A friend of mine owned a C12 set. Unfortunately, I was never lucky enough to own one. However, I did own several WS 19 sets. Nowhere near as good as the C12 but they were reliable and fun to modify and use.
The Pye Wireless Set C12 was a British Army HF valve radio transmitter and receiver introduced in 1955. Designed and developed by Pye, it was widely used for military communications during the 1950s, 1960s and into the 1970s.
The C12 was developed to replace the famous wartime Wireless Set No. 19, particularly in armoured fighting vehicles. It became an important transitional radio between Second World War equipment and the post-war Larkspur military radio system. Unlike modern military radios, the C12 used thermionic valves, mechanical frequency tuning and a separate high-voltage power supply.
One of the most interesting features of the C12 was its ability to change rapidly between two preselected frequencies. The front panel featured distinctive blue and red tuning controls. Each of the two frequency settings could be adjusted independently. The operator could then change between them using an electromechanical switching mechanism. This was particularly useful in armoured vehicles, where a crew might need to switch between different command networks without manually retuning the complete radio.
The aerial tuning unit also incorporated switching arrangements to accommodate the selected frequency. The C12 was designed primarily for vehicle operation.
The original power supply units used a combination of:
- An electromechanical vibrator generating approximately 250V HT for the receiver.
- A rotary transformer generating approximately 400V HT for the transmitter.
- A 12V or 24V vehicle battery as the primary supply.
Early 24V power units could become extremely hot, and some required additional cooling fans.
During the early 1960s, transistorised power supplies became available, replacing much of the original electromechanical conversion equipment.
The C12 was used in armoured vehicles and military Land Rovers, providing communications between vehicles, commanders and headquarters. It also provided internal crew intercommunication through suitable control harnesses.
The radio could operate with vertical aerials between 8 and 32 feet long, or a 100-foot wire aerial for longer-distance work. Actual communication range depended on aerial arrangements, operating frequency, terrain and propagation conditions.
Does anyone have a photo of the C12 that I could use on my website?