[Milsurplus] R-388/51J use

[C.Whitaker]

de WB2CPN
I suppose you all know that Art Collins and
General Curtis LeMay were close friends.
Arthur Godfrey was part of the trio.
That's howcome SAC started using SSB
instead of AM.   There was a live test of
both modes on a B-36, SSB won hands down.
R-388 or 51J, whatever, was much lighter,
easier to maintain, and a lot less cost, than
the R-390.  My old USAF command, used
the 51J in the Tech Controls, and the receiver
and transmitter sites.  Only for quality control.
A lot went to overseas State Department sites,
mostly for morale and welfare.   FBIS used
a few of them I know.  We did some maintenance
work for them one time.   My pictures of a GRC-26
show R-388 in the wood cabinet.
SP-600 was a good radio, I modified one for
SSB, but they are noplace without a freq meter.
The first Collins transmitter I saw was the 32RA.
Almost every AF control tower had one for HF.
That was at the end of WWII.  All the large HF
Autotune transmitters were by Collins.  Most
had BC names, but the manuals were Collins.
A chrome plated, restored, with three mechanical
filters, 51J-3/4 would be a joy to have.
73  Clete
+++++++++++++++++++++++++


On 5/25/2012 4:27 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
>> I recall the introduction of the original 51J in a small trailer ...
>> viewed by invitation only.  No other receiver like it anywhere.
>> Sure blew the 348 away.
> That's like saying the Collins KWM-2A (AN/FRC-93) sure blew the RCA ARB/ATB
> away.  But these sets were from two different eras serving two very different
> functions.
>
> The BC-348 design dated from 1936 and was solely intended for aircraft use.
> The 51J (R-388/URR) came about 15 years later for stationary or
> transportable/stationary installations.
>
> Comparing the USAAF BC-348-* (AN/ARR-11) to the 51H-3, the commercial model
> number for the USN AN/ARR-15, would be more reasonable.
>
> I've never seen a unit marked 51H-3, and I've also never seen its matching
> transmitter marked 17H-2.  That was the commercial designation for the
> AN/ART-13.  I have a manual for the 17H-2, but not the 51H-3.
>
> 73,
> Mike / KK5F
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