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One of my Favorite radios
RCA MI-8751 P/O SCR-288
The Swedish Set
RCA MI-8751 Transmitter Receiver - Part of SCR-288

(FY 1941)

Change kept altering the procurement outlook as much as delay.  Orders for 3,855 of the SCR-131's, 161's, and 171's which had been "critical" in June simply because nothing else was ready were canceled late in the year in favor of SCR-288's.  This was the set which the Swedish Government had ordered; the manufacturer was tooled up for it; and until production could begin on the new American sets which were due to replace the old series, it made an acceptable stopgap.  Accordingly, the supply program classified it under "limited procurement" and the 131, 161, and 171 under "limited standard."

From: 

U.S. Army in World War II, The technical Services, The Signal Corps:  The Emergency. p248





Earliest pictures of SCR-288 - Ft. Monmouth July 1940.










Pictures From: SKYWAVES HOME PAGE




Note that there is only one phone jack on the receiver, and only one cable coming out of the transmitter.  The front panel says AVR-xxx Receiver, and the receiver apparently has two crystal control positions.  The whole set is strikingly similar the the AVR-21 aviation radio shown below.





RCA AVR-21 aviation radio
"Production" MI-8751




  • The front panel is two pieces and has RCA "meatball" markings.
  • The reciever crystal control have been eliminated.
  • Panels have been patched to add a second phone jack, and extra cables.
  • Paint is distinctly grey in sunlight.
  • SCR-288 marking hidden inside case.
BC-474 p/o SCR-288





  • The front panel is now all one piece.
  • The case is heavier, and is painted olive drab.
  • Of course, the RCA "meatballs" are not present.
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