Radio Console = "Coke Machine"
Richard Dillman
The daughter of a WWII R/O on a Liberty ship is re-typing her dad's letters about his experiences. In one of them he mentions that his Liberty ship had a Mackay console. It appears (the handwriting is a little tough to read) that he refers to the console as a "Coke machine".
Can anyone confirm that "Coke machine" was a slang reference to a ship's radio console during WWII?
Also, this is the only installation of a Mackay console on a Liberty ship that I know about. Although I'm far from an expert on the topic, most Liberty ships had the Radiomarine 2U console according to the information I have.
Can anyone confirm how common the Mackay installation was aboard Liberty ships?
Thanks,
RD
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Richard Dillman
Chief Operator, Coast Station KSM
Maritime Radio Historical Society
http://www.radiomarine.org
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Ben Russell
RD,
Many Liberty Ships had a Mackay Radio Console with the 150BY as the main MF transmitter, Auto Alarm with many relays, MG set provided AC and a pair of Mercury Vapor Rectifiers provided the HV. The HF rig was the 167BY with the FT=102 Transmitter The MF transmitter used a pair of Federal 123 triodes and in the emergency mode used a single one. The FT 102 had a pair of 813's in the final with the 1625 drivers in series. The MRT console worked well and was rated at 300 watts as compared to the RMCA 3U which was rated at 200 watts output.
I never heard the expression "coke machine" used.
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John
The majority of Liberty ships were equipped with Mackay consoles. The
Victory ships had the RCA units for the majority. Don't know how the
contracts were let out in those days.
Both Mackay and RCA units had the HF fitted external to the console and as I
understand it, HF was not included during early part of WW2.
B/Rgds
J.J.Miller ex Mackay Radio (32 years)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Dillman" <ddil...@igc.org>
To: "Radio Officers" <radio-o...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 9:21
Subject: [Radio Officers, &c] Radio Console = "Coke Machine"
Thanks,
RD
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Meir WF2U
I own (and use just about weekly)a working ITT FT-102 console, with the Mackay 167BY transmitter and the RMCA AR-8506B receiver (the receiver is on the workbench presently to replace a few leaky caps, so the alternate receiver according to the manual, the E.H. Scott SLR-F is in its place). I have the original manual, Master Oscillator calibration charts, schematics, mounting and installation drawings. The installation instructions mention that the FT-102 is a retrofit for Liberty (EC-2) ships which have the FT-101 console (Mackay 150BY LF transmitter and Mackay 128 series receiver, antenna and MG switch) only. The FT-102 adds the HF capability to the original station.
My console, transmitter and receiver carry 1944 manufacturing dates.
The 167BY tube lineup is 76 Master Oscillator, 4 6L6 tubes as buffer/multipliers/driver, with a pair of 813. Nominal output per manual is 200W; I measure 350W output on the 80M amateur band, loaded into a 50 ohm resonant antenna.
Instead of an MG, I run it from a homebuilt 1500VDC power supply, while the MO takes 110VDC.
73 de Meir WF2U
Landrum, SC
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Rgds:
Eric
-----Original Message-----
From: radio-o...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:radio-o...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Richard Dillman
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 8:21 AM
To: Radio Officers
Subject: [Radio Officers, &c] Radio Console = "Coke Machine"
Thanks,
RD
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