Description
Object description
BP5 clandestine transmitter and receiver, in black painted and textured boxes with removable lid secured by clasps. Second and third boxes contain power supply and ancilliary components.
Physical description
Receiver, transmitter, switch unit:
a) Rectangular metal box painted black and textured. The lid is removable, attached by two metal clasps. The casing is vented at the sides, and a distinctive strip of metal runs the length of the base. Inside is a receiver unit with a microphone. The microphone is rectangular with curved edges. A Black wire with a two pin plug is attached.
The unit inside is covered by a section of wooden chipboard vented with four rows of circular holes. A thin insulated wire is attached underneath this, the wires are exposed at the end. A thicker insulated wire is also attached underneath: this has a plug on the end. The plug is British made, with an inscription.
The unit inside is immovable, with one small switch turning from W to ZA, a small knob labelled 220 and a space missing a knob labelled 120. The word FUSE is also written on the top.
b) Black painted metal box. The paint is textured. The lid is hinged with a clasp at the end. The unit inside in a switch box with two power connectors. The inside is vented with two strips of two lines of circular holes.
c) Black painted metal box, textured. Vented with circular holes to the front and sides. The lid is hinged with a clasp, a strip of metal attached to the lid makes a tight seal.
Lid opens to reveal transmiter unit. The inner lid has insturctions glued in, written in Polish with diagrams. this has been damp at some point and is in poor condition.
A central dial is white and measures MILLIAMPERES. There are power connectors to the left, and a switch.
There are three knobs that are circular with fluted edges, like a flower. These surround a dial which is recessed into the box and covered with glass. Two of the knobs are labelled STR ODB and WZMOC. The central dial had a white arrow on, whcih indicates a number from 0 to 10on a scale marked on the box. This is labelled STR.MAD. Another is labelled STR.OSC without an arrow.
There are three other switches, but the writing is very faded and illegible. There is a small white light bulb indicator. On the right hand side are two knobs with black bakelite tops and clear glass or plastic beneath.
There is a 'PHONES' connector at the bottom of the front face. The set is also irregularly vented on the front face. There is a morse key to the bottom right corner.
History note
Polish clandestine Transmitter/receiver BP5, produced at Letchworth and in use in 1944.
A). Stamped into object in white.
c). Written on object.
a). 10H/13079 A.M.
c).APPARATUS BP5