An original U.S. Army Signal Corps RT-196/PRC-6 "Handie-Talkie" transceiver.
Developed by Raytheon as the FM successor to the iconic WWII AM SCR-536, the PRC-6 became the primary squad-level tactical radio during the late Korean War and early Vietnam War eras.
This specific unit features an extremely desirable 1951 procurement contract plate (Order No. 16824-PH-51), manufactured under military contract by the Emerson Radio and Phonograph Corporation.
The interior chassis components showcase the original Raytheon manufacturer stamps, making this a fantastic textbook example of early-1950s production.
Condition Details
Exterior: Overall very good, field-used cosmetic condition with authentic wear, minor scuffs, and paint chips to the olive-drab magnesium alloy casing.
Features genuine hand-painted tactical unit inventory markings (CR-11266 / 21 KIE / 48), adding immense historical character.
Controls & Components: The external volume knob, INT/OFF/EXT audio routing switch, side push-to-talk actuation assembly, and internal filament safety interlock plunger are all intact and move freely.
The auxiliary connector cap is present and secured by its original metallic bead chain.
Strap & Antenna: Includes the original, hard-to-find Olive Drab (OD) green cotton-canvas webbing hand strap with correct mounting brackets.
The long, flexible steel whip antenna is fully intact and straight.
Interior: Open the side latches to reveal an exceptionally clean, pristine interior.
Zero battery acid leakage, rust, or corrosion.
The maroon BA-270/U battery retainer plate text and circular pinout diagram are sharp and perfectly legible.
The inner front cover retains both its technical Modification Work Orders (MWO) decal and the bright yellow frequency calibration/tuning guide.
Electronics Deck: The main chassis deck retains its original subminiature glass vacuum tubes and the distinct bright orange 9-socket crystal matrix blocks.
The heavy rubber alignment pin cable is in excellent condition.
Technical & Operating Specifications
Type: Single-channel, crystal-controlled wide-band FM Transceiver
Frequency Range: 47.0 to 55.4 MHz (Megacycles / Megahertz)
Tube Lineup: Uses 13 subminiature vacuum tubes (1AD4, 5678, 5672)
Power Requirement: Legacy BA-270/U multi-voltage dry battery (1.5V, 4.5V, 45V, 90V)
Operational Status
UNTESTED: This unit is being sold as a historical collectible in as-is condition.
Due to the requirement of a multi-voltage legacy BA-270/U battery (long out of production), the electronics have not been tested for transmission or reception.
Given the remarkably clean state of the interior deck, it serves as an ideal candidate for a solid-state battery inverter conversion or as a premium museum-grade display piece.
The photographs are of the actual item and form part of the description.
Please examine the photographs carefully and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.
