Wireless Set No.31

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

I found this British No.31 Wireless set last weekend in a Toronto surplus store (just the set; I added the appropriate pack board, etc. from items on hand). The set has been re-painted in the usual post-war NATO green and, coming via a surplus store in Canada, I'm wondering if anybody has any knowledge of these sets being issued to Canadian forces.

The W/T No,31 was a British version of the standard WW2 American SCR-300 man pack set. It was developed in 1944 but not produced until 1946-47.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

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[Jon Skagfeld]

Hmmm, nice tree.

The 31 set, in overall configuration, almost looks like what evolved into the 509/510 set.

The 3' tape antenna brings to mind the AN/PRC-25/77 type.

[Jon Skagfeld]

I'll be damned if,tonight during watching the TV movie "Uncommon Valour", exactly the same set was shown on the back of one of the actors.

This occurred just after one of the female partisans got shot, then Gene Hackman said words to the effect..."Well, the party's on", then quoted a Shakespearean passage, and off they went.(In an attempt to get his son out of a Viet POW compound).

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

So far no evidence of Canadian use. What of it's British use? The set is serial No.478 which is either very early or an indication that few were produced.

Jon, was the set carried by Gene Hackman a W/T 31 or an SCR-300? (you can tell by looking at the rivets)....so which is it????? Surely you notice these sort of details?

[Jon Skagfeld]

Originally posted by Bruce Parker
So far no evidence of Canadian use. What of it's British use? The set is serial No.478 which is either very early or an indication that few were produced.

Jon, was the set carried by Gene Hackman a W/T 31 or an SCR-300? (you can tell by looking at the rivets)....so which is it????? Surely you notice these sort of details?

Smartass! As if I can see rivets in a three second shot on a home TV.