[Milsurplus] Pre-WWII Aircraft Radio

[Mike Morrow]

Ray wrote:

> Assumed all GO were the same, did not know Westinghouse and GE were
> different sets. 

The various GO-* sets were made by four different contractors (from SHIPS 242A):

1933 GO   Hygrade Sylvania  Highest Freq = 13575 kHz
1934 GO-1 Western Electric  Highest Freq = 13575 kHz
1935 GO-2 Western Electric  Highest Freq = 13575 kHz
1937 GO-3 Westinghouse      Highest Freq = 13575 kHz
1938 GO-4 General Electric  Highest Freq = 26500 kHz
1939 GO-5 General Electric  Highest Freq = 26500 kHz
1939 GO-6 General Electric  Highest Freq = 26500 kHz
1940 GO-7 Westinghouse      Highest Freq = 18100 kHz
1940 GO-8 Westinghouse      Highest Freq = 18100 kHz
1940 GO-9 Westinghouse      Highest Freq = 18100 kHz

It is likely that there were significant differences between the various
contractor's models.  I doubt that very many of each model were made before
the GO-9, and information appears non-existent on early GO-* units.

Visual appearance varied.  Every knows what the GO-9, last and most common,
looks like:  
 http://aafradio.org//flightdeck/go9.htm

There's an earlier model shown in a PBY-5 restoration for the Naval Aviation
Museum:
 http://lesitachou.dtccorp.org/consolidated_pby/cutaway_display/int-07.html

Somewhere on the site it's claimed to be a GO-9 but it is not.  The name plates
have the manufacturer name, which appears to be either General Electric or
Western Electric.  I'm going to try to visit this summer and get a closer look.

BTW, the remainder of the story about this PBY-5 restoration is interesting
and found at:
 http://lesitachou.dtccorp.org/consolidated_pby/cutaway_display/index.html

> ...possible GE had forward looking and working design but considering the
> state of the art before 1938/39...

I think some doubts are well-founded.  But with so few known technical details
available today, I don't want to deny benefit of my doubt.

BTW, a GO-* could have had the 1940 RAX-1 or RAV liaison receiver set instead 
of the RU-12/RAT-1 liaison receiver set.  The RAV had five of its eight
receivers (three identical, two with modification) become ARA command set
receivers.  The RAV was supplied with capability for local control only.

Mike / KK5F