HistoricThese transmitters were used continually through WWII.Orange large metal casing for transmitter, transport webbing and buckle.Tin containing balloonSIGNAL CORPS U.S ARMY. RADIO TRANSMITTER BC.778.E SERIAL NO.14873, ORDER NO.5896-WF-43, Made By BENDIX AVIATION. LIMITED NORTH HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA

An emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) is a type of emergency locator beacon, a portable, battery-powered radio transmitter used in emergencies to locate airplanes, vessels, and persons in distress and in need of immediate rescue.Since the inception of Cospas-Sarsat in 1982, distress radio beacons have assisted in the rescue of over 28,000 people in more than 7,000 distress situations. In 2010 alone, the system provided information used to rescue 2,388 persons in 641 distress situations. Two battery operated emergency distress beacons EPIRB [Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon] in orange containers with attached line in yellow canvas bags.I'm going sailing, I'm coming back; B900; radio distress transmitter operating instructions; made by Don Osborne & associates, box 69 052 Aukland 8 New Zealand.iepirb, rescue, emergency beacon

This distress EPIRB unit (Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon) was found on the beach at Levy's Point, Warrnambool, in December 2000 by a Warrnambool resident. Local police were alerted at the time. This distress signal unit is a world-wide COSPAS/SARSAT, satellite assisted, SAR (Search and Rescue) system for location of distress transmissions emitted by an EPIRB. Offshore cruising vessels must have such a unit as part of its essential safety equipment. This model EPIRB relies on four satellites with orbit times of approximately 100 minutes. Earlier units relied solely on aircraft flying overhead to detect and forward on the EPIRB’s location to Search And Rescue authorities, whereas this new system utilises satellites. An employee from the Lokata firm provided additional information about the Lokata EPIRB units. They had a machined aluminium case with labels that were also made on site. The units could be activated manually or automatically released when a magnetic switch in the case casing was activated. This later model, circa 1983, would have been mounted externally on a vessel's bulkhead in a spring-loaded, stainless-steel protective 'skeleton' mounting, The unit released when the water pressure sensor detected a set time it was under the water, in a similar way that life crafts were released. Each unit was registered to a particular vessel - the vessel's details on this unit are indecipherable. The Lokata Company was established in 1970, designing and manufacturing marine products including communications. The company no longer makes products with the “Lokata” brand. In 2001 Sartech Engineering Ltd. took over the support for the Lokata EPIRB beacons. This emergency location device is a late 20th century invention to help save lives at sea. It adds to the history of maritime life, its risks, the lives lost as sea, and the many inventions aimed as rescuing and saving lives. The local area is notorious for the number of lives lost through shipwreck. It also carries stories of heroic efforts to save lives, and other inventions to help reduce the chance of accidents at sea.EPIRB unit; “Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon”. A distress communication unit for sending a distress location transmission in an emergency at sea. The EPIRB is a yellow, rectangular box with dials, buttons, indicator lights and instruction. An antenna protrudes from the top of the unit. The EPIRB unit sends a 406P (X) EPIRB, with 406M-Hz frequency, 48-hour duration signal. The maker was LOKATA Ltd in England. Remnants of a white label remain on the side. Circa 1980s."NAME OF VESSEL 'SERVICE IF SELF TEST FAILS' " “LO-KATA” moulded into the body. "406P (X) EPIRB" “Model 406” "Lokata Type No 92408" "UK Type approved to MPT 1278" "Class 2" "Made by Lokata Ltd, Falmouth Cornwall England TR10 8AE"" "LOKATE LTD. New North Road Hainault, Ilford Essex IG6 2UR" "ARMED / SAFE / TRANSMIT / CODE / DISPLAY / SET / wait / pass / fail / TEST" "IDENTIFIER / 1349:24034234N" [some characters may be different] "COUNTRY / DENMARK" "VESSEL IDENTITY / 124 [the rest is indecipherable]flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, emergency position indicating radio beacon, epirb, lokata ltd, marine safety equipment, satellite transmitting beacon, safety equipment, distress signal, life saving, safety at sea, shipwreck location, lo-kata, falmouth, emergency, beacon, radio signal, communication, marine equipment

Squat yellow transmitter used in emergency life rafts carried by aircraft on flights over water. Shape enabled it to be held between knees to crank generator to provide signal. Known as the ' Gibson Girl' radio (named after the famous 'Gibson Girl' marketing image who had a curved waist).RA (crown emblem) AF. ID No Y1100/500320. Serial No. 14823. 'Gibson Girl' (named after the famous 'Gibson Girl' marketing neon sign).transmitter, bendix, radio, raaf, aviation

Squat yellow transmitter used in emergency life rafts carried by aircraft on flights over water. Shape enabled it to be held between knees to crank generator to provide signal. known as the 'Gibson Girl" radio because of its waisted shape. ("Gibson girl " was a marketing image of a woman with a curved waist).RA (Crown emblem). A.F. Indent No. Y11OD/500320.transmitter