The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-11-08
War Time Radio, Radar
Groon1ed For Ne,v Roles
BY WILLIAM ]. CONWAY
APP News Features Writer

By WILLIAM ]. CONWAY
APP News Features Writer
CHICAGO, Nov. T. R War
time radar and radio brain chill
dren are being groomed for peace
time jobs,
Some radio manufacturers IN
the Chicago area, where half the
radar and communications equip
ment for the armed forces was
produced, foresee such develop
ments as these:
Anti-collision apparatus for
ships, planes and trains.
Portable radiotelephones based
on the military Walkie Talne
principle that could be used TO
keep a chief in contact with IRE
men in a burning building, to d.
rect ushers in ball parks, to con-
vey messages to field workers
on big farms.
Mobile Radio Units - Radio
stations mounted on trucks like
those which logged Rommels
heels in the chase across Africa
that could operate in tornado,
flood ad forest fire regions.
Streamlined sending and recelv-
ing sets for light aircraft and
small boats.
Coat pocket radios with an ear
attachment that would enable the
owner to listen to a broadcast on
: the street, at his desk or at
football game without disturbing
the people around him.
Experts who noted how radar
detected enemy aerial and naval
craft predicted it would be en-
ployed in peace to guide planes
and ships safely through fog, storm
and night.
Now President William j. Hal
ligan says the Hallicrafters Com
pany will develop a device for
ships, planes and. trains designed
to prevent collisions. The idea, as
he outlines it, is this:
1t would blend the magic OF
radar and the proximity fuse,
war device which set off shells as
they neared their target. The in
strument would shoot radio pulses
into the darkness ahead, and would
give an alarm when it got within
IA predetermined distance Of a
hazard. If, for instance, a plane
come within the danger range
of a mountain, the proximity fuse
would cause a light to flash or a
bell to ring. The pilot would climb
to safety. It would not be as elab-
crate or as expensive as war
radar.
The Calvin Manufa cturing Corp
Grafton, pioneer in the military
Handle Talkie field, is engaged
in postwar experimental devel-
opment focused on the ultra high
frequency citizens radio band Of
400 to 40 megacycles. The firm
reports such paraphernalia has
limited civilian use at this time,
but would prove valuable to fire
men and policemen in fighting
fires, controlling crowds, and I'M
snarling traffic jams.
The Hallicrafters concern has
a mockup mode Of a portable
radio-telephone along the Handle
Talkie line. It ran be carried in
a handbag suspended from
shoulder strap. The joint earpiece
and mouth-piece resembles the
head set of a cradle telephone, and
can be lifted out of the bag when
in use. Another laboratory model
can be carried In brief case.
The company labels these con.
+, trivances ''futuristic,' but states
they could be used by spoilers to
send information to the coach's
bench At football games, to re-
port performances to press Sec
tons at golf tournaments and track
meets, to communicate with work
men in sewers and tunnels.
War-developed tubes of pencil
top size will facilitate the manu-
facture Of miniature radios.
The Sentinel Radio Corporation
is planning production of a peck
ct edition radio measuring six
by three by seven-eighths inches.
The firm reports that, with the
receiver in a pocket or purse and
a listening attachment like a
hearing aid, the owner could hear
broadcast in privacy.
The Hallicrafters Company fig
ures on producing a radio receiv.
er and transmitter, together weigh
ing eleven pounds, for small
planes and boats in which weight
is an important factor.
The Rock Island Lines offer an
example Of early application of
war-tested techniques. The rail-