"S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF tranmitter/receiver with display "torso", 1942-1945

"S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF "S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF "S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF "S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF "S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF "S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF "S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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"S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

"S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

"S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

"S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

"S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

"S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

"S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

"S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF transmitter/receiver (main equipment parts) together with metal display "torso", designed by Charles Bovill, unknown maker, British, 1942-1945.

The 'S-Phone' personal receiver was design by Charles Bovill (1911-2001), and used by troops during the Second World War. It was small enough to be carried in a suitcase, and enabled Special Operations Executive aircraft and agents in the field to communicate with each other within a range of 30 miles. Unusually for the period, transmission and reception could take place simultaneously, allowing normal two-way conversation. The equipment was powered by a battery made up of ten rechargeable cells attached to a belt. Because the S-Phone was intended for espionage it used an ultra high frequency (UHF) band which was not well monitored. It also used different frequencies for reception and transmission, meaning that no single receiver could overhear both sides of a conversation. The directional aerial was designed to provide good vertical reception, but was not very good at transmitting or receiving horizontally along the ground. A rubber seal around the microphone prevented sound leakage, to aid with secretive communication.

Details

Category:
Radio Communication
Object Number:
1967-414
Materials:
steel, canvas, textile, plastic (unidentified), paint, rubber (unidentified), aluminium (metal), paper (fibre product), ink, leather and cord
type:
transceiver
credit:
Donated by the Ministry of Technology (E.R.D.E)

Parts

'S-phone' personal portable UHF transceiver, 1941-1945

'S-phone' personal portable UHF transceiver, 1941-1945

'S-phone' type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF transmitter/receiver, designed by Charles Bovill, unknown maker, British, 1942-1945.

More

The 'S-Phone' personal receiver was design by Charles Bovill (1911-2001), and used by troops during the Second World War. It was small enough to be carried in a suitcase, and enabled Special Operations Executive aircraft and agents in the field to communicate with each other within a range of 30 miles. Unusually for the period, transmission and reception could take place simultaneously, allowing normal two-way conversation. The equipment was powered by a battery made up of ten rechargeable cells attached to a belt. Because the S-Phone was intended for espionage it used an ultra high frequency (UHF) band which was not well monitored. It also used different frequencies for reception and transmission, meaning that no single receiver could overhear both sides of a conversation. The directional aerial was designed to provide good vertical reception, but was not very good at transmitting or receiving horizontally along the ground. A rubber seal around the microphone prevented sound leakage, to aid with secretive communication.

Materials:
metal (unknown) , paint and electronic components
Object Number:
1967-414/1
type:
transceiver
Aerial for 'S-phone' transceiver, 1942-1945

Aerial for 'S-phone' transceiver, 1942-1945

Aerial for "S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF transmitter/receiver, designed by Charles Bovill, unknown maker, British, 1942-1945.

More

The 'S-Phone' personal receiver was design by Charles Bovill (1911-2001), and used by troops during the Second World War. It was small enough to be carried in a suitcase, and enabled Special Operations Executive aircraft and agents in the field to communicate with each other within a range of 30 miles. Unusually for the period, transmission and reception could take place simultaneously, allowing normal two-way conversation. The equipment was powered by a battery made up of ten rechargeable cells attached to a belt. Because the S-Phone was intended for espionage it used an ultra high frequency (UHF) band which was not well monitored. It also used different frequencies for reception and transmission, meaning that no single receiver could overhear both sides of a conversation. The directional aerial was designed to provide good vertical reception, but was not very good at transmitting or receiving horizontally along the ground. A rubber seal around the microphone prevented sound leakage, to aid with secretive communication.

Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1967-414/2
type:
aerial
Microphone and headset for "S-phone" transceiver, 1942-1945

Microphone and headset for "S-phone" transceiver, 1942-1945

Microphone and headset for "S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF transmitter/receiver, designed by Charles Bovill, unknown maker, British, 1942-1945.

More

The 'S-Phone' personal receiver was design by Charles Bovill (1911-2001), and used by troops during the Second World War. It was small enough to be carried in a suitcase, and enabled Special Operations Executive aircraft and agents in the field to communicate with each other within a range of 30 miles. Unusually for the period, transmission and reception could take place simultaneously, allowing normal two-way conversation. The equipment was powered by a battery made up of ten rechargeable cells attached to a belt. Because the S-Phone was intended for espionage it used an ultra high frequency (UHF) band which was not well monitored. It also used different frequencies for reception and transmission, meaning that no single receiver could overhear both sides of a conversation. The directional aerial was designed to provide good vertical reception, but was not very good at transmitting or receiving horizontally along the ground. A rubber seal around the microphone prevented sound leakage, to aid with secretive communication.

Battery pack and vibrator pack for "S-phone" transceiver, 1942-1945

Battery pack and vibrator pack for "S-phone" transceiver, 1942-1945

Battery pack and vibrator pack for "S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF transmitter/receiver, designed by Charles Bovill, unknown maker, British, 1942-1945.

More

The 'S-Phone' personal receiver was design by Charles Bovill (1911-2001), and used by troops during the Second World War. It was small enough to be carried in a suitcase, and enabled Special Operations Executive aircraft and agents in the field to communicate with each other within a range of 30 miles. Unusually for the period, transmission and reception could take place simultaneously, allowing normal two-way conversation. The equipment was powered by a battery made up of ten rechargeable cells attached to a belt. Because the S-Phone was intended for espionage it used an ultra high frequency (UHF) band which was not well monitored. It also used different frequencies for reception and transmission, meaning that no single receiver could overhear both sides of a conversation. The directional aerial was designed to provide good vertical reception, but was not very good at transmitting or receiving horizontally along the ground. A rubber seal around the microphone prevented sound leakage, to aid with secretive communication.

Spares for "S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF transmitter/receiver

Spares for "S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF transmitter/receiver

Various spare parts for "S-phone" type 13/Mk IV personal portable UHF transmitter/receiver, including 2 "S-phone" type 13/Mk III, and carrying suitcase, designed by Charles Bovill, unknown maker, British, 1942-1945

Portable radio case

Portable radio case

Case, Portable radio case

Object Number:
1967-414/6/1
type:
case
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1967-414/6
Headphones for radio

Headphones for radio

Component, Headphones for radio

Object Number:
1967-414/6/2
type:
component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1967-414/6
Radio headphones and mouthpiece

Radio headphones and mouthpiece

Component, Radio headphones and mouthpiece

Object Number:
1967-414/6/3
type:
component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1967-414/6
Canvas pouch for radio parts

Canvas pouch for radio parts

Component, Canvas pouch for radio parts

Object Number:
1967-414/6/4
type:
component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1967-414/6
Canvas carrying pouch

Canvas carrying pouch

Component, Canvas carrying pouch

Object Number:
1967-414/6/5
type:
component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1967-414/6
Radio component

Radio component

Component, Radio component

Object Number:
1967-414/6/6
type:
component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1967-414/6
Radio component

Radio component

Component, Radio component

Object Number:
1967-414/6/7
type:
component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1967-414/6
Radio component

Radio component

Component, Radio component

Object Number:
1967-414/6/8
type:
component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1967-414/6
Radio component

Radio component

Component, Radio component

Object Number:
1967-414/6/9
type:
component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1967-414/6
Radio component

Radio component

Component, Radio component

Object Number:
1967-414/6/10
type:
component
Part of:
1967-414/6
Radio component

Radio component

Component, Radio component

Object Number:
1967-414/6/11
type:
component
Part of:
1967-414/6
Radio component

Radio component

Component, Radio component

Object Number:
1967-414/6/12
type:
component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1967-414/6
Radio component

Radio component

Component, Radio component

Object Number:
1967-414/6/13
type:
component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1967-414/6
Radio component

Radio component

Component, Radio component

Object Number:
1967-414/7
type:
component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum