US Army SCR 536 radio receiver and transmitter BC-611-F

US Army hand held, battery operated radio receiver and transmitter BC-611-F, known as a 'Walkie Talkie' or 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. There is a circular symbol in orange paint on the base section. 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. On the card is, 'FREQ 3085 KC CHANNEL 5397-5 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 12817 ORDER NO. 8259-PHILA-45-01 MADE BY ELECTRICAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES INC. EVANSTON ILLINOIS'. Below this plate are some illegible characters in orange paint. An olive drab adjustable webbing carry strap is attached to the unit. There are no batteries with this unit.

This is an example of a later model 'F' of the well known US Army radio receiver and transmitter BC-611 'walkie-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.