[Milsurplus] "Rare" Gear

[Hubert Miller]

Hmmmm......

I'm not going to go and hunt for that Sig Corps production figures list, but
i'm reasonably sure it said 124 units.

Which leads to the question, how reliable is that list? Or my memory? With
them popping up in this number,

it would not seem the 124 figure can be true.

As i recall, there are two styles of PP-39-*, definitely different
appearing. 

-H M 

 

From: Milsurplus [mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
WA5CAB--- via Milsurplus
Sent: Saturday, August 6, 2016 11:54 PM
To: Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] "Rare" Gear

 

I have an RT-12/TRC-2 Serial Number 494.  So there were more than 124 sets
made.  I also have just the receiver from another set but unfortunately
someone removed the nameplate (and the grill).

I also have one PP-39A/TRC-2 s/n 309.  The Signal Corps Order Number is
25771-PHILA-44-08, same as on the RT-12.  TM 11-2603 dtd 1 April 1944 only
shows PP-39/TRC-2.  FM 21-6 dtd 10 October 1946 does not list any Change 1
to TM 11-2603.  FM 21-6 dtd 10 July 1948 and various subsequent DA Phamplets
that replaced FM 21-6 do not list TM 11-2603.  From which I conclude that
the manual and associated equipment was removed from the system between the
end of 1946 and mid 1948.

TM 11-2603 lacks a detailed listing of components making up AN/TRC-2.
However, there is one photograph showing the entire radio set buttoned up in
canvas and mounted on packboards with captions for each bag.  For the
gasoline cans and the PE-162 generators it shows 6 and 2 respectively and
the caption says 6 and 2.  There is only one PP-39 shown and the caption
doesn't say 2 Each so apparently there was only one vibrator supply per
radio set.  As the PP-39A has the same Order Number as the RT-12, and
considering that as far as I can tell, no Change covering PP-39A was ever
done, it is my tentative conclusion that PP-39A was a change during
production of the only known Order.  And that whatever prompted the
nomenclature change didn't invalidate what was in the TM on the PP-39.  And
that PP-39A S/N 308 went with AN/TRC-2 S/N 308.  So given that production of
spare parts never extended to production of complete radios, the RT-12 that
I have is evidence that at least 494 AN/TRC-2's were made.

As an aside, I have had over the years over a dozen BC-1306's or parts
thereof, and sold most of them.  Although I was disappointed that I don't
still have a BC-1306 bearing the same Order Number as the RT-12, at least I
know that I didn't once have one that I sold.  :-)

Robert Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480

In a message dated 08/07/2016 00:02:09 AM Central Daylight Time,
kk5f at earthlink.net <mailto:kk5f at earthlink.net>  writes: 



Hue wrote:

>The AN/TRC-2, i think i saw the production numbers at 124. Who would have
>thought it would be so low?

The RT-12/TRC-2 that I have is serial 91.  It's the only RT-12 that I've
ever come across.  I too would not have considered the AN/TRC-2 to be
"rare".  But if, in fact, only 124 units were made, it would definitely
deserve that description...maybe even "very rare".  I suspect some of the
the legendary "spy" sets like the AN/PRC-1, AN/PRC-5, and AN/TRC-10 would
likely have been made in numbers similar, or even greater.

 

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