Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, military and historical items for discerning collectors
Radio / Communications Accessories
(click on pictures to enlarge)
RAF Gosport receivers and tubes.
Excellent set of Gosport receivers and tubes, with Y-shaped connector. These are becoming increasingly difficult to find - especially the tubes - and are often tattered and worn condition with the fabric fraying and the metal parts bent or crushed. This set is in very good condition, the tubes are fully flexible with no signs of the fabric separating.
$95 / £78 / €88
 RAF Gosport receivers and tubes |  RAF Gosport receivers and tubes |
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 RAF Gosport receivers and tubes |
RAF Type C headband fitted with Type 26 microphone assembly / external wiring loom.
The headband, Type C had multiple uses butin this configuration was most commonly associated with crews of heavy aircraft, in particular reconnaissance and transport, flying boats etc. It could be worn with an oxygen mask if needed, by use of a simple harness, but was often worn as seen here, with the microphone loose. This example has an excellent external wiring loom (Type 26 microphone assembly) and is wired with RCAF Type C-3 receivers. One or two small chips to the bakelite backing of the microphone and the bell plug spring is quite rusty, but the headset is an excellent, clean example. The external wiring loom alone is worth the price.
$275 / £220 / €255
 RAF Type C headband fitted with Type 26 microphone assembly / external wiring loom |  RAF Type C headband fitted with Type 26 microphone assembly / external wiring loom |
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 RAF Type C headband fitted with Type 26 microphone assembly / external wiring loom |  RAF Type C headband fitted with Type 26 microphone assembly / external wiring loom |
 RAF Type C headband fitted with Type 26 microphone assembly / external wiring loom |  RAF Type C headband fitted with Type 26 microphone assembly / external wiring loom |
 RAF Type C headband fitted with Type 26 microphone assembly / external wiring loom |  RAF Type C headband fitted with Type 26 microphone assembly / external wiring loom |
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
 AAF ANB-H-1 telephone receivers for flying helmets |  AAF ANB-H-1 telephone receivers for flying helmets |
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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.
$80 / £65 / €75
 RCAF Type C-3 receivers for flying helmets |  RCAF Type C-3 receivers for flying helmets |
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 RCAF Type C-3 receivers for flying helmets |
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.
$60 / £50 / €58
 RCAF receivers for headset or flying helmet |  RCAF receivers for headset or flying helmet |
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 RCAF receivers for headset or flying helmet |  RCAF receivers for headset or flying helmet |
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.
$95 / £80 / €90
 US Navy / Marine Corps TH-37 receivers for headset or flying helmet—early variation in brown bakelit |  US Navy / Marine Corps TH-37 receivers for headset or flying helmet—early variation in brown bakelit |
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 US Navy / Marine Corps TH-37 receivers for headset or flying helmet—early variation in brown bakelit |  US Navy / Marine Corps TH-37 receivers for headset or flying helmet—early variation in brown bakelit |
WWII RCAF / Canadian armed forces radio headset with receivers, cord and plug.
Early wartime Canadian made radio headset. The aluminium headband is a universal design often seen in period photographs of ops rooms and in reconnaissance aircraft. Receivers are marked "Receivers Headgear M.C. (Can)." Rubber pads with felt "donuts" are similar to those found in Canadian flying helmets. The small Paxolin mounts (where the wires attach to the receivers) have broken but this could be fixed quite easily and does not detract anyway. Complete with braided cord and single pin plug. Nice set.
$65 / £55 / €60
 WWII RCAF / Canadian armed forces radio headset |
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 WWII RCAF / Canadian armed forces radio headset |
 WWII RCAF / Canadian armed forces radio headset |
 WWII RCAF / Canadian armed forces radio headset |
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.
$35 / £30 / €34
 RAF Type 25 microphone, unpainted |  RAF Type 25 microphone, unpainted |
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 RAF Type 25 microphone, unpainted |  RAF Type 25 microphone, unpainted |
 RAF Type 25 microphone, unpainted |  RAF Type 25 microphone, unpainted |
 RAF Type 25 microphone, unpainted |
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
 RAF Gosport receivers |  RAF Gosport receivers |
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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.
$195 / £155 / €185
 RCAF external wiring loom extension for flying helmets |  RCAF external wiring loom extension for flying helmets |
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 RCAF external wiring loom extension for flying helmets |
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 / €185
 AAF HS-38 headset for flying helmet, unissued in box. |  AAF HS-38 headset for flying helmet, unissued in box. |
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 AAF HS-38 headset for flying helmet, unissued in box. |  AAF HS-38 headset for flying helmet, unissued in box. |
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
 US Navy rubber ear cups for headset |  US Navy rubber ear cups for headset |
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 US Navy rubber ear cups for headset |
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
 RAF aircraft plug adaptor/tester |  RAF aircraft plug adaptor/tester |
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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
 Unknown wiring loom 1. |  Unknown wiring loom 1. |
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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
 Unknown wiring loom 2. |  Unknown wiring loom 2. |
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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
 Army/ Fleet Air Arm throat mic. |
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 Army/ Fleet Air Arm throat mic. |
 Army/ Fleet Air Arm throat mic. |
 Army/ Fleet Air Arm throat mic. |
 Army/ Fleet Air Arm throat mic. |
 Army/ Fleet Air Arm throat mic. |
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
 WWII Canadian radio receivers |  WWII Canadian radio receivers |
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 WWII Canadian radio receivers |
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.
$35 / £28 / €33 email to secure this item
 AAF headset adapter M-385A |
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 AAF headset adapter M-385A |
 AAF headset adapter M-385A |
 AAF headset adapter M-385A |
 AAF headset adapter M-385A |
 AAF headset adapter M-385A |
 AAF headset adapter M-385A |
US Navy headset receiver pads.
Hard black rubber noise-attenuating earcups lined with chamois donuts, model NAF-48490-1 for attaching to the ANB-H-1A receivers when fitted to a headband. These were also used on flying helmets and in some cases M-450 helmets were modified by cementing these in place or sewing them using a border of chamois. Matched pair.
(A few pairs available).
$35 / £29 / €33 email to secure this item
 USN receiver headset pads, pair |  USN receiver headset pads, pair |
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