Carlin's Half Safe radios

[Mike Kelly]

Watching this utube video, I noticed the No. 19 wireless set fitted on the rear shelf in Carlin's Half Safe GPA, I believe this was the first radio he had fitted in Half Safe. In his book Carlin describes how the the 19 set proved to be next to useless ( doesn't surprise me ! ) , this was his opinion of the 19 set after the initial Atlantic crossing attempts, leaving from New York harbour.

The colour scenes that were filmed later on show what appears to be a Collins TCS radio receiver and transmitter has been fitted in Half Safe. Carlin wrote glowing reports about the TCS, the radio performed in excellent fashion and it played a significant role in saving the Carlins as they were in desperate need of fuel following the Atlantic Ocean hurricane . Ben contacted the Portuguese navy with the Collins radio, a rescue vessel was sent out with fuel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjDQs6FWW0s

The guy hosting the video makes some very misleading statements "they hit a gale in the middle of the Atlantic" rather than a gale, it was actually more like a force nine Hurricane.

And " the vehicle tended to sink " What ! So how many times did Half Safe sink ?

Also, the animated map scene in this video has no reference to the fact that the Carlins visited Australia during their epic voyage . Half Safe was on display in the Myer Melbourne department store in 1956 where Ben was signing copies of his book. The Pathe film with Melbourne bayside scenes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diuiv5iCAw4