Item Description
Original Items: Only One Set Available. This genuine set of two (2) WW2 issue BC-611 radios is offered in good original condition. They have not been tested for functionality but appear complete for the most part. Both are set to Frequency 3885, as noted on the tag on the side of each. The BC-611 was a hand-held radio transceiver used by the US Army Signal Corps in World War II. Under the Army Nomenclature System, the BC-611 transceiver was the core component of the SCR-536 Signal Corps Radio set. The Signal Corps technical manual number was TM 11-235.
These are popularly referred to as “Walkie Talkies”, although they were originally designated "Handie Talkies”. Each still has the original data plate on the side, one which reads:
SIGNAL CORPS
RADIO RECEIVER AND
TRANSMITTER BC - 611 - E
BSD-R-0627
The other set has a data plate which reads:
SIGNAL CORPS
RADIO RECEIVER AND
TRANSMITTER BC - 611 - E
23765:CGG 26828-PHILA-44-01
One Set has a maintenance and refitting tag indicating it was serviced in December of 1950. Both also still have their complete antennas, although the tip of one is slightly damaged. One set is missing the antenna protective cover as well. Inside the battery compartments all appear in good order, although one shows some evidence of battery leakage. Rubber gaskets are in good order and still pliable. Both are complete with original carry slings, although one set has a dry rotted and torn sling.
Regardless, these are a nice set of WWII Handie Talkies that are ready for display, or an ideal set for restoration!
More on the SCR-536 and BC-611
The SCR-536 radio set is often considered the first of modern hand held, self-contained, "handie talkie" two-way radios. It was developed in 1940 by a team led by Don Mitchell, chief engineer for Galvin Manufacturing (now Motorola) and was the first true hand-held unit to see widespread use. By July 1941, it was in mass production. In November 1942, the SCR-536 received coverage in the amateur radio magazine QST. It appeared on the cover as well as in Signal Corps advertising, and was featured as part of an article on the Signal Corps. “Smallest field unit of the Signal Corps” in which a photo caption read; “it is not much larger or heavier than a conventional handset”. It was carried among the first waves to hit Omaha Beach at Normandy in June 1944. Every rifle company of the U.S. 29th Infantry division had six; one for each of the three rifle platoons, two for the weapons platoon, and one for the company CO. The Germans were deeply impressed by the SCR-536 and the SCR-300 after capturing several units in Sicily. By war’s end, 130,000 of the units had been manufactured by Motorola. They were also produced by other firms.
Today, the SCR-536 is often restored and operated by vintage amateur radio enthusiasts and military radio collectors. The SCR-536, which incorporated five vacuum tubes in a waterproof case, had no separate power switch. Instead the radio turned on when the antenna was pulled out, and off when it was retracted. The SCR-536 weighed 5 pounds with batteries and 3.85 lb without (2.3 and 1.75 kg). The unit operated in AM voice mode between 3.5 and 6.0 MHz frequency range. The SCR-536 had an RF output power of 360 milliwatts. The range of the unit varied with terrain; from a few hundred feet, to approximately one mile over land, and 3 miles over water. The short range is accounted for by the short antenna: on transmit it shows a low radiation resistance, so it couples to free space with low efficiency. The same is true on receive, with an alternative explanation: the shorter the receiving antenna, the less energy it can intercept ("collect"), and therefore deliver to the receiver.
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