The Paraset Club
"The “Paraset” is a compact, portable, extremely simple yet rugged radio transmitter and receiver developed by UK scientists and engineers, some of whom were radio amateurs, at the Government research establishment at Whaddon, Cambridgeshire in the early stages of the Second World War. The set is known as the Whaddon MkVII and was used for clandestine radio communication primarily in Norway and Europe.
The equipment is known as the “Paraset” because it was dropped by parachute either with, or to agents operating in the field.
The Paraset Club was founded by Adrian, G4GDR and Tom, G3EFY (RSARS 539) in 2006 and comprises a small group of radio amateurs committed to the following Aims:
THE WIRELESS SET No.19, would you believe, has its own Web Site! And there's much activity with and about them. Many of you practically "lived" in one at some time or other during your Service, especially if you were a Radio Mech with Royal Signals ("Hear! Hear! you cry) - so, an easy nostalgia trip for you (the magnificent photographs make one positively drool!) if you go visit this wonderful store in cyberspace - RQMS (Acting) is Bob, VE3BDB and very handy with the pen for the chits is Chris, VE3CBK. Don't miss out on this opportunity to visit and email this very active Group. We learned last year from Dave, VA3ORP that there has been a major upgrade effected to the site by Bob, VE3BDB so it will pay you to go visit again if you think "I've been there". The upsurge in activity for 2000 is well worth taking note of whether you can participate or not.
There are more stories of the 19-Set in Memories of the ACF/CCF National Radio Network by AF9K and many contributions to this article (which is well illustrated) from former Cadets who used this "magnificent machine", and many of whom now are (as a result maybe?) radio amateurs all these years later.
The Vintage Military Wireless Collection and Information Resource of Martin, G4NCE inevitably covers our old friend the WS19 but it also has a comprehensive coverage of many other similar and contemporary sets, together with useful links.
A Beginners Vintage Radio Collection is Terry Judkin's comprehensive and wonderfully interesting fledgling website.
The "Signals Collection '40-'45" also inevitably includes the 19-Set and is a Dutch foundation which aims to conserve and preserve Allied Army, Navy & Air Force radio and radar equipment which was used or built by the allies during the WWII. The details are collected and published here by Jan & Paul Bodifée.
On these pages they give you an idea of their collection, and give you much detailed information about the Allied radio and radar equipment. In addition to wireless sets there is coverage of "Line and Visual", Radio Vehicles, special coverage of the Lancaster Bomber, Naval radio items and many other topics of interest to ex-Servicemen of whatever branch.
New is the Radio & Radar Discusion Forum. Here you can put your questions or share your information or stories to all readers, on everything related to allied radio and radar equipment.
The website known as the IEEE VIRTUAL MUSEUM is premised on the belief that examining what was increases our understanding of what is. It explores the global social impact of electrical and information sciences and technologies and demonstrates the relevance of engineering and engineers to society. Designed for educators, pre-college students, and the general public, the virtual museum debuted with two exhibits. The first, Socket to Me! How Electricity Came to Be examines the early history of electricity and how it has been used in fields such as communications, computing, laser technology, and medicine. The second, The Beat Goes On: How Sounds are Recorded and Played explores sound recording from the early days of the phonograph to digital recording and distribution. Recent exhibitions include Microwaves and World War II: How War Impacted Technology. Exhibits feature interactive features and animations, audio and video clips, and images of artifacts and historical social events.
Classicwireless.co.uk is the site devoted solely to the classic years of British Valve (Tube) Wireless. With a special emphasis on Murphy Radio, including pictures of dozens of their greatest mains receivers. Also featured are classic examples of receivers from many other manufacturers, like the black and chrome Ekco's and rare radios from companies such as Pegasus. The site graphics have been kept simple to facilitate fast downloads, after all, these classic wireless receivers don’t need any further embellishment! Further pages will arrive in due course, so check back often to see what is new.
This site features approximately 171 pages with about 750 images.
ANTIQUE RADIO CLASSIFIED is a monthly national American publication for buying and selling old radios and related equipment. Link to the world of antique radio collecting, its activities, and the publication and products of Antique Radio Classified. Covers old radio, TV, telegraph, amateur/ham radio, high fidelity/hi-fi & audio. Antique Radio Classified provides this free site and encourages Web site users to visit our marketplace of about 100 books and videos related to collecting old radios. (Thee carry several excellent price guides.) Of course, new subscriptions are encouraged, too. Non-subscribers, can ask for a free sample copy via a link on the website.
The North Norfolk Amateur Radio Group is located in the "Radio Hut" at the Muckleburgh Collection, a privately owned military museum at Weybourne, on the North Norfolk coast.
It maintains and exhibits a unique collection of vintage radio and other communications equipment, dating back before the Second World War, which is open to the public.
The Group also operates a modern and a 'vintage' amateur radio station, callsign GB2MC, and promotes amateur radio as a hobby to interested visitors. Full details on website.
Here is the story of the Wireless Set No. 10, a mobile transmitter and receiver, which allowed the Allied Expeditionary Force to communicate with their main headquarters as they pursued the German army through the Low Countries and into Germany. An important source of information in recording the history of technology is the personal accounts of those involved in the design and operation of the WS10
An entire site dedicated to preserving the history of the Mk. 123 spy set starts with a personal welcome from its designer Matthew MØBUP and follows with a magnificent array of the set's history, photographs, a "virtual 123", diagrams, documents and links. The RSARS Journal "MERCURY" No.127 of November 2000 carried a 3-page article on the use of the set rather than how it worked by a former DWS user and RSARS Member, G4DTD.
A complete replica of a Lancaster bomber cockpit, navigation and radio areas -the radio and navigation equipment is in working order - has recently had added to it an A1 Mk4 Radar. The story of the construction of the Pilot's, Navigator's and Radio Operator's section of the Avro Lancaster Bomber of WWII can be seen on the Web.
Where is it to be seen in reality? The Lancaster project is now complete apart from some plumbing and wiring and, together with their Vintage Radio room and other exhibits, wiring can be seen at Pitstone Farm Museum, a small museum in the village of Pitstone, Nr. Leighton, on the Bedfordshire/Buckinghamshire borders in the U.K.
Open days are Bank Holiday Mondays and Easter Monday (Museum only) and the second Sunday in June, July, August and September when there are Craft and Family Days.
E-mail the MUSEUM MANAGER or telephone 01582-605464 to confirm opening times before travelling to visit.
All you need to know about Clansman, Larkspur, Bowman, Ptarmigan, SATCOM and other MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS matters is available on the Web either on the MoD (Army) pages or those of the civilian specialists.
THE NATIONAL VALVE MUSEUM - "This museum exists to preserve our heritage of the early days of the electronic age when the wireless set had to warm-up, and, viewed through the perforated back of all electronic equipment, could be seen the dull red glow of the valves inside." Under "Collection" the 506 fully databased Exhibits (over 1200 valve names) are catalogued with Visual Indexes.
Under "Articles" we find: 'The Story of the Valve makes a perfect introduction to the valve and its history, Metal Striptease! We undress an American 6J5, and The first all Valve Computer The Colossus Rebuild at Bletchley Park.'
And under "Reference" there is 'What's this valve? Visit our Equivalents pages for 4000 fully cross referenced valves (Includes British CV types and pre-WW2 Armed Forces designations).'
THE VINTAGE AND MILITARY AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY show information about itself together with articles from its members, and For Sale and Wanted advertisements. They aspire to becoming the definitive guide to commercial and military vintage equipment restoration and use.
The NEW ZEALAND VINTAGE RADIO SOCIETY are worthy of a visit via this link. The NZVRS was formed in 1979 by a small group of enthusiasts who believed there were then enough people interested in "vintage" radio to warrant the formation of an of organisation to cater for their needs. The main aim of the Society is to encourage the preservation of all types of early radio equipment together with associated documentary material, particularly anything connected with the history of radio in New Zealand.
Old BBC EQUIPMENT and MEMORIES from contributors all of whom are retired from the Corporation are awesome in the nostalgic atmosphere they so clearly conjure in one's mind - a truly fascinating website - and there are links back to Alexander Palace 1952 etc. A lovely site to browse and thoroughly recommended.
THE ANTIQUE ELECTRONIC SUPPLY Company are American and their site includes information on radio-related publications, yet more valves, and components. They are located in Arizona and can be reached by e-mail.
THE VINTAGE RADIO EMPORIUM enthusiasts can enjoy wistful whisperings of wireless - (no black-boxes) - (on second thoughts Bakelite perhaps?) on a website now available.
Great War Telephone Equipment 1914-1918: British Field Radio (Great War) are only a tiny fraction of the mass of material including equipment and personalities of THE GREAT WAR honoured indeed by this website.
BRITISH ARMY BADGES are only one of many available items from EG Frames of 7 Saffron, Amington, Tamworth, Staffordshire B77 4EP - Tel/Fax 01827 63900. The badges are framed with the unit tie colours as a background in an extremely presentable style. They (and tie-pins, cuff-links and tie-slides to name but a few) can be ordered on line easily and safely. There are links to other military sites and the World Militaria Webring. Please note that the Site is moving to a new Domain shortly.
Military Equipment on the Web is the byline for MILWEB who offer a wide range of military vehicle collectors' items for sale in their "Vehicle Park", Clothing, Uniforms and Equipment from their "Quartermaster", they have full details of the UK's military vehicle traders, an area for "New Recruits" to report to, and advertisements galore including those you can introduce yourself for military equipment items - this service is FREE.
Available for most equipment from valve radios to video recorders, including TVs, PCs, Test Gear, Amateur Radio and so on are the SERVICE MANUALS available from MAURITRON TECHNICAL SERVICES of 8 Cherry Tree Road, Chinnor, Oxfordshire OX9 4QY (Telephone: 01844 351 694) or via e-mail. They also offer their complete catalogue of Manuals and Technical Books available on diskette by post (please send 4 x 1st Class stamps).
Maybe more MANUALS for downloading than you'd bargained for or expected are to be found here. An obviously Russian website but covering Yaesu, Kenwood, Trio and many, many more in its listing. Quite a number in PDF format and some in a rather strange format but the Reader therefor is available for download from the site.
A magnificent website comprising in excess of 300 pages full of radio and electronic topics from ancient times to modern equipment is that edited by Ian Poole of Adrio Communications Ltd - described as "the resource centre for free tutorials, information, data, articles and news about radio and electronics technology with a mix of informative overviews along with more in-depth investigations of radio and electronics topics, news and technology."
The Piscator Military Collection includes "Character Coasters" military stereotypes to make you chuckle they say. The sales are in aid of the Army's Central Charity - the Army Benevolent Fund and at £16 per set (8 coasters) or Regimental and Corps capbadge coasters in sets of four for £10. Obtainable from The Coaster Company, 1 Spring Court Lane South, Malvern, WR14 1AT