[Motorola] Motorola Radio

[Geoff Fors]

Well, there is no such thing as a "Motorola FMT radio," to be picky.   The
Deluxe Line, which entered production in early 1941, was FM and consisted of
a number of different transmitters and receivers, which are separate boxes
designed to mount in the vehicle trunk.  There was an FMT-30(D) transmitter
and also an FMT-25(V) transmitter, plus a number of receivers, the most
common of which was a FMR-13(V). Together these made up a standard model
number of FMTR-30(D) or sometimes FMTR-25(V.)  These radios got the moniker
of "Coffin Units," "Doghouse Radios" and "Double Humpers."  There is a
control head for these on eBay right now (P-8022) although the coiled rubber
microphone cord did not come around until the late 1940's and the mikes with
the push to talk buttons on the side are a late 1940's item (1946 and prior,
the mike button rolls upward for PTT and there's a hangup wire loop on the
top of the mike and no hangup button on the back)

In 1942 few PD's had two way radios and even fewer were FM.  San Diego and
possibly El Cajon as well was broadcasting on AM on 2490 KHz.  After
12/7/1941 CHP was in the process of retrofitting all of their cars to
contain an FMT-30(D) transmitter on 39 MHz to "talk back" to the stations,
which broadcast on AM on 1680 KHz.  State police agencies had a wartime
priority and were more likely to get the first deliveries of the FM
equipment than city PD's.  The conversion to VHF and FM didn't really start
until 1947 as before that it was experimental and required an experimental
license.  CHP was almost the only agency in California using VHF FM
transmitters in their cars.  Other agencies either had no transmitter at all
or were using AM equipment such as the Motorola T69-20A and the Link 15-UBX.
Los Angeles continued to use medium wave AM until the Watts Riots of 1965,
although it had been a secondary system since the end of the 1950's.

The point of all this is that unless you have an original photo showing a
Deluxe Line set actually installed in this car in 1942, it isn't likely to
be correct for that year.  My San Diego PD equipment was made by Link and is
1945 production.

Geoff Fors
Monterey CA



>We are trying to restore a 1942 Ford Police Car for our department. We
>are looking for a Motorola FMT radio. It does not have to be a working
>unit. Please contact Jan Pickton @ El Cajon Police Department, 619
>579-3315. Thanks