Lichtsprechgerät 80 |
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This is truly a legendary WWII device. Developed in 1937 by the famous Carl Zeiss optics company, this device used light beams to communicate voice signals. Two of these devices could be placed up to 5 km (3 miles) apart from one another, and voice communications would work. The best (and only) description of these devices and their operation can be found on the web site of Helge Fykse of Norway (LA6NCA) http://www.laud.no/ww2/lispr/index.htm The story: The story of these two sets is very interesting. They were "rescued" from the Carl Zeiss factory in 1945 by a US Soldier who took them back to the US with him at the end of the war. He wrapped them in a 1945 dated newspaper and stored them in his attic. In 2006 his children found them and decided to sell them. I still have the newspaper in which they were wrapped. The set came with the heads, tripods, modulation boxes, cables, headsets, microphones and all spare parts including all spare light sensors and light bulbs. I will add more information as I restore and test my sets. |
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| Specifications: | |||
| Principle: | Modulated communication via light beam. | ||
| Frequency range : | NA | ||
| Power Requirements: | 2 VDC, filament 4.8 VDC, bulb 50 VDC, detector 60 VDC, anode voltage |
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| Speaker system: | This set has no built-in loudspeaker. It requires a separate loudspeaker or headset. | ||
| Case material: | Metal case | ||
| Vacuum Tubes: | 5 x RV2 P800 | ||
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The optical signal head units. The Carl Zeiss plate on the front states 1940 manufacture. The tripods are original to the sets. |
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Here are the optical heads with the modulator boxes. |
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The modulator box without the lid. The year of manufacture is also 1940. Both spare vacuum tubes are in place. The gooey stuff on the carry handle is leather restoration cream. |
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Spare light sensors (photo cells) and transmission light bulbs. The previous owner sealed these boxes with gray sealing compound to prevent moisture from entering. |
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The reverse of one head unit showing the photo cell compartment on the left, the filter change dial on the right and the modulating vacuum tube compartment below. On top in the middle is the optical sniper-scope used to target the other Li. Sp. 80. |
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The opened photo element compartment. |
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The operating instructions written on top of each optical head unit. |
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