Signal Corps US Army Airplane Aeroplane Radio Antenna Reel WW1 1918 Biplane Part

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Signal Corps US Army Airplane Aeroplane Radio Antenna Reel WW1 1918 Biplane Part:
$130.00

This is something you won\'t run across every day....
For sale is a 1918 Signal Corps US Army \"Aeroplane\" Antenna Reel, Type DR-2, with a patent year of 1918. These were manufactured by the L.S. Brach Supply Company of Newark, New Jersey.
During WWI, these were installed in military biplanes, and while in flight, the rear copilot, or \"radio man\" would unreel the antenna wire, which was attached to this spool from his rear seat. The long antenna wire would trail behind the airplane and would operate the primitive radio system. Range was only a few miles, and he would be in communications with a ground unit below the plane using a field crystal radio below. The radio man would then have to wind the reel back in prior to landing, as not to have the antenna wire get entwined with the rear tail assembly or they would be subject to a crash.
Typically, the rear radio man would be in charge of hand dropping ammunition over the side of his fuselage from his seat.
Overall size is approx. 4 1/2 inches. The folding handle and ratchet system still work nicely.
A truly unique part of WWI history!
Please, US Purchasers only.