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History of the Miniature Communications Reciever 1 Serial Number 73832
The following information and photographs have been donated to the Radio Officers' Association website, the donor wishes to remain anomynous at this time. We respect his wishes and convey our gratitude for his generosity.
This particular MCR1 suitcase transceiver was operational during the years 1944/45 by a then young lady, who is in her 90's and still reads morse! It was her personal equipment when she was a serving member of the British S.O.E in Norway. When she moved from safe house to another location she moved without the set. This was delivered later, usually again by a young female with a baby in a pram. The set was wrapped in soiled nappies, and placed in the bottom of the pram. The pram was inspected at checkpoints, but they were not interested in inspecting dirty nappies, so the MCR1 was thus delivered to the next safe house.
The MCR1 was used extensively in WWII, and had quite a history in the Far East and Europe.
The following two photographs are the operating instructions, for their age are in extremely good condition.
The photograph above shows the MCR1, this is the original case. The dimensions of the suitcase were 3.5 inches x 2.0 inches x 8.5 inches and the weight 2lbs. The power supply voltages were between 97 - 115 and 221 - 250 volts. It was also run from a battery source.
A view of the inside of the suitcase as seen by an operative in the field, all items are the originals.
The view above shows the headphones, which were made by the operative, they are spring loaded and quite small.
This view shows the coils and headphones, one of the coils is attached to the receiver, to the right of the large knob.
Complete MCR1 with all the coils removed.
Another view, this time showing the four plug in coils, headphones, operating instructions and the original aerial wire, here shown inside the headphones. Controls for the receiver, the large knob at the top right is for tuning, aerial trimmer bottom right sensitivty, bottom left reaction. The coils attached to the prongs on the top of the receiver.On the bottom of the is the earth, antenna and headphone and power connections.
A view of the four tuning coils, the frequency ranges being 100khz to 1600khz, 2.5mhz - 5.0mhz, 4.5mhz to 8.0 mhz and 8mhz to 15mhz.
Another view of the receiver without any coils attached.
The Museum project was mainly instigated by Stan MacNally, with the help of other ex Merchant Navy Radio Officers' Mike Goulbourne and John Hudson,and members of the
LMRES [Liverpool Marine Radio and Electronics Society] to whom we must owe our gratitude for saving the three full ships radio room equipments. The equipments available for public display are Marconi and Kelvin Hughes types.
Collection of Ships and Associated Radio Rooms
M.V.Berkshire/GYZK [B.1970] Car cum Bulk carrier.
Sister vessels Cheshire/GYZJ Oxfordshire/GYZH.