Name/Title
RadioEntry/Object ID
2009.03.01Description
Oscar keys donated this item and brought in some literature about it:
Transmitter AN/CRT-3
Radio transmitter AN/CRT-3, popularly known as the "Gibson girl," is a rugged- emergency transmitter carried aboard ships and aircraft for use in lifeboats and liferafts is showed in figure 3-17. No receiving equipment is included.
The transmitter operates on the international distress frequency (500 kc) and the survival raft communication frequency (8364 kc). the complete radio transmitter, including the power supply, is contained in an aluminum cabinet that is airtight and waterproof. the cainet is shaped to fit between the operator;s legs, and has a strap for securing it to the operating position.
The only operating controls are the three position selector switch and a pushbuttom telegraph key. a handcrank screws into a socket in the top of the cabinet. the generator, automatic keying and automatic frequency changing are all operated by turning the handcrank. while the handcrank is being turned. the set automatically transmits the distress signal SOS in Morse code. the code sequence consisits of six groups of SOS followed by a 20 second dash, transmitted alternatelu on 500 kc and 8364 kc. the frequency automatically changes every 50 seconds.
These signals are intended for reception by two groups of stations, each having distinct rescue functions. Direction-finding stations cooperating in long range rescue operations normally make use of 8364 kc, whereas aircraft or ships locally engaged in search and rescue missions make use of the 500 kc signals. besides the automatic feature, the transmitter can be keyed manually, on 500 kc only, by means of the pushbuttom telegraph key,
Additional items (not shown) packaged with the transmitter include the antenna, a box kite, and balloons for supporting the antenna, hydrogen generating hemicals for inflating the balloons and a singal lamp that can be powered by the handcrank generator. the equipment floats, and is painted brilliant orange yellow to provie greatest visibility against dark backgrounds.
On the top it reads:
to use signal lamp
1. plug signal lamp in socket
2. set pointed to "signal light"
3. strap unit between legs
4. turn crank
NOTE: when signal lamp is used no radio signal transmitted
on the left there is morse code A-Z and 0-9
There are arrows pointed to the "radio output" and the "speed indicator keep lighted"
Right there is an image of a figure with the transmitter and about to use it
Bottom of the top reads:
1. install crank
2. set pointed to 500kc/8364 kc Automatic
3. raise full length of antenna by kite or balloon
4. strap unit between legs (see figure 1)
5. attach lead in to antenna
6. left ground wire into water
7. crank just fast enough to keep speed indicator lighted
8. keep cranking. keep speed indicator lighted
to send message by hand on 500 kc only set pointer to 500 kc manual and use key bottonCollection
Keys CollectionCondition
Overall Condition
FairDate Examined
Mar 22, 2009Examined By
Keira GruberNotes
Some paint chipping off (attached was a card with tape- has been removed), screws on top are rusted, front latch opens and closes with ease, Nobes turn with ease, nobe in bottom left of front unscrews with ease- inside a wire is broken off,