Quote:
Originally Posted by CarbonMike
Were crystals in short supply during the war? I've often wondered why eg the ubiquitous T1154 wasn't crystal controlled, to save on that complex L/C resetting mechanism. The TX could have been a lot smaller.
Setting up the 1154s before a raid was a dead giveaway to the German Y service.
Doesn't the quartz used in crystals come from Brazil?
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Certainly, the German armed forces had problems with supplies of crystals and that led to their use of very high stability capacitors that were machined onto radio chassis. Yes, Brazil was the prime supplier to Allied countries.
The RAAF introduced an add-on crystal oscillator box for their T1154s after WW2 and I think an airline did the same. FWIW, I worked a station on VE Day last week who was using an 1154, let's just say it had a "distinctive" note!
Cheers
Roger