 278 KC tower frequency.
2.  It does NOT operate from a 28 vdc supply.  The filaments are wired for
    12 vdc, and a separate B+ HV supply is required.

This was intended to mate up with the common RCA AVR-20A/AVT-112 HF set that
was on L-5 observation aircraft.  It provided beacon band coverage, and got
its HV from the AVA-126 vibrator supply that served the AVR-20A and AVT-112.
This set was a much better choice (smaller, lighter, with RF stage) than the
AVR-15 (same size and weight as the AVR-20A) that RCA offered for beacon band
coverage. 

The AN/CRR-1

(No auction URL to show.)

Writing about S-C beacon band sets with military pedigrees, I'll cite another
interesting but rarely seen unit...the AN/CRR-1, a.k.a. S-C Model 591.  It is
a dry battery (AB-194) powered receiver that was intended to be paired with the
SCR-578 (BC-778) "Gibson Girl" 500 KC transmitter to provide two-way comms
between the distressed party and the rescue aircraft.  The AN/CRR-1 covered
195 to 405 KC, so there was a frequency split.

Military documents say that 420 were ordered in 1944 for use on Arctic ferry
routes.  The SCR-578 and AN/CRR-1 combo is an interesting concept, IMO.  I
wonder if any actually got used that way.

I have all these sets in my accumulation, but I can't remember where I got
the AN/ARR-13 or the AN/CRR-1.

Mike / KK5F