UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum (https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/index.php)

- Vintage Amateur and Military Radio (https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=13)

- - Mystery TX (https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=151425)

I have wondered what the model number manufacturer was of this WW2 TX. I did own one of these in the 1960's
I remember it had three sections RF deck, Mod deck, PSU deck, all valves were 807's two Ark rectifiers in psu. As a teenager the glow from this TX was very impressive :o
Also as I remember it had the look of a PYE product.
Regards Andrew.

Looks like a Wireless set No 36

Jim

I think Jim has it correct. I had one of these - probably some 40 years ago though!!

I don't recognise the receiver on the right.

Andrew, which BBC program was this from?

The receiver on the right is a Hallicrafters, though it's not possible to identify the precise model.

Hallicrafters, "UHF" job, S27 or S36?

EDIT: Post crossed.

Lawrence.

I doubt it would be one of the Hallicrafters VHF/UHF sets if paired with that transmitter. Unless it was 'staged' for the BBC program.

More likely to be a SX25 or similar - http://boatanchorpix.x10host.com/SX25.htm

Look at the operators left hand, it's on the band change switch, the position of which tallies up with an S27 or S36, look at his right hand and the distance between his thumb and fingers....classic Hallicrafters steering wheel tuning knob width, and in the same position as the tuning knob on an S27 or S36 which are steering wheel types, it also appears to have the Ultra High Frequency..model type ID plate on it as well.

Lawrence.

Could well be right - a WS36 and a S27/S36 used as 'control' station for outlying searchlight/anti-aircraft implacements probably equipped with the likes of the WS17 on frequencies between 44 and 60-ish MHz.

[The R206 was similarly used]

Its certainly a WS36. A 10 - 60MHz AM transmitter, in two large wooden boxes, with 25W carrier output from a dual 807 push-push PA (so each valve only operates at 30MHz!). VFO tuning. Matching receiver the R208. Used by the British Army during WWII to replace phone lines to AA positions, which presumably had been destroyed by enemy bombing.

The fact that its a BBC photo is interesting. The WS36 was quickly converted from the Mk.1 set to a Mk.1* when in use by the Army during WWII. What that meant was that the top range - 40 - 60Mc/s - was removed, because the system was causing interference to radar services in that band. So when anyone finds a WS36 these days it has only 10 - 40Mc/s coverage in bands 1 and 2. Band 3 coils are normally missing from the coil tray.

However I once met a collector who showed me his WS36. He had obtained it from a BBC sale I think after WWII - or more likely his father had. That set still had the Band 3, 40 - 60Mc/s coils fitted.

My own WS36 was once used on the 6m amateur band over a 15 mile contact. For that trial, Band 3 coils were fabricated. The R208 was also used - but had to be "helped" by the addition of a low noise pre-amplifier, so as to pick up the 10W or so from the guy at the other end of the link. Aerials, as I recall, were Larkspur era 27' masts, with the Larkspur elevated monopole antennas on top, adjusted to 51MHz.

Richard

I might add to my post above, that I have no idea why (or exactly when) the BBC were issued with these sets. That is probably an interesting question to research in its own right!

Other photos I have showed some variant of the WS36 being turned into jamming equipment.

Richard

Thanks for the info everybody. Yes I do remember it did a fine job of jamming all the TV and Radio where I lived, don't think any secret messages were passed with it 8-o
The program was on BBC1 on Armistice Day, Home Front Heroes.
Thanks again for the help, still think it was worth 17/6d just for the glow from the valves :thumbsup:

Regards to all Andrew.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew7773 (Post 1093404)

I do remember it did a fine job of jamming all the TV and Radio where I lived........

Regards to all Andrew.

Actually Andrew, virtually all military sets were very good at jamming radio and TV because they had virtually no filtering of any kind. The spewed out harmonics and spuriae like there was.......no law against it. Or they were above the law (which for all practical purposes, they were).

I saw this in action when on a visit to Blandford Signals Camp around 1973. They had a large room full of D13 1kW SSB HF transmitters. The guide showing us around cheerfully admitted that they regularly wiped out TV for local families when they were on certain frequencies. They got complaints - and just ignored them all claiming they were "on government business" - which presumably was far more important than someone missing the latest episode of Corrie!

Richard