From the Chinese “Peoples” “Liberation” Army….Got it…
They were used in pairs to send morse code signals over infantry field telephone wire. It required both a 45 volt and a 1.5 volt dry cell battery to operate. Shown below with a U.S. GI telegraph key, the set also needed an appropriate high impedance headset to operate.
(It has similar function as the 1930’s US Army TG-5 wired telegraph sets of WWII although those did not utilize a vacuum tube circuit, just a simple buzzer.)
The tube in the Type 63 is a 1K2 pentode, a Chinese copy of the 1AJ4. There is a spare tube inside the case. Nice.
The tube shield in this NOS example has what appears to be a date code: 6912. December 1969? The tube itself has a “70” label. 1970? Seems about right. The manual has a date stamp of 1969. As with the AK-47, the 63 in Type 63 may indicate its initial deployment date, 1963.
The manual is of course in “Chinese” however there are a few Cryllic characters present on other pages. Indicating a probable Russian connection with the design.
ChiCom Type 63 Manual pages
Photo courtesy NF6X
The Form, Fit and Finish of the set is good as is the environmental protection when the cover is closed. The interior is laid out for good serviceability and it appears to me that it is made from indigenously sourced components. The interior metal work is chromate passivated however some of the metal parts may have been machined with a dull rock. Lots of crude tooling marks. Like the Soviets, they didn’t put any effort into anything that was not absolutely essential to the overall function.
The case has a removable cover. The Chinese characters are raised above the panel surface. The entire front panel is chrome plated with the chromed labels standing out above the green lacquer paint. Pretty – but was it essential?
The cover includes a metallic card with a clear schematic. Included is a possible “QC” card behind the celluloid window bearing a “7046” stamp. Likely inspected in the 46th week of 1970. The meter needle looks to be radium/phosphor-painted.
Chicom Model 63 Wire Telegraph Set
This set was designed to operate over a single conductor wire connected to the post, upper left.. The “return” path was via ground; a ground stake was included with the set. Volume control on the left, “sensitivity” adjustment beneath the meter. Key jack (non-issued key shown) is on the right. There are 2 headphone jacks, left and middle.
Probably so the unit Political Commissar can hear any counter-revolutionary messages.
The Function switch is OFF when fully CW; Standby in the mid-position; Operate (Transmit/Receive) when in the fully CCW position. The schematic shows it in the T/R position. Transmit 1000 cps sidetone is enabled on Transmit. The bipolar meter monitors incoming and outgoing Line current.
ChiCom Type 63 Telegraph Schematic
In the Off mode, both 1.5 and 45 Volt batteries are disconnected. In either Operate or Standby, the tube Plate is powered by the local 45 volt battery. In the Standby mode, the tube has its plate and screen voltage already present but the filament is off.
When the set is in the Operate (Transmit/Receive) mode either the local key or the remote set key supplies adjustable (volume control) screen voltage to the oscillator tube generating a tone. In the Standby position the tube filament is off to conserve power.
However, in the Standby mode, if the remote station closes its key (to alert the local operator) the relay applies power to the tube filament which causes it to rapidly come up to temperature. This generates a tone. So this Standby process alerts the local operator to switch to T/R mode to communicate thus saving battery power in Standby. Clever.
The set came in a cotton canvas bag with leather straps and reinforcements.
ChiCom Type 63 Bag
Photo courtesy NF6X
The kit included a manual, ground stake, ground lead and the headset plus key.
I don’t know what kind of range was possible with these sets but I would think they were adequate for the task; likely 10-20 klicks. I would assume that China supplied these sets to the North Vietnamese Army for internal communications and for their assault on South Vietnam. More secure than radio, faster than a messenger; the Ho Chi Minh trail probably had lots of wire strung alongside.