Remote control

[David Dunlop]

I have seen a number of them in the last year or so being flogged as ‘Commando Radios’ with the price jacked up a few more quid to go with that, but I cannot fathom where that name for them came from.

I also see one currently on eeePay with the Date ‘1945’ on the front of it being used as the ‘Serial Number’.

I would slap my forehead but I am holding two drinks at the moment...


David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

I have seen a number of them in the last year or so being flogged as ‘Commando Radios’ with the price jacked up a few more quid to go with that, but I cannot fathom where that name for them came from.

I also see one currently on eeePay with the Date ‘1945’ on the front of it being used as the ‘Serial Number’.

I would slap my forehead but I am holding two drinks at the moment...


David

Dave Dave Dave. Longstanding rules of the game are that if you put 'airborne' or 'commando' on it it's worth at least triple. Gets the world of warcraft couch commandos all a'blather and their e-transfers all a'humming.

My favourite marketing trick is 'Jungle Carbine' to identify a British No.5 Mk.1 rifle. The No.5 was a late war lighter, shorter replacement for the No.4 and was not intended particularly for jungle use. So how did the name 'Jungle Carbine' come about? It seems some surplus dealer in California in the 1960's wanted to move a batch and made the jungle connection much as we are seeing with 'commando' now. It worked, so well in fact the name has stuck to this day. I refuse to use it.

On a more serious note, do these remotes even have serial numbers? If so where because I can't find it.

[David Dunlop]

Hi Bruce.

They actually all were stamped with a serial number by all three manufacturers; sadly, they all used the same method, which was crap for long-term survival. I never found a readable one on a Northern Electric product but found several with LOTS of TLC on R.C.A. and Dominion Electrohome Industries ones:

RCA

1942: C 03061, C 05661

1943: C 25113

1944: C 33237


DEI

1945: C 60633, C 62404 and C 65020

The ‘C’ and the Number were stamped separately with as much as one half inch of gap between them using a mechanical number stamp. The type offices used to have years ago with an attached ink stamp and a choice of sequential, or repetitive numbering functions. The problem was they used a very thin white paint that you can see through very easily when dried. The Stamps were ¼-inch Roman Style Font.

With the paint being so thin to start with, left exposed for any length of time, it simply oxidized over time and rubs off. If it gets over painted, it is protected, if you know it might be there and are very, very careful. I used to rub back with extremely fine emery paper, or 0000 steel wool and finer, using a water dampened cloth to clear off the dust. As soon as you start to see white marks, REALLY slow down and take your time.


I am not certain, but DEI might have been the only manufacturer by 1945.


David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Thanks Dave, so it would have been after the 'No. ' on these Dominion Electrohome Industries 1945 examples?

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Hi Bruce.

They actually all were stamped with a serial number by all three manufacturers; sadly, they all used the same method, which was crap for long-term survival. I never found a readable one on a Northern Electric product but found several with LOTS of TLC on R.C.A. and Dominion Electrohome Industries ones:

RCA

1942: C 03061, C 05661

1943: C 25113

1944: C 33237


DEI

1945: C 60633, C 62404 and C 65020

The ‘C’ and the Number were stamped separately with as much as one half inch of gap between them using a mechanical number stamp. The type offices used to have years ago with an attached ink stamp and a choice of sequential, or repetitive numbering functions. The problem was they used a very thin white paint that you can see through very easily when dried. The Stamps were ¼-inch Roman Style Font.

With the paint being so thin to start with, left exposed for any length of time, it simply oxidized over time and rubs off. If it gets over painted, it is protected, if you know it might be there and are very, very careful. I used to rub back with extremely fine emery paper, or 0000 steel wool and finer, using a water dampened cloth to clear off the dust. As soon as you start to see white marks, REALLY slow down and take your time.


I am not certain, but DEI might have been the only manufacturer by 1945.


David

[rob love]

Example of the serial shamelessly stolen off worthpoint.

[David Dunlop]

As per Rob’s Post, Bruce, yes.

The first character in Rob’s photo is the ‘C’. The stamping can be anywhere from right behind the ‘No.’ To as far away as under the ‘LIMITED’.

I will try and find the photo I took years ago and post it this weekend.

David

[Mike K]

Yes the asking prices for this military communications stuff on Epay is generally inflated to the point of being ridiculous. In many cases the seller has little idea of what the item is, it's green, it has wires and leads and sockets so it must be worth zillions. The ebay dealers are also asking exhorbitant prices for No. 19 set accessories. I believe a large stash of surplus NOS 19 set stuff has literally been dug up in Italy, back in the 1960s the stuff was buried in an old quarry or similar.

Those remote units were also manufactured in Australia, I can't recall the specific maker but it may have been AWA, I did have one at one stage.