1950-1960’S: RADIO: MOTOROLA HANDIE-TALKIE VHF

This Motorola “Handie-Talkie” portable VHF radio was often called a “radio-fone” and was used by a wide number of ambulance and rescue squads during the 50’s. – T.D. Barlett (MS), 2008

Produced in the 1950s, the Motorola “Handie-Talkie” 144-174 mhz VHF portable radio was widely used by a myriad of rescue squads, first aid squads, and ambulance services during an era when truly portable “walkie-talkie” radios had not been developed. – Kent Mallett (2007)

I worked on many of the Motorola Handie-Talkies as shown above. These were the primary ‘portable’ radio for US Forest Service from about 1960 to 1972. VHF FM 162-174MHz; typcially 2 channel transmit and 1 channel receive. The radio required 45V, 1.5V and 6V batteries. The later models were made with a fully solid-state receiver or could be retrofitted with the solid-state receiver. Very low current drain. The transmitter was 1W; and the P33 series were 5W (much larger bottom). I suspect they were also available in lowband. Most of these were manufactured prior to the FIRST narrowband conversion; 50 KHz channels/15KHz deviation. Motorola made narrowband kits for these so they could be used as 25 KHz channels/5KHz deviation. – Rick C. (2014)