The R1155 Communications Receiver

Arguably the most well known piece of radio equipment from WWII, the R1155 was used in most British military aircraft large enough to carry the weight of the 1154/1155 transmitter/receiver pair

Both examples shown below have been modified for amateur use. This involves the addition of an integral mains power supply and various cosmetic type modifications such as covering the power and control "Jones Plugs" connectors at the bottom right with a blanking panel. Space inside the receiver for the extra parts was often found by removing the integral Intercom amplifier and direction finding circutry.

To reduce the weight of the receiver some models use aluminium instead of the standard outer steel case.

R1155, with late Type 35 tuning drive

Two tuning knobs were provided, one fast and one slow

 

The tuning knobs shown here are the later configuration with the slow motion knob to the outside. Below is a set with the early knobs. A change was necessary because the operator's gloved hand was prone to inadvertently turn the outer, coarse control when fine tuning the inner slow motion knob.

 

R1155, with early Type 13 tuning drive

See adverts for government surplus T1154 transmitter and R1155


PCR Receiver

This ex-army set was the type often used for general entertainment in the forces, such as in the NAAFI. As such it was very popular in the government surplus marketplace for home use as just after the war domestic receivers were hard to come by at a sensible price. This receiver would have cost a buyer under £8, about half the price of a shop-bought set.

A weakness is the dial. In this examople the last owner gave up and rather than correct any defficiencies placed an old contractor in its place, thus making proper restoration quite difficult.

As you can (almost) see power unit is external to the radio.

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