Real Marine HF BoatAnchor Transceivers

AWA Teleradio 5A HF Transceiver

This one sure is a BoatAnchor, by the rust on the outer case it looks like it had been fitted to a boat for a very long time. The last photo is with the box removed from the vibrator supply.

Crammond HF Marine Transceiver Model CTR8 S/n T0391

Ferris Marina 150AV

As I would like to restore this item, I am looking for some valves (tubes) for it. I require two 12DQ6 and two 12AG5's to make it complete.

Weston LM5-2 Radio Telephone

This was found in Brisbane by Stephen Wilson and he posted to me. Thanks for your efforts Stephen.
From the dates on the transformers it would have been made about 1970 and uses common valves found in AM Radios and Televisions of the time. It has the HT power supply, an early transistor inverter, built into a separate chassis mounted by four screws into the main chassis. This would have been done so it could be configured for either 12 Volt or 24 Volt DC, a common voltages used around the engine and accessories of small fishing craft of the time.

It arrived very well packed into a small wood case and was in very good condition for a radio that had probably been to sea for quite few years. I checked it over for obvious faults and damage and apart from one of the valves being a bit short of a vacuum, it looked ready to have 12 Volt DC applied again. I hooked it up to my 10 Amp bench supply and nothing happend for about a minute and then the inverter burst into life and I had 245 Volt of HT and was soon treated to a spectacular display of flashes inside the audio output valve. Closer inspection of the valve revealed it to was a bit short of vacuum.

After some rummaging in boxes of valves I found a 6AM6 and a 6BW6, the two valves that were "gassey" and after they were fitted and all the valve sockets given a good spray of contact cleaner, I powered it up again and was greeted with some noise out of what was left of the speaker. Generations of moths had feasted on the cone and there was just the voice coil left.

The good old Leader Signal Generator soon proved it was receiving on the frequencies indicated on the dial and after a dummy load was connected a quick blip on the PTT switch showed the transmitter section seemed to want to work also. That is where I will leave the project for now as a circuit diagram will make getting the transmitter section on a suitable Ham band much easier. Someone out there must have a diagram, all I have to do now is find them.

The valve line up is: RF Amp - 6BA6, Converter - 6AN7, IF Amp - 6N8, Detec/AGC or perhaps noise limiter - 6AL5, Audio Output - 6BW6, Mic Pre Amp - 12AX7, Xtal Oscillator - 6AM6 and RF Power Output 6GV8. This latter valve is a strange choice to me. The Xtals fitted are: 2.182, 2.524 and 6.204 MHz.

Codan 6801-S Marine Transceiver

Marine radio of uncertain origin

Several friends in HRSA have answered my call for help so far.
Peter N: Looks like a Vaughan Radio - made by a guy called Vaughan who (I think) started Weston Radio in NSW in the late 50's ? May be a VTR4 from memory - saw a few up in the Townsville area in the early 1970's.

Andy G: I don't know the set in the pictures but I can tell you the front panel design, particularly around the speaker, and layout is very "Weston". Weston Electronics also sold sets under the "Vaughan" brand name. The Vaughan company was Edward G Vaughan Electronics Pty Ltd.

Malcolm H: Re this marine transceiver I am not at all certain, but the closest I have seen (an older model) though is one made by Weston Electronics of Sydney. Their marine series went under the name of Vaughan Radio.

Can anyone else out there add anything to this ?. I would like a circuit diagram, it would make a nice "Boat Anchor" HF rig.

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Written by and Copyright, Phil. Storr © Last updated 9th Spetember 2013