Spy radio

[cletrac (RIP)]

Here's an interesting 'spy radio' that's on ebay in the States.
ebay link

spy radio.jpg spy radio 4.jpg

spy radio 5.JPG spy radio 2.JPG spy radio 3.JPG

[Bruce MacMillan]

There's a lot not right with it so I hope he doesn't have a high reserve.

Set has been modified, no power supply, none of the original coils and the morse key looks to be from a WS62. Suitcase has no provision for spares box so I don't think thats original either.

Still if the price is right it's a good starting point. A reasonably complete original set will go for $3000 - $8000

A friend of mine sold one this month for $1800 for just the transmitter/receiver in a drop case, nothing else. Still, the B2 is the classic SOE radio.

[cletrac (RIP)]

Here's a link to one at the cryptomuseum
They say the three latch suitcase was quite often changed to a two latch version to be less conspicuous.

[Mike Kelly]

They were reasonably common here . Just after the war , the Wireless instutute of Australia bought a large number of them , I believe it was around 400 , and these were offered to ham radio operators . I have had three of them . What has always puzzled me is, why so many of these were sent out here . Did the SRC guys want them ? The WIA even published an article describing how to make a AM modulator for these sets

They are a neat set but rather nasty as there isn't a earth or ground for the power unit. If you connect the mains power the wrong way around, the whole chassis can become Live , dangerous stuff .

When I first came on air as a ham, a guy had two of these sets and he would come onto the 80 meter band on CW .

I sold mine years ago . I had the coils the key the whole kit and the dropping containers too.

The other common type was the type A mk 3 , which is smaller than the B 2 set . I had one of those too .

[Bruce MacMillan]

Some of the older hams here tell me about the good old days of buying surplus after the war. Some dealers had stacks of B2 sets that people would buy for a few shillings, throw away the radio and keep the nice suitcase.

Mind you still in the 1960s I bought my first 19 set, still in the crate, for $16.

The type A MK3 was certainly an improvement over the B2. Considering that the B2 weighed 30 lbs and many operators were women who were small in stature. It was reported that a member of the public could tell when the SOE trainees were carrying their radio during walk abouts on Baker Street as they leaned to one side.

The weight was also an issue with the suitcase itself. After a while the handles often separated like mine did.

[malcolm erik bogaert]

I had the ww2 Olga set made in Norway...in full working order..came with spare coils etc...sold it to a major collector in France who outbid the museum in Canada!busy working on a mint (museum quality Burndept wartime ground to air set..which formed part of an AIRBORNE TENTACLE..bonus is it came with all the carriers and straps etc... for mule transport...Im told on good authority (SAS Association) that MKalayan Scouts and earely SAAS used these postwar...happy xmas and good new year to all...malcolm in a very windy north-northumberland

[Little Jo]

[QUOTE=Mike Kelly;203810]They were reasonably common here . Just after the war , the Wireless instutute of Australia bought a large number of them , I believe it was around 400 , and these were offered to ham radio operators . I have had three of them .

Hi Mike

What is your call sign. Mine is VK5FTVR.

Cheers

Tony

[Mike Kelly]

[QUOTE=Little Jo;203853]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

They were reasonably common here . Just after the war , the Wireless instutute of Australia bought a large number of them , I believe it was around 400 , and these were offered to ham radio operators . I have had three of them .

Hi Mike

What is your call sign. Mine is VK5FTVR.

Cheers

Tony

tony

I was a novice for 2 years then got a full call . I used a 122 set as a novice , mostly CW but sometimes AM

I am VK3CZ . Andrew T is VK5WT , you would know him.

You lucky man, you didn't have to do the Morse test.

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

The other common type was the type A mk 3 , which is smaller than the B 2 set . I had one of those too .

I have an A mk3 which came from Australia - it's been modified with an internal PSU (as far as I can tell) to work with either "Batt" or "Gen" according to the stencilling on the pull/push switch... so, no "Mains" power option. The mods look professionaly done - ie not a ham radio mod - but noone can tell me who and when - have approached the Australian War Memorial Museum, but noone there was able to advise.

Tim

[malcolm erik bogaert]

I have just been offered a mint condition 123 set from an old guy still in its original crate...seriel number suggests it was one of the postwar MI6 sets...the chap has no idea of value..what would a good offer for this set be,....any of the experts on this site any niotion of same!best regards malcolm