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WWII Japanese Army Transceiver type 94-6
General Notes
The type 94-6 radio was originally developed for infantry use in 1935, though most examples found today date from the war years and were a later model. The set is a one valve unit with the UZ30 double triode housed in a metal case with a hinged lid at the front. A tiny circuit 6 x 6 cm and parts list as well as a tuning graph is fitted inside the lid. There were a series of accessories, with the whole housed in a single box for transport. The set covered AM and CW in 3 bands, 24 - 31, 28 - 36 & 34 - 46 mhz. The morse key is a button on the right side of the set and elaborate switching is used so that the one set of circuits could be used for either transmit or receive.
These sets were 18 x 8 x 13 cm in size and weigh just under 2 kg. Each component is marked clearly with its part number. The switches on the RHS were for Tx - Off - Rx and CW - RT. The morse button is also on the RHS. Other controls include the tuning capacitor and band switch on the top row with filament rheostat and BFO control below. The sets were powered by batteries for Rx and a hand generator for Tx giving 3v LT and 135v HT.
Collectability
These sets are very sought after items, especially with Japanese collectors and examples on internet auctions can go for many hundreds of dollars and even higher if accessories are also available.
Many sets in the US have had the identification labels on the front of the lid removed as troops were asked to detach and send these to the US help identify radios, though the benefit of this is not clear without the radio it matched!
Value is affected by general condition and the presence of the original plates, valve and components.
The sets are quite rare and were popular with Allied troops as souvenirs due to their small size. Bill Howard has written a number of in depth articles on the
94-6 set and other Japanese military radios of WWII.
Current Condition
This example is in quite good condition but has no accessories. The valve has been replaced with a similar US type 19 and one transformer has been replaced with a locally made one. When acquired, the cabinet had been repainted in a dull red in place of the original khaki, so I have repainted it in something nearer the original colour.
It does still have its identification plates, which date it to March 1941 (month 3 & year 6 from accession of the emperor in 1935). The plates show two serial numbers, 8428 in the centre and 16987 at the bottom, but it is not clear what they refer to. The original circuit and parts list is still present but the tuning graph is only a photocopy.
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Page maintained by
Simon Buxton VK2UA
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Created: 10/02/02 Updated: 20/08/2007
