[MRCA] BC-342 and end of displays

[Mike Morrow]

Ray wrote:

> Good example of the quality of components and construction for
> something that old and not restored to spring right back to life.
> Another point about all that Korean War vintage wide band tube
> equipment is it sells for way less than the WW2 stuff or the
> Vietnam stuff. Think you can buy RT-68, RT-70 and R-108 sets 
> for a fraction of what you would pay for a VRC-12 or a non-working
> BC-620/SCR-510

Those AN/GRC-3-series sets were amazing technology when they first appeared in 1949.  They were real best-in-the-world class systems for the entire 1950s, with some in reserve use through the 1960s.  (I saw a related-technology AN/PRC-6 being used by the USMC in 1972, and AN/PRC-9s (along with the AN/PRC-25) were found on PCF "swift boats" all through the Vietnam War.))

Their appearance is much more impressive than the WWII SCR-508/608 predecessors and Vietnam-to-Gulf War AN/VRC-12 successors.  What can match the beauty of a 240-lbm AN/GRC-7 (R-110, RT-68, RT-70, AM-65, PP-112, PP-282, MT-297, C-375, C-435, etc.)?  Even the simple AN/VRC-7 (RT-70, AM-65, PP-282, MT-300, C-375) is an attractive and ham *useful* set. 

I'd love to see a vehicle equipped with working AN/GRC-7 VHF-FM, AN/GRC-19 HF-AM, and AN/VRC-24 UHF-AM sets...an ultimate U.S. Army 1950s Cold War setup.  These were super-competent designs for the era...but it's an era that includes the Korean War and hasn't the interest of many of today's military radio or vehicle hobbyists.  Very unfortunate!

I hate the power unit vibrators and ballast tubes, though.

Mike / KK5F