[Milsurplus] CMS Set

Dennis Monticelli dennis.monticelli at gmail.com
Tue May 5 15:59:22 EDT 2020


I own CMS serial number 94H (matching for RX and TX).  The manual floating
on the web is a scan I did from the manual that was included with my set.
Yes, there is a wood lid to this suitcase radio.  It carries the schematics
and tuning graphs under yellowed plastic just like a clandestine set
should.  It had the remnants of a decomposed leather strap handle.

Although the 6L6 (or 6V6) tubes had already been raided when I found this
set, my RX carries what I believe are the original three 3S4 tubes along
with the included spare.  All four tubes are RCA and carry the same date
code of V6E (Nov/Dec 1945).  That implies post-war construction and jives
with the early 1945 formation of Electronic Research & Mfg Co. of Cleveland
as the builder.

There aren't many CMS sets floating around but there is definitely a
bunching of serial numbers in the 90's (I located two others via my web
search).  Might this represent the second (post war) build after a
re-purposing of the set had taken place?  As others have pointed out the
circuit design is from the 30's and everything about it points to a
clandestine use.  Was that original mission ever carried out? Was it the
Navy keeping tabs on what the Japanese were up to pre 1941?  The earlier
serial numbers are very few and scattered, not bunched like the 90's.  The
earlier serial numbered sets show signs of wear and tear. The 90's have
survived in much better shape and are much more complete.  Were the latter
even issued to the field before finding their way to surplus channels?

CMS remains a mystery set.

Dennis AE6C
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