Spy radio

[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