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Vintage Amateur and Military Radio Amateur/military receivers and transmitters, morse, and any other related vintage comms equipment. |
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22nd Sep 2019, 9:56 pm | #1 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Derby, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 2
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British Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
Hi all, while clearing out some of my late father in laws farm buildings we found this old radio set. I've done a bit of research online and found out that it was the type used by the SOE in WW2. We were wondering about its rarity and its historic value. We would like to get it working. So any info or advice would appreciated thanks Simon.
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23rd Sep 2019, 7:25 am | #2 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 2,511
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Re: Britsh Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
Just be aware that these radios can change hands for two or three thousand pounds, so be wary of anyone offering to take it off your hands!
Andy |
23rd Sep 2019, 8:27 am | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
Posts: 8,935
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Re: Britsh Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
Worth easy that,as it looks in excellent condition and all there.
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G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S |
23rd Sep 2019, 9:08 am | #4 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southeast Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 773
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Re: Britsh Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
I've put him in touch with VMARS and suggested, as he is close to Newark, that he takes it along to the VMARS stand at the Newark Show this week. I agree on the need for caution in selling such a set and it was good to hear that the new owner wants to put it back on the air. I wonder if this is one of the B2s sold by the RSGB on behalf of the Ministry of Supply in the mid-40s?
The G3CUW callsign was issued just post-WW2 and the owner was living in Newark in 1948, after that no sign of that call on Google. 73 Roger |
23rd Sep 2019, 9:23 am | #5 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Scratby, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 651
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Re: Britsh Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
Hi,
G3CUW also living in Newark in 1970 Callbook, but not in 1985. Kind regards Dave |
23rd Sep 2019, 10:30 am | #6 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southeast Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 773
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Re: Britsh Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
Came across this print in a YouTube video and thought it might be of interest.
Cheers Roger |
23rd Sep 2019, 2:08 pm | #7 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK.
Posts: 843
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Re: Britsh Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
That's a great find! It looks as though it has been fitted into what was intended to look like a carpenter's tool box.
Imagine trying to carry that around in occupied France! I have one in similar condition, that I'm eventually going to restore, although mine is not in a case. Good luck with the restoration. David. |
23rd Sep 2019, 2:42 pm | #8 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,966
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Re: Britsh Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
I would advise you against trying to restore this unless you are an expert. As has been said, these are rare and highly sought after, particularly if in good condition. Any modification or less than perfect restoration will seriously reduce the value. Nobody is going to want to use one of these as a serious amateur radio transmitter today - it's an item for collectors, and indeed museums.
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23rd Sep 2019, 5:36 pm | #9 | |
Pentode
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wick, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 227
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Re: British Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
Quote:
Advertise on Ebay for one month and you will get a real surprise ant the collectors value on such an item cheers MM0HDW |
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23rd Sep 2019, 7:41 pm | #10 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tonbridge, Kent, UK.
Posts: 686
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Re: British Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
There are plenty of radio amateurs skilled in Morse code who enjoy using such sets and indeed restoring them. You will be aware that it is CW (morse) only and no speaker so of no real use to a casual listener. If the condition internally is anything like the outside appears to be, it might not take much to get it back on the air. It needs inspecting by a knowledgeable person and I would go along with the suggestion to take it to the VMARS stand at the hamfest at Newark this friday and saturday.
In my opinion this should be put back on the air because of it's historical interest and rarity. Gordon G7KNS |
23rd Sep 2019, 7:58 pm | #11 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 18,724
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Re: Britsh Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
Quote:
https://www.cryptomuseum.com/spy/b2/index.htm "Louis Meulstee's excellent book Wireless for the Warrior, volume 4 [1] even shows an example of a wooden carpenter's toolbox in which a B2 is fitted."
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23rd Sep 2019, 8:56 pm | #12 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Derby, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 2
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Re: British Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
The radio is fitted into his old army trunk. It would have been nice if it had been fitted into a carpenters tool chest. But you can't have everything.
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24th Sep 2019, 6:52 am | #13 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southeast Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 773
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Re: British Type 3 Mk.II (B2) spy radio.
Sgt. Church appears to have been a Royal Signals man and probably got his amateur radio licence through the post-war scheme that allowed qualified ex-service personnel to avoid having to sit the written examination and 12 wpm Morse test that civilians had to take.
The idea was to encourage people like Sgt. Church to form a nucleus of trained personnel in the event of another war. Organisations like the Royal Navy Volunteer Wireless Reserve were formed using ex-RN signallers, no doubt the Army and RAF had similar organisations. |