As I recall (haven't since the picture, but if memory serves
correct) these were the same two-way intercom units that we used
when I was a volunteer fireman on our aerial ladder trucks. The unit
is an all-weather hands free mic/speaker combination. All you had to
do was talk into it and it was voice activated. Worked quite well
for communication from the tip of the ladder back down the the
operator on the turntable. I can recall seeing them in some loco
photos and thinking - hey, this makes sense since you don't have to
key a mike, they work well even when there is a lot of ambient noise
(such as on a fireground or locomotive), and they are impervious to
weather.
Tom Mack
--- In BRHSlist@yahoogroups.com, "Russell Strodtz" <vlbg@e...> wrote:
> All,
>
> Someone asked a while back about the device that looked
> like a speaker mounted on the front of a unit.
>
> In the days before portable radios this was a way for
> the Switch Foreman or Switchman to keep in touch with
> what was going on. It was both a speaker and microphone.
>
> At Cicero Yard there was a similar system mounted on
> metal poles along both sides of the bowl. Do not know
> for sure what technology was used. Think that it was more
> like an open intercom system that did not broadcast on
> the radio.
>
> Even in the mid 60's not all the units had radios and
> useable portables were few and far between.
>
> If you want to see a more direct view of the device try
> page 77 of "Chesapeake & Ohio Diesel Locomotives" by
> the C&O Historical Society. Perfect front view of PM 62.
>
> Russ
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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