[Milsurplus] TCH

[Hue Miller]

I have watched a lot of ads over the last 30+ years about military radios.
I have not been to the really big swapmeets, Dayton or the California ones.
I have only seen three TCH show up for sale, plus yours.  That makes four
I know out there.  Probably there are a few more, in the hands of military
radio collectors who don't join email forums, and maybe a few more in
farm tractor museums or the odd collection. I don't know how to calibrate
that multiple. I would probably guess less than a dozen exist. Pretty
scarce beast, altho scarcity does not always equate to valuable. In this
case, however, "Collins"  escalates the price substantially, maybe doubles
it. I think a true civilian serial number of the 18M would be exceedingly
rare, as I can't think of any civilian market for the radio; too expensive.

As I recounted before, I talked to a ham, this around mid 1980s, in 
Edmonds, Washington, who had used the TCH at the Bremerton
naval station, on torpedo recovery boats. Was this "whaleboat"
size vessel? I don't know, and it's too late to ask him, I'm pretty
certain. He said when the TCH was replaced by the TCS, the TCH
sets were disassembled in Navy electronics classes. Somehow
he managed to walk one out whole.  For the early 1940s seems
like a wonderful radio to be taking apart just for some elementary
training. Thanks to him for knowing better.
-Hue Miller