[Milsurplus] [MRCA] TCS production numbers

[W2HX]

I did find this on the collins website

https://collinsradio.org/cca-collins-historical-archives/the-equipment-of-collins-radio/the-war-years/

Interestingly, it seems to indicate that for the TCS, about 35,000 were made (it says "all manuf.") and the ART-13 had 90,000 produced! Wow. I would have expected the TCS to have more produced than the ART-13 since the TCS were used is so many more roles. Or could it be that the 35,000 was only for the models 5,7,12 and the other 12 versions increased that number substantially?


73 Eugene W2HX
My Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@w2hx/videos

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Subject: Re: [MRCA] TCS production numbers

I don't know total numbers for TCS sets.  The Collins production is available on the CCA website.  I assume would assume the total is over twice the Collins production.  As for command sets, given the numbers of aircraft produced over the period of 1940-1945, and assuming the vast over production of sets, I would say closer to 100K.  It is interesting that in 1955, Collins introduced the URC-9, which was an updated TCS in essence (More power, bigger frequency range, modern design, similar form).  I don't think it was actually produced in any more than prototype numbers.  It might just be the coolest AM/CW rig ever!

Scott W7SVJ

From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto:mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto:mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net>> On Behalf Of Ray Fantini via MRCA
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Subject: [MRCA] TCS production numbers

Ok, so here is a question for all the smart people out there: From the first contract on 12/41 (NOS-LL-95008) for the TCS-2 to the last production run in 7/45 (N5SR-10539) for the TCS-15 How many TCS sets were produced?
Appears to be a simple question but cannot see any answer, considering the numbers that I have seen and that it was used in almost every surface vessel in the US Navy for decades I will speculate that it's no less than ten thousand and may be higher.
They were produced by Collins, Stewart-Warner, Hazeltine Electronics and Air King and for just a four year production run may be one of the radio platforms that the government got their money's worth and then some.

Speculation and opinion beyond this point, if easily offended do not read!
Always amazed by radios that served well beyond their service life. The TCS sets were in service well into the sixties and some survived beyond that and were only driven out of use by the advent of SSB and VHF FM radios, in addition to this they were one of the many radios that were used and favored by Hams. Other radios that were just as successful like the BC-348 and ART-13 were also in service long after WW2 and prized by Hams. Other high production lines like the ARC-3 and the ARC-27 served for decades but never had the Ham popularity. High production numbers often are indicative of a successful product line but not always. Consider things like the command sets that were way popular (at one time) with Hams but were basically useless by military standards at the end of WW2 Think of the huge quantity of command sets that were produced during WW2, maybe over twenty thousand? Verses the in service life of those sets compared to something like the TCS assuming value is a function of cost compared to length of service.

Ray F/KA3EKH
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