RCAF Wireless/Communications Equipment

[Mrs Vampire]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSnkeVnjE8o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PsYAJVFBH4

[David Dunlop]

A chap in Holland recently sent me some photos of his RCA AR88 speaker. It is a version designed with an open back, no outlet hole on the lower right side for the speaker cable and oddly, no holes on the bottom for mounting the RCA Speaker data plate.

The frame of the speaker element inside, however, has this unusual paint stamp marking. Could this be a date stamp? The middle '44' would certainly be on the money for a valid production year, but how would one read the '3' and the '5'? March 5, or 3 May?

Just wondering if anyone can confirm this would be a date stamp and how it would be read.

David

[David Dunlop]

I finally got around to replacing the finishing hardware on my AR88 Series Loudspeaker today, with a bakelite holder and correct military pocket watch, thanks to the great service from BA Bolts in England getting me the correct hardware.

When I removed the rear cover from the speaker case to work on the hardware, the markings on the rear of the speaker element surprised me. These speakers were built by RCA in their Montreal plant and the bottom of the case has a yellow C-Broad Arrow stamp on it. I assumed the inner speaker element would also be either of Canadian or American manufacture. The idea was sourcing in North America would avoid delivery problems. As you will see in the first photo, there are two stamps on the PM Housing on the back of the speaker element. The upper one is a black ring with R.C.A. at the top and a broad arrow stamp at the bottom. To me, that suggests a speaker element build in England.

The lower stamp, I have seen somewhere before, but cannot recall it's origin. It is a large red Capital P, with a broad arrow fixed to the foot of the P and a single arrow barb fastened to the P in the top left part of the letter.

Can anyone ID this stamp?

The second photo is of the completed speaker together with the AR88LF Receiver.

David

[Mike K]

Hi

Cannot help you with your speaker marking .

I' ve seen a few AR88's here in Aust., never owned one myself but a neat set they are . I had no idea they were made in Canada . I think there was a LF version made somewhere else .

Mike

[Bruce MacMillan]

I have the same mark on a wooden crate that came with two 34' masts. The lid was marked "Philco Corp. of Canada". It could be an acceptance mark or just identifying the source. It's possible RCA aquired the speakers from Philco. The actual masts inside the crate were made by Campbell Manufacturing so subcontracting was well practiced.

[David Dunlop]

Bruce.

Thanks for reminding me about Philco. Easy to forget sometimes how, as you say, they were often interconnected for production of a particular item, and also that production of many items was either done at more than one company at the same time, or alternatively shifted completly from one company to another over time.

Cheers, David

[sapper740]

My 1943 RCAF "WIRELESS MECHANICS/WIRELESS OPERATORS" Students' Handbook contains a brief reference to the GR17 (AR88) - (10D/5479) General Purpose Ground Station Receiver (RCA). There are no schematics but it lists the number and quantity of valves as well as all the chokes and filters and their location in a plan view of the set. There are some maintenance tips but no mention of any lubricant used. If you wish I can scan and email you what info is included on your set.

CHIMO!
Derek H.