[Milsurplus] Pre-WWII Aircraft Radio

[Ray Fantini]

GO-4,5 and 6 are double output frequency of other chassis. Good argument for different output tank on that series and using final as a doubler. Perhaps GE thought this was a way to add additional value to their design at low cost? Maybe they never had a receiver in mind and just wanted to add functionality? By the time large orders were being placed for GO-7 there was no real use for this functionality and maybe it was dropped? Looking at the pictures of the earlier transmitter anyone can see it is much different than the GO-7 and later versions so some form of revision had taken place. This is all just speculation on my part looking at the numbers and design where you are looking at factors like dates and contracts I am only looking at designs and equipment capabilities at the time. Taking into consideration how radio lines like the TBX were more similar then different and real changes did not occur until the TBX-8 and radios like the TCS series had almost no difference between numbers I am making a assumption all GO series transmitters were more similar then different, but then again the TBX-8 bears little in common with any of the TBX series before it. The real test will be the schematic or the manual for the older GO series transmitters to show what the differences were. If the first GO was introduced in 1933 what was the tube line up? Did it have 837 tubes? Oldest data sheet I can find for the 837 is 1939. The 803 I Think may go back as far as 1933 maybe the GO was one of the first sets to showcase the capabilities of the 803? The TCK, TCM and TDE amongst other transmitters used the 803 also. When were they introduced?
Ray F.

-----Original Message-----
From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Morrow
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2011 3:51 PM
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Pre-WWII Aircraft Radio

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