It would have been a disaster:
Before you were born, 60+ years ago, a jackass lieutenant told me to install and connect a British air to ground radio in a Marine Corps amphibious tank which I suggested not be done because we did not have a schematic.
He repeated his order and left. A mere Sergeant, I obeyed.
My assistant and I proceeded, bolted radio to a metal platform to ground it, wired main lead to a positive tank battery terminal: the tank had two Studebaker gas engines and large six volt batteries; I was in a tank park many miles from radio repair facility and without voltmeter, all of which I had explained to the officer.
Before throwing the metal toggle switch, I cleared the tank and with a mop handle as I leaned into the tank, pushed the toggle switch to on.
The tank was a write off, its electrical system severely compromised; the radio had a positive ground. On a clear day, I can still smell it.
You were wise to be cautious. When I bought a Motorola radio for my Austin; the radio and the Austin had positive ground.
Bernie Kaye
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Received on Mon Dec 10 06:57:55 2007
