[MRCA] Priess Loop Set

[Al Klase]

Folks,

The recent discussion of the BC-9/SCR-77 reminded me of some digging I 
did on subject radio.

This radio was physically similar to the BC-9 but used a quenched-gap 
spark transmitter and a one-tube regenerative receiver.



It was developed by the U.S. Army Signal Corps Division of Research and 
Inspection in France.
R&I was a fascinating phenomenon.  SEE: 
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/mil/SCR-77/R_and_I_Pages_from_Annual_Report_of_the_Chief_
This unit had recruited people like Edwin Armstrong and other radio 
industry notables.

QUOTE:
A loop set designed to cover a somewhat longer range but still
adapted for trench use was suggested in April, 1918, by Capt. Armstrong
and developed by Lieut. Priess, of this division.  Preliminary
experimental work was carried out in the laboratories of the division
and two models constructed under his supervision.  In this work
Lieut. Priess was assisted by Sergt. (First Class) Harold M. Lewis
and Sergt;. H. W. Howk.  The set as finally authorized for reproduction
of models for test in the United States was designed to have a
range of 5 to 6 miles, and to transmit on two wave lengths, 110 and
140 meters. The complete set consists of three parts-the box containing
the set, a Storage battery (10 volts and 20-ampere hours) and
a bag containing loose parts, spare tubes, and spare plate batteries,
each unit weighing under 30 pounds. This set has proved superior
to the British set in that tuning is much sharper and the set has a.
much greater range.

The first two models were tried out by Lieut. Priess in the Toul
sector in August, 1918, very satisfactory results being obtained. During
these experiments the sets were located at various distances up to
12 kilometers apart, with one, and finally with both stations in dugouts.
The radio officcers present at these tests reported so favorably
on the apparatus, that arrangements were immediately made to send
Lieut. Priess to the United States with the models.

Lieut. Priess left Paris for the United States in September, 1918,
to push the development of the loop set, and to use every possible
means to put the set as originally designed on a production basis.
He immediately took up with the Radio Division at Washington and
with various manufacturers the details of the production of 10 of
these sets for further trial. At the time the armistice was signed the
first United States model of the apparatus had been completed by the
E. J. Simon Co., of New York.
END QUOTE:

W. H. Priess worked for Wireless Specialty Apparatus Co.

The radio was written up in great detail in Radio Amateur News, starting 
in December 1919.
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/mil/WWI/priess/Priess_Loop_Set_Radio_New_%201919.pdf

73,
Al

-- 
Al Klase – N3FRQ
Jersey City, NJ
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/

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