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Radio / Communications Accessories

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RAF Type 26 microphone assembly with Q cord, Type 25 microphone and plug.

Rare and difficult accessory to find these days: the Type 26 Microphone Assembly comprises a superb Type Q cord (external wiring loom) fitted with a Type 25 microphone and Type   bell plug.This is the standard wiring loom for a first pattern Type C helmet but was also used in B helmets as well as first pattern D and E helmets and used in conjunction with the Types E, E* and G oxygen masks. Excellent condition, with no damage or wear, this complete assembly just needs receivers and it will be ready to complete an early WWII RAF pilot/aircrew ensemble.

$485 / £385 / €445

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WWI headset with receivers Type C dated 1915 by Nathaniel Baldwin, Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

First of two radio headsets offered from an old collection. Superb WWI headset complete with receivers, wiring and plug, distinctly military style and maker marked Nathaniel Baldwin, Salt Lake City, Utah. Type C receivers (which again sounds like a military designation) with patent dates of 1910 and 1915. Khaki canvas covered headband.  Looks like the types worn by balloon observers to report on troop movements. 

$60 / £48 / €55

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AAF HS-38 headset for flying helmet, unissued in box with instruction sheet.

Very hard to find HS-38 headset for use in the USAAF A-11, A-10A, AN-H-16 and AN-H-15 flying helmets - as well as the RAF Type C. Unissued, unused and still packed in its original box, labeled Shure Bros. Chicago. Comprises the braided Y-cord wiring loom with a pair of ANB-H-1 receivers and red PL-354 single-pin plug - plus the instruction sheet for installing in the helmet. Box is a little creased but intact and headset is in perfect condition.

$195 / £155 / €178

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WWII British Army receivers for headsets used by armoured crews, radio operators and in flying helmets.

Mathing pair of British army radio telephone receivers of the type used by armour crews and others, including in flying helmets worn by Army Co-operation pilots (Lysanders etc). Bakelite plastic with Paxolin insulation at wiring connection. Somehow, Army pilots or their riggers managed to squeeze these into both B and C Type helmets!

$55 / £44 / €50

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RAF wartime issue Type C headband.

Primarily intended for aircrew on long distance reconnaissance aircraft, flying boats etc. this ultra-comfortable headset accepted any of the standard wartime receivers  (Types C, 16 and 32) and could be worn with an oxygen mask by using a simple harness. The position of the ear pads is fully adjustable. The basic design was such that it remained in use, in both RAF and commercial use, many years after the war. I recall wearing one when flying in the Air Cadets in the 1970s, and there are photos of the Beatles wearing the exact same design in recording studios. This example is in well used condition, however the rubber remains flexible. The chamois is grubby and there is a worn spot on one "donut" pad. Nice crisp A-crown-M on both  sides indicating pre-1944 production.

$45 / £35 / €42

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RAF Type 48 microphone assembly.

The Type 48 microphone assembly comprises a Type 25 microphone with the short cord that plugs into the internally wired C, D or E helmets. Whlist a bit dusty from storage, this example is in overall good condition. The rubber retaining ring has one split which does not seem to go all the way through and I am sure the microphone would clean up nicely. 

$45 / £35 / €42

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AAF SW-141 push-to-talk switch assembly.

 

Push-to-talk switch worn by pilots and aircrew to facilitate easier transmission while in combat and eliminate background chatter. When the switch was pressed, the wearer could transmit but no one else on the same channel could be heard. The switch could be locked into the on position during emergencies. Excellent condition, though lacking the neck strap (this was often removed and the switch affixed to the oxygen mask or flying jacket).

$85 / £65 / €75

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US Navy extension cord for aviator's radio headset.

 

Braided fabric cord, approximately 3' long (1m) with rubber connector for the single pin plug from the radio headset fitted in a flying helmet. NAF marked plug at the other end. Perfect, unissued condition. This also attaches to the rubberized extension cord for the short rubberized wiring loom found  with TH-37 receivers in early USN flying helmets.

$40 / £32 / €38

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AAF ANB-H-1 telephone receivers for flying helmets.

A few loose (non-matching) ANB-H-1 receivers for flying helmets. used but very good condition. No two are a perfect match so they are sold individually (it is not uncommon to find helmets with mismatched receivers as they were often replaced in the field).

Price each. 

$35 / £28 / €33 

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WWII RCAF Type C-3 receivers for flying helmets.

 

Matching pair of receivers, the wartime RCAF equivalent of the RAF Type 16 receivers for the Types B, C, D and E flying helmet. Black bakelite housing internal working parts intact. There is a hairline surface crack on one but it does not affect the strength and integrity of the receiver.  Quite a scarce accessory.

ON HOLD

RCAF receivers for headset or early Type B flying helmet.

 

Canadian marked receivers of the type most often found in early RCAF headsets and flying helmets, specifically the zip-ear compartments on the Type B. Well worn with some paint loss but complete and undamaged. Marked with the broad arrow in a C and the initials FDK. 

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US Navy / Marine Corps TH-37 receivers for headset or flying helmet—early variation in brown bakelite.

 

Lovely matching pair of the scarce Telephonics TH-37 telephone receivers as fitted to US Navy and Marine Corps headsets and flying helmets. This is the rarer early type moulded in dark brown bakelite instead of black. This may have been to differentiate the impedance for use with different types of radio. Excellent condition and very difficut to find.

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RAF Type 25 microphone, unpainted.

 

Unusual variant of the otherwise common RAF Type 25 microphone as fitted to Types E, E* and G oxygen masks. This example, though used and showing some light wear, appears to have never been finished with the black paint/lacquer usually found. Or perhaps someone later stripped it down and removed the paint (in which case, why?). This was evidently issued and used in its "au naturelle" state. It lacks the screw-on bakelite backing plate but retains its magnetic disc. An odd variant for the collector of different  types.

ON HOLD

RAF Gosport receivers.

Black bakelite receivers which fit into the telephone holders on flying helmets (or inside the zip pockets on the Type B or RN FAA helmets) as part of the Gosport communication system. Air Ministry marked and with the RAF stores ref. number moulded into the plastic. In excellent used condition, no damage.

$55 / £48 / €55

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RCAF external wiring loom extension for flying helmets.

 

A scarce and very difficult accessory. This is the external wiring loom for the Canadian made Airtex mesh flying helmet used in the far east/Pacific theatre by the RCAF, RAAF and RNZAF later in the war. In excellent, unused condition and complete with the plug for the helmet and mask wiring, as well as the Canadian made hard rubber bell-shaped plug.  

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US Navy rubber ear cups for radio headset.

 

Similar to the TC-66 receiver cups (which were produced in black rubber like these , as well as red and grey). Outer section is pliable pneumatic rubber and inside is soft sponge rubber. These are unmarked and slightly larger than the TC-66 cups so designed for a different receiver. Whether for aviation use or ship-board radios i have no idea. they are in excellent condition, totally pliable.

$55 / £45 / €52

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RAF flying helmet aircraft plug  adaptor/tester.

RAF aircraft plug adaptor/tester. For testing the communications system in a flying helmet. The bell-shaped plug goes into the large bakelite female socket and then the smaller male plug goes into a test unit to check the system. 

$45 / £36 / €43  

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WWII  RAF wiring loom for the type of headset worn in the Ops room by controllers and plotters.

 

Comprises a good length of standard braided wiring, medium brown with a light brown fleck, same as fitted to flying helmets (not sure of exact length because it is coiled and secured) with connections for a plug at one end, then two leads for a single telephone receiver and one for a microphone (contacts actually broken off, but could be replaced). Appears unused. .

$65 / £52 / €62

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Unknown WWI period RAF wiring loom.

 

Approximately 3 ft. length of braided wiring, of the same as fitted to RAF flying helmets, medium brown, with 5 pole type connectors at one end, and 5 matching coiled loop type connectors at the other end. Most probably for some aircraft fitting, but could also be for a table lamp in the officer's mess! Unused and could perhaps be fashioned into a representation of a helmet wiring loom for display or re-enactment.

$45 / £28 / €33    Note: 2 available

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British Army tank crew and RN Fleet Air Arm throat mic. No.2 Mk II

 

Contracted by the Army for use in armoured vehicles, the No. 2 Mk II throat microphone was also adopted by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm for use in low level aircraft such as the Swordfish. This example appears unissued and is still in its original box. Minor oxidation but no damage and cable is completely pliable. Wired for Army vehicle radio as manufactured - for FAA aircraft use, the single pin plug would have been replaced by a rigger with a 2-pin female aircraft radio jack. Note: the RAF did NOT issue or use throat microphones during WWII - only the Army and Fleet Air Arm. Unusual to find one in such good condition and boxed.

$95 / £70 / €80  email to secure this item

WWII Canadian Radio Receivers (pair) wire headband attached.

 

Nice pair of what I believe to be Candian made radio receivers of the type used in Armoured Crew helmets, still attached to their wire headband. No wiring and no canvas headband, but the paxolin insulation piece is present. Useful for completing a display. I do not believe these were used in aircraft but it is possible they may have been used by a morse operator.

$25/ £24 / €20  email to secure this item

AAF (Signal Corps) radio headset adapter M-385-A (High-low Impedance switch).

While the RAF used a large lozenge shaped metal switch box in the middle of the wiring loom for high-low impedance, the USAAF version was a smaller, lighter plug-jack adapter. This example is unissued, still in its box, complete with instruction sheet. The first I have ever seen. Scarce accessory.

$25/ £24 / €20  email to secure this item

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