[Milsurplus] Avco GRC-9
Hue Miller
kargo_cult at msn.com
Sun Aug 16 17:29:35 EDT 2015
I wanted to learn more about Avco and its GRC-9. Via Google I found a couple of Cincinnati magazine ads
from Aug. and Nov. 1973.
"In 1945 the Crosley Division became part of Avco Manufacturing Corporation. On March 9, 1973, the
Evendale Operation of the Avco Manufacturing Division was bought by a group of key Avco executives.
The new company is known as CINCINNATI ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, a new name for an old business.
The Avco Electronics Division no longer exists. We manufacture a broad range of sophisticated electronic
equipment for: "
small photos follow, including GRC-9, PRC-70, and - "PT-5" - some kind of to me unknown manpack radio.
https://books.google.com/books?id=CesCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=AVCO+GRC-9&source=bl&ots=fXTkJDxm73&sig=uCqx2QkPcBdAQvzIVreARSEoZDY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDYQ6AEwBGoVChMI27LO1r6uxwIVjSyICh3pBQIC#v=onepage&q=AVCO%20GRC-9&f=false
Previous to reading this I had thought Avco was only a rebuilder of GRC-9s. Come to think of it, that still may be
true. Is this correct? Did Avco build 100% Avco GRC-9s or did they just overhaul them and where needed, install them
in new Avco – manufactured cases? While we’re on cases – did Avco cases have a more “squared-off look”, with less radiused corners?
Also, remind me: when did the wave of GRC-9s hit Fair Radio ?
This on the net: “Evendale is a village in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,767 at the 2010 census.”
Having all those surplus GRC-9s in Ohio certainly made it a heaven-sent purchase for Fair Radio.
Although, IMO, Fair was so inundated with GRC-9s that they actually, in an uncharacteristic turnabout, sold them too cheaply.
Did the GRC-109s Fair have, come from the same source, or were those regular DOD surplus purchase?
Here is some more about Avco:
“With capital from Fairchild, George Hann, the Lehman Brothers, and W.A. Harriman, the Aviation Corporation was formed on March 2, 1929[2] as a holding company tasked with acquiring small airlines. By the end of 1929, it had acquired interests in over 90 aviation-related companies. In January 1930, the board broke off the airlines into Colonial and Universal Air Lines. Universal Air Lines name was changed to American Airways, the predecessor of American Airlines.[3]
The company was required to divest American Airlines in 1934 due to new rules for air mail contracts. The Aviation Corporation ranked 32nd among United States corporations in the value of World War II production contracts. The Aviation Corporation later changed its name to Avco Manufacturing Corporation, and then, in 1959, to Avco Corporation. In 1984 Avco was purchased by Textron.”
If you can add any facts, anecdotes, or color to this, please do.
-Hue Miller
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