US Army SCR 536 radio receiver and transmitter BC-611-F
Entry/Object ID
2023.73
Description
US Army hand held, battery operated radio receiver and transmitter BC-611-F, known as a 'Handy Talkie'. Housed in a rectangular olive drab aluminium body with an extendable aerial and aerial cover at the top of the unit. The base of the unit is secured with a latching bolt and opens on a hinge to provide internal access. This base section has a two-point socket for external headset and external microphone under a weatherproof flap.
On the main body are earphone and microphone units and a rubber-sealed 'press to talk' switch below which is a paper data card behind a plastic window. The card reads, 'FREQ', 'CHANNEL' and 'BAT. DATE'. Above the switch is stencilled in white, 'BEFORE OPERATING READ TM-11-235'. Secured above the mouthpiece is a maker's plate with, 'SIGNAL CORPS U.S. ARMY RADIO RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER BC-611-F SER NO: 14147 10531-PHILA-45-01 GALVIN MFG, CORPORATION CHICAGO ILLINOIS'. Below this plate in orange paint is the number, SC559/A
An olive drab adjustable webbing carry strap is attached to the unit, showing wear. There are no batteries with this unit.
This version was manufactured in late WW2, as it includes the "loop antenna accessory" which was used as a direction finder.
The Galvin Manufacturing Corporation became Motorola, manufacturer of the well known "MicroTac" series mobile phone, during the 1990s. The company used their WW2 heritage to great effect, in advertising material for their MicroTac mobile phones during that era.
Use
This is an example of a later model 'F' of the well known US Army radio receiver and transmitter BC-611 'Handy Talkie'. Developed in 1940, these radios were designed to provide light portable radio communications for ground troops within a range of about 1.6 km.
During WW2 they were used from 1942 onwards and the throughout the Korean War.
