G & G Radio Supply Company
October 1953 Radio & Television News

October 1953 Radio & Television News

[Table of Contents] Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio & Television News, published 1919-1959. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.

If only eBay had been around at the end of World War II, this surplus equipment would have dominated the electronics and electromechanical gizmo categories. Electronics magazines of the post-WWII era were filled for years with advertisements like this one from G & G Radio Supply Company in a 1953 issue of Radio & Television News magazine. That B-29 bomb sight, like the one used on the Enola Gay, could be purchased brand new for a scant $295, which even in equivalent 2025 dollars of $3,524 (per the BLS), is a steal. This is not the famous Norden bomb sight, but it's still a sweet collector's item, which is available on eBay today if you would like to own one. Already have a B-29 bombsight? How about a complete IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) secondary radar system? For a mere $350 you could have owned a complete rack of RC-188-A equipment, including the rack and chassis, a 450 W power supply, a 157-185 MHz transceiver (not in the Ham bands), a 5" CRT display, and a slew of vacuum tubes and components.

G & G Radio Supply Company Ad

Famous B-29 Bomb Sight

Assembled by Sperry Gyroscope Co.

• Experimenters

• Physicists

• Schools

• Research Men

• Mechanics

• Opticians

• Laboratories

• Tech Institutes

• Engineers

• Repairmen

• Manufacturers

• Electricians

Recently declared a war surplus item, this bomb-sight is now selling at a ridiculously low price! As parts or as precision units, this P-4 Computer can be used to make instrument and machinery repairs, in manufacturing and assembling, in home and industrial workshops. It can be used in teaching aeronautics. engineering, navigation, physics, optics, mechanics, etc.

Comes in three units - the main body and two attachable periscopes, 22 and 68 inches high, alternate parts of an intricate optical system made by Eastman-Kodak Co. Main body is 35x25x14 inches. Contains at least 8 27 VDC motors, electric heater and temp. control, precision sextant, dozens of switches and controls, hundreds of fine gears and driving rods all types. Shipping wt. 250 lbs.

Cost to U. S. Govt. $21,000.

Your Cost Brand New ... $295.00

Sensational Smash Value!

New Complete I.F.F. Equipment RC-188-A

Bargain opportunity of a lifetime! This I.F.F. equipment originally cost about $20,000 ... now buy it for a tiny fraction of cost! Easily converted for Television. Complete assembly consists of Control unit with 5" C.R. Tube, transmitter and receiver assembly (157 to 185 Mc). Indicator unit, and Power Supply (450 watts), operating on 110 volts, 60 cycles AC. All assembled, ready to operate. 62 Tubes included: 8-6V6GT. 9-6SL7GT, 14-6SN7GT, 1-5CP1, 2-9006, 1-6Y6G, 2-6E5, 1-100TH, 2-6J5, 2-2C26, 1-3E29, 1-6H6, 7-6AG5, 3-6AK5, 1-6C4, 3-2X2, 1-6X5GT, 3-5U4GT. Overall size 55" high, 28" wide, 20 1/2" deep. Shpg. weight 855 lbs. Your cost, complete, Brand New, in original packing. $350.00