Classifieds

The Gibson Girl radio set was a hand powered emergency transmitter ruggedly designed for use in a life raft or small boat. Use of the Gibson Girl enabled rescue crews to locate survivors of ship or aircraft emergencies. The SCR-578 and its accessories were bright yellow-orange in color and the unit would float if placed in the water.

The Gibson Girl Emergency Transmitter was included with abandon ship provisions in life rafts. It was also packaged with a parachute so it could be dropped to survivors in the water. The Gibson Girl is operated by holding it between the knees while cranking the internal generator by hand. It can be set to automatically transmit an SOS signal or manual keying can be used to send a message.

The Gibson Girl design was based on a captured German emergency transmitter called the Notsender NS2, easily recognizable with the same hourglass shape. The British designed an improved version, but lacked the manufacturing capacity. A contract was let to Bendix Aviation for an American version, the Radio Set SCR-578-A. Bendix began deliveries

in May 1942. The updated AN/CRT-3 became available in 1945. The Gibson Girl transmitters were used by military and civilian aircraft and ships into the 1960s.

The Gibson Girl Emergency Transmitter was produced in two main versions:

Radio Set SCR-578 broadcast on a single frequency of 500 kc, for reaching locally operating ships and aircraft. There were two versions, SCR-578-A and SCR-578-B.

Radio Set AN/CRT-3 broadcast on 500 kc or 8280 kc frequencies. The 8280 kc signal reached base stations at longer range. Visually identical to SCR-578.

Some models of the AN/CRT-3 operated at 8364 kc instead of 8280 kc. All Gibson Girl frequencies are internationally reserved for distress signals.

The Gibson Girl transmitter can be operated by untrained personnel, following instructions printed on the radio's case. To facilitate operations under all conditions, the full kit of Gibson Girl radio equipment includes:

- Radio Transmitter BC-778-A (SCR-578) or T-74/CRT-3 (for AN/CRT-3)
- Hand Crank GC-18-A to operate the internal generator
- Reel RL-48 inside a front-panel door holds 800 ft. of antenna wire W-148
- Kite M-277-A, folding metal frame box kite to raise the antenna in wind
- Balloon M-278-A, for use when wind is insufficient for the kite
- Generator M-315-A, produces hydrogen to inflate the balloon to 4 ft in diameter
- Signal Lamp M-308-A, to communicate locally with rescue crews
- Parachute M-390-A
- Bag BG-109-A (Cylinder bag containing Kite assembly, 2 balloons, 2 hydrogen generators, signal lamp, wire)
- Bag BG-110-A (Cube shape bag containing Gibson Girl radio and crank with parachute in pouch on top)

Note that not all these accessories are included with this set, please look at photos to see what is specifically included.

The total weight of the radio and all accessories is 33 pounds. The suffix letters changed as manufacturing developed improvements. For example, the M-390-A parachute (untreated rayon) was superseded by the M-390-B (tropicalized nylon). Other changes included packing all components into a single cube shaped bag BG-155-A for the AN/CRT-3 model.

The balloon was inflated by connecting the hydrogen generator inflating tube to the balloon, then immersing the hydrogen generator in water. The chemical reaction that produced the hydrogen also produced a lot of heat, so caution was required.



	Classifieds
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	Flex 6400 with automatic antenna tuner Maestro Mic, all cables, start-up manuals (full manuals are on line) Original boxes $2,000 shipped E-Mail

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	The Gibson Girl Radio SCR-578. This radio was used on B-17 and B-24 bombers and got its name because their narrow waist reminded people of the young ladies drawn by illustrator Charles Dana Gibson. The Gibson Girl radio set was a hand powered emergency transmitter ruggedly designed for use in a life raft or small boat. Use of the Gibson Girl enabled rescue crews to locate survivors of ship or aircraft emergencies. The SCR-578 and its accessories were bright yellow-orange in color and the unit would float if placed in the water. The Gibson Girl Emergency Transmitter was included with abandon ship provisions in life rafts. It was also packaged with a parachute so it could be dropped to survivors in the water. The Gibson Girl is operated by holding it between the knees while cranking the internal generator by hand. It can be set to automatically transmit an SOS signal or manual keying can be used to send a message. The Gibson Girl design was based on a captured German emergency transmitter called the Notsender NS2, easily recognizable with the same hourglass shape. The British designed an improved version, but lacked the manufacturing capacity. A contract was let to Bendix Aviation for an American version, the Radio Set SCR-578-A. Bendix began deliveries in May 1942. The updated AN/CRT-3 became available in 1945. The Gibson Girl transmitters were used by military and civilian aircraft and ships into the 1960s. The Gibson Girl Emergency Transmitter was produced in two main versions: Radio Set SCR-578 broadcast on a single frequency of 500 kc, for reaching locally operating ships and aircraft. There were two versions, SCR-578-A and SCR-578-B. Radio Set AN/CRT-3 broadcast on 500 kc or 8280 kc frequencies. The 8280 kc signal reached base stations at longer range. Visually identical to SCR-578. Some models of the AN/CRT-3 operated at 8364 kc instead of 8280 kc. All Gibson Girl frequencies are internationally reserved for distress signals. The Gibson Girl transmitter can be operated by untrained personnel, following instructions printed on the radio's case. To facilitate operations under all conditions, the full kit of Gibson Girl radio equipment includes: - Radio Transmitter BC-778-A (SCR-578) or T-74/CRT-3 (for AN/CRT-3) - Hand Crank GC-18-A to operate the internal generator - Reel RL-48 inside a front-panel door holds 800 ft. of antenna wire W-148 - Kite M-277-A, folding metal frame box kite to raise the antenna in wind - Balloon M-278-A, for use when wind is insufficient for the kite - Generator M-315-A, produces hydrogen to inflate the balloon to 4 ft in diameter - Signal Lamp M-308-A, to communicate locally with rescue crews - Parachute M-390-A - Bag BG-109-A (Cylinder bag containing Kite assembly, 2 balloons, 2 hydrogen generators, signal lamp, wire) - Bag BG-110-A (Cube shape bag containing Gibson Girl radio and crank with parachute in pouch on top) Note that not all these accessories are included with this set, please look at photos to see what is specifically included. The total weight of the radio and all accessories is 33 pounds. The suffix letters changed as manufacturing developed improvements. For example, the M-390-A parachute (untreated rayon) was superseded by the M-390-B (tropicalized nylon). Other changes included packing all components into a single cube shaped bag BG-155-A for the AN/CRT-3 model. The balloon was inflated by connecting the hydrogen generator inflating tube to the balloon, then immersing the hydrogen generator in water. The chemical reaction that produced the hydrogen also produced a lot of heat, so caution was required. $150.00 O.B.O. E-Mail


	Precision Signal Generator circa 1958 Works. $200.00 O.B.O. E-Mail


	Outdoor Pan /Tilt Rotor originally made for CCTV but would handle a couple of small Yagis for satellite work. This is new in the original box. The control box can be found online for about $100.00. I am asking $150.00 or Best Offer for the rotor. E-Mail


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THIS IS A KIT - YOU WILL HAVE TO ASSEMBLE. The kit includes all parts needed to build the project, including a heavy metal case. The project is based around an Arduino Nano, which runs a modified version of the K3NG Winkey software. Support has been added for SO2R and can communicate with logging software natively as a Winkey device, or using the SO2R Mini Connector. The connector is a small piece of software that translates your logging software OTRSP (Open Two Radio Switching Protocol) and Winkey into a single stream for the device. The hardware and software are fully published, allowing the end-user to customize the device as they see fit.	Assembly is easy and quick. From start to finish, the average kit builder should be able to complete the kit in an hour. Modest skills are required, there are no surface mount ICs or RF connectors. The kit contains everything needed to build a functioning unit. $40.00 E-Mail	For more technical users, I2C and Aux buses are available, allowing for inter-device communication, as well as GPIO, for extra features, like interlocking, multi-paddle, band data, and antenna outputs, RTTY generation, and more. There are also pins available for LED indicators of transmitting and receive status. The SO2R Mini is designed to be an inexpensive, yet complete and flexible solution for SO2R contesting. Similarly, the SO2RM can act as a Winkey by itself. This tiny box measures only 10cm long and 5cm tall. All input connectors are 3.5mm TRS jacks. Separate jacks are provided for all inputs, with paddle and PTT outputs combined on a common jack, allowing for a stereo splitting cable to be used for most traditional radios. The SO2R Mini is powered by USB and requires a computer connected for full functionality. When no power is applied, the box automatically shifts transmit and receive audio focus to radio one, although PTT and CW signals are not passed. If the user desires the ability to forgo the computer, the SO2R Mini can be expanded to support transmit and receive control switches and a potentiometer for CW speed control. These features are supported on the circuit board and in software. Just add your own pot and switches.

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