[Milsurplus] AR-2/AT-1 RCAF Aircraft Radio

[Tom Brent]

Here's a few more notes regarding the AT-1/AR-2 and AR-6/AT-7
receivers/transmitters made for the RCAF during World War II..........

In response to an earlier posting, I can confirm that the AT-7 was indeed
manufactured, there is one built by Northern Electric at the SPARC museum
bearing serial number 1987.

The tube filament leads connect to a terminal board which facilitates
converting a 12 Volt receiver (AR-2) to 24 volts or a 24 Volt receiver
(AR-6) to 12 Volts. Of course the dynamotor, band change and operation mode
motors, pilot lamps, BFO relay and muting relay also would need to be
changed. Instruction for the voltage change are clearly laid out in the
manual.

I once answered an ad in Electric Radio Magazine from a fellow in New
England that had dozens of the receivers, all in the original transit
cases. I always thought it odd that these were sitting in the U.S. but the
fact that these radios were used for aircraft being ferried to England
(presumably to receive RAF type radios after arrival) may explain it. I
also have a copy of USAAF manual T.O. 08-45-26 for the AR-2 & AR-6
receivers. This also is odd since I cannot think of another instance of an
American manual for a distinctly Canadian military radio.

The RCAF also used these radios for marine applications. Geoffrey
Pilborough's book "*The Royal Canadian Air Force Marine Squadrons" (Volume
1) *states that some of the RCAF crash and rescue boats had Collins radio
equipment (perhaps a TCS?) and while I cannot disprove that, the photo he
refers to as being Collins equipment clearly shows one of the RCAF boats
with the AT-1/AR-2 setup. Photos on the internet of RCAF crash boats  M208,
M232 and M235 show they are equipped with an aircraft-type direction
finding loop in a teardrop shaped enclosure and I would hazard a guess that
these boats had the AT-1/AR-2 on board.

If anyone has further information on these radios I would like to hear
about it. I'm also looking for Geoff Pilborough's books on the RCAF marine
fleet.

Best wishes to all.

Tom
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