[Mike Kelly]

Hi Tony

The top set is a AR8 receiver. The Ar8 was paired with the AT5 transmitter and a antenna tuner , all three units of similar size . An early WW2 Australian design and made by AWA in large numbers. Primarily a aircraft set , the AT5/AR8 was also widely used by the army and it was ubiquitous. The Aust CMP wireless vans are one example but the set was mounted in Jeep trailers and just about everything that moved. Ground installations were also very common mostly with the RAAF but the army as well . The army nomenclature for the set, WS 112 from memory.

The other set , I think, is a TCA HF receiver made in Adelaide I believe, 1950's or early 60's and it is a rare set. A friend had one of these years ago, a pig of a thing because major components are encased in separate enclosed modules, nigh on impossible to get at anything. TCA also made VHF taxi radios.

The AT5/AR8 were fitted in Wirraway , Hudsons, Catalinas Ansons and other types. The antenna tuner is difficult to find. I had two complete sets with leads and the 24V rotary power supply . After the war surplus dealers were offering AR8's converted to mains power with a speaker sitting on top, sit it in your lounge room !