Note
QST, Sep 1953, p. 123.
QST, Dec 1954, p. 87. (3057 for 12 VDC)
QST, Oct 1955, p. 93. (with dimensions)
QST, Aug 1956, p. 79 ("B" version)
Walter Ashe catalog 1957 (probably issued in 1956), p. 8. (knob kit)
Sometimes referred to as the "deluxe" model. See, for example ,QST, Aug 1954, p. 82.
Gonset introduced the original Communicator in December 1952. The Communicator II model followed in September 1953.
There are two versions of the Communicator II. These are the original Communicator II, released in 1953, and a "B" version released in 1954. Importantly, the “B” version was never actually referred to with that suffix, except on schematics.
An "industrial" Communicator was introduced along with the "II" model. (See separate entry.)
Early production of the Communicator II units were labeled only as "Communicator." The "Communicator II" label came a bit later. In either case, the definitive tell for a Communicator II is the presence of a squelch control (at left of the tuning dial) and a headphone jack.
The initial version of the "II" was for 2 meters, but a year later a Communicator II for 6 meters appeared, as did 12 VDC power supplies. The set weighed 20 lbs., and AM phone power output was 5–7 watts from the 2E26 final, using high-level plate modulation, and crystals in the 8 MHz range. It uses a 10-tube superhet receiver with cascode RF, and three stages of IF.
Uses 8 MHz crystals, which were abundantly available as war surplus.
The primary difference in the "II" model was the addition of a squelch circuit, but there were other smaller differences. These include:
– A headphone jack with speaker cut-off.
– An on-off switch for the dial light.
– Ventilation screens of the cabinet top.
The Communicator II still provided for only one crystal.
In December 1954, Gonset added a 12 VDC power supply option. It is important to understand that the Communicator II series did not accommodate both 6 AND 12 volt operation, but 6 OR 12 volts. There were separate models for each:
Model 3025 (3025B) (for 6 VDC and 120 VAC)
Model 3057 (3057B) (for 12 VDC and 120 VAC)
The Communicator IIB
The first time a Communicator II was shown with four crystals was in the August 1956 issue of QST. There was no specific mention of this upgrade in the ad, but this is the defining feature of the "B" series.
The provision for four crystals was the defining feature of the "B" series.
The "B" was never referred to in advertising with the "B" nomenclature. Both versions of the Communicator II only used the "II" suffix.
References
Technical description. Radio News, May 1954, p. 63.
