[MRCA] TCS production numbers

[scottjohnson1 at cox.net]

I mis-spoke, the TCS replacement is the URC-8.  Forgive me , I am a UHF comm
nut.

 

Scott W7SVJ

 

From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf
Of scottjohnson1 at cox.net
Sent: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 09:32
To: 'Ray Fantini' <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>; MMRCG at groups.io;
mrca at mailman.qth.net; 'List Milsurplus' <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
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
Sent: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 7:28 AM
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<mailto:mrca at mailman.qth.net> ; List Milsurplus <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
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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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