Identification request

[Mike Cecil]

Could the MLU Wireless whizzes identify the sets in this image, please?

The set up appears to be two of the same wireless set, and two power supplies. They appear to be British Larkspur series, but I have been unable to identify them precisely.

Assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Mike

[Bruce MacMillan]

looks to be a pair of R210 receivers and PSUs.

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Bruce,

That was my first thought, but on examination there are a number of differences. The power plug on an R210 is in the top left corner of the front face, for example, whereas this set has it half way down the left side.

Regards

Mike

[Robin Craig]

Mike, silly question, have you asked on HMVF at all?

If not I would be happy to ask, I am sure someone like Clive Elliott will answer.

So a right hand drive series Land Rover with a unitised radio mounting of some sort?

[Mike Cecil]

Ahhh, Robin of the Black Art of Texting, not a silly question at all: remember, I am a Luddite, so my range of internet forums is as severely limited as my use of a cell phone!! (My flip phone has only just died, so I may have to move into one of those modern flat thingys to replace it)

I don't frequent HMVF, and would be happy for you to ask the question on my behalf. Thank you for offering.

Yes, a Land Rover Series 2 109 inch FFW, with the standard wireless table fit, but this particular combination has me beaten and crying for help. Bruce's suggestion it is 2 x R210 reception sets & PSUs was a good one, but I have discounted that: the PSU for the C11/R210 combination was a common PSU to both sets and the front face is entirely different. The wireless sets in the image also have a different layout on the front face, so not an R210 either (unless there were variants?).

Regards

Mike

[Robin Craig]

Mike,

Don't put yourself down too much, you are quite swift, trust me.

FFW? I would have said FFR with the R being radio, perhaps FFW was a wartime thing, R was what we called that in the UK. Wireless had connotations of grandad and a pipe and carpet slippers.

Be back at you with suggestions

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Robin

In the 1950s and early 1960s, the Larkspur series were generally all 'wireless', it was the US that used 'radio' (and antenna instead of aerial). By the end of the 1960s, just about everyone had converted to 'radios' with 'antennas'. I stuck with FFW (Fitted for Wireless) as that was the nomenclature used when the vehicle pictured was under development.

Interestingly, the same vehicle type at the same time was listed as an FFR when fitted with US sourced radios. Go figure: wonder what the Aust Army called a vehicle with a US and a Brit radio!!

Mike

[David Dunlop]

Mike.

They might be a pair of R216 Receivers and PSU’s, but I have no idea if that would be part of the Larkspur series or Clansman, or even what frequencies they lurked about on.

David

[Bruce MacMillan]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Mike.
They might be a pair of R216 Receivers and PSU’s, but I have no idea if that would be part of the Larkspur series or Clansman, or even what frequencies they lurked about on.
David

Spot on David. They are a pair of R216 receivers with PSU #45. These are a vhf monitor/intercept receiver covering 19 MHz to 157 MHz. They are a part of the Larkspur family.

[Lynn Eades]

So FFW, Fitted For Wadio
(I knew it was a wadio, but that's the sum of my knowledge)
There are some clever people on this great forum

[Mike Cecil]

David, Bruce and everyone else that looked at their reference books, thank you: problem solved.

I'll do some more research on the R216, but have to wonder what use a double set of reception sets would be in a comms vehicle? 'I can hear you, just can't reply...'.

The C13-R210 combination was odd enough (a separate receiver set and reception set combined with the one PSU).

Edit: OK, found the R216 on the WftW website: used for 'monitoring and interception'.

Ahhh, Lynn - that's what FFW stands for ONLY in New Zealand!

Again, thanks,

Mike

[Lynn Eades]

Mike I may one day cross over to the dark side and learn a bit about wireless/ radio, but only in as much as they relate to my vehicles. So that would be 11 sets and 19 sets and of course, for the sake of national pride, the ZC1 of which I have one.
(I do have a few radio books as it happens)

[Mike Cecil]

Well, Lynn, you cannot go past Wireless for the Warrior - the four volumes plus the five Compendiums. They are my wireless/radio bibles for many sets including some US sets.

I'd forgotten about the compendiums that include Larkspur until earlier today - Comp 2 would have answered my question without having to raise it here, so apologies to Bruce and David for taking up their time. It's even more embarrassing because I helped Louis when he was writing them (as did Bruce, I see)!!

Regards

Mike