MLU FORUM  

Go Back   MLU FORUM > GENERAL WW2 TOPICS > The Wireless Forum

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-08-16, 23:09
Bruce Parker (RIP) Bruce Parker (RIP) is offline
GM Fox I
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,606
Default Wireless of the Week - week 25

This week is a little known reception set, the R.P.A. 3. I have never seen an actual example and its development and purpose is a mystery. Any assistance to fill in these details would be most welcome, as would what “R.P.A.” stands for, the manual is silent.

The R.P.A 3 was built by Stewart-Warner-Alemite Corporation of Canada in 1943 which is an odd manufacturer for Canadian wireless equipment and one that didn’t seem to produce any other land sets. It operated on either 110 or 220 volts at 25 or 60 cycles and the manual says it was for stationary or vehicle use. It also had a send/receive switch that put the receiver on standby while some separate transmitter was sending. This infers the R.P.A. 3 was intended to be used alongside a transmitter, the likely candidates being the Wireless Sets No.12, 33 or 53. If this is correct, it seems to be a Canadian alternate for the Reception Set R107.

The set is 20” wide by 22” tall by 15” deep and weighs 130 lbs. It is housed in a steel case that has dome fasteners for a waterproof cover. On the top is a ‘power deck’ that housed the power supply unit, speaker and crystal calibrator as well as a wire antenna and parts box for spare valves and to store the earphones when not in use. The lower portion is the receiver itself. It covers an AM frequency range from 1.5 to 30 MHz in four bands. Reception could be achieved either with the antenna or by line transmission over wires attached to two binding posts on the back of the set.
Attached Thumbnails
1.jpg   2.jpg   3.jpg   5.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-08-16, 10:08
Bruce MacMillan Bruce MacMillan is offline
a Canuck/Brit in Blighty
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Hell Fire Corner, Kent UK
Posts: 697
Default

Interesting set, I've never heard of it either. I wonder if it was another "one hit wonder" like the Vancouver Radio Laboratories model 250. The gov. was known to throw a bone to various companies to keep people employed and to produce a Canadian item.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-08-16, 15:25
David Dunlop David Dunlop is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Posts: 3,384
Default

Interesting set. At first glance it looks a bit like some Radio Direction Finding gear that was around throughout the war, but if that was the case, it should probably have an 'R.D.F.' identifier.

The manual shows a 1944 date, later in the war. Years ago I read a book from the local library on the development of radar equipment during the war, and this really seems to have accelerated towards the end of the war, particularly counter radar measures. I remember a term used being "radar propagation analysis" but cannot for the life of me recall the context in which it was explained. Could this be a piece of equipment related to that type of work?

David

Last edited by David Dunlop; 05-08-16 at 21:39.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Wireless of the Week - week 13 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 8 01-05-18 22:33
Wireless of the Week - week 24 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 9 18-04-17 19:22
Wireless of the Week - week 14 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 1 20-05-16 01:48
Wireless of the Week - week 12 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 0 06-05-16 00:53
Wireless of the Week - week 8 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 5 09-04-16 23:24


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 10:12.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Maple Leaf Up, 2003-2016