Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Hirst, who writes with another mystery radio to identify:
This radio (see photo above) is featured in the mid 1970’s TV show ‘The New Avengers’, an episode called “To Catch a Rat”. Mysterious morse code messages are being intercepted in this scene.
Can you help Mark identify this radio model? Is it even a radio or is it simply a speaker? Please comment if you can ID this one!
I’ll add this post to our (massive) archive of radios in film.
It is a KW2000CAT – I should know as I designed it! I joined KW in 2070 and my first project was to design the new KW2000T amateur band transceiver (T for transistor, as this was to be the first solid state radio from KW). The design was based on the Plessy SL600 series of integrated circuits which had been designed for the British Clansman series of radios. I had a prototype working – even had a few QSOs with it – but then Rowley, G8KW the owner of KW) said he needed a commercial version – 4 channel ssb radio to take over from the KW2000CA, so the CAT was born. I left the company in 1973 and handed the project over to Peter G3RZP who completed it and saw it into production. Whilst I was at KW I also designed the KW2000D of which only 2 were ever made – one is at Bletchley Park and was gifted to RSGB by G8KW, and the other one I had but stupidly sold some years ago. I also designed the KW108 Monitorscope. I moved on to International Marine Radio Co in Croyden where I had a brilliant 10 years desiging all types of receivers and transmitters and working my way upto Chief Engineer. Hope that is of interest. Phil zl3pah ex g3uvz
100% a Decca/KW Marine version, made in Kent UK by G8KW
Looking at the rig, it may be a tube CB radio, the panel resembles the ones from “Johnson Viking Messenger”, “Cobra CAM 88” and some “Sonar” brand radios, some of those old transceivers didn’t have a dial but just a rotary switch to select the quartz and set the “channel”, can’t identify it, but I believe that looking at some old CB transceiver pics (possibly the most used ones in UK) could allow identifying the rig
It’s a KW200CAT, the commercial user version of the well known amateur KW2000 series.
More info here http://www.g3zps.com/kwother.html .
I believe Mark has a winner!!!
It is a Decca KW2000 Cat
Looks like a “Hot water”HW Heathkit cabinet, but color is off, and early 60’s Olsun Electronics CB speaker grill and possibly knobs- not sure though.
It looks like a Gonset FM radio but it is painted like Collins would have been.
There were crystal controlled SSB transceivers for commercial use. Not seen by hobbyists except as surplus.
With no tuning knob and dial, and yes it looks like a speaker in the middle, I’d guess that.
If it was voice, and no headphones, there were endless two way FM rigs.
But tv and movies don’t have to be accurate. It could be something repurposed as a prop (so doesn’t have to be a radio) or a prop made up (Hammond, and I think LMB made cabinets styled like Collins and Healthkit rigs, so many people built accessories to match their commercial rigs).
The styling is pure Gonset, but I can’t find an exact match. Perhaps it’s a rare commercial or very late model.