Grayhound movie handset flaw

[sunbulls]

While watching Tom Hanks new movie Grayhound, my eyes kept focusing on this handset connection. It looked like this tangled cord even had one of the wires broken off. This was seen at the beginning of the movie before going into battle. I kept thinking this would never pass inspection. LOL At some point this must have been brought to the director’s attention, because I see someone fixed that problem near the end of the movie.

The handset is a US NAVY RCA Sound Powered Ship Phone MI-2040-A. They were made in Camden, New Jersey during WWII. They made both straight cord and coiled cord versions. You will find the straight cord version in the surplus and used markets more often. The rings holding the cartridges and cups in place on this handset are normally blackened. This ship is in a museum, so the constant handling and cleaning of this handset no doubt wore some off. The ship used in this movie is actually the USS Kidd, a decommissioned WWII-era Fletcher. This ship can be toured along with other militaria at a museum in Baton Rouge, LA.

 

[autotuner]

While watching Tom Hanks new movie Grayhound, my eyes kept focusing on this handset connection. It looked like this tangled cord even had one of the wires broken off. This was seen at the beginning of the movie before going into battle. I kept thinking this would never pass inspection. LOL At some point this must have been brought to the director’s attention, because I see someone fixed that problem near the end of the movie.

The handset is a US NAVY RCA Sound Powered Ship Phone MI-2040-A. They were made in Camden, New Jersey during WWII. They made both straight cord and coiled cord versions. You will find the straight cord version in the surplus and used markets more often. The rings holding the cartridges and cups in place on this handset are normally blackened. This ship is in a museum, so the constant handling and cleaning of this handset no doubt wore some off. The ship used in this movie is actually the USS Kidd, a decommissioned WWII-era Fletcher. This ship can be toured along with other militaria at a museum in Baton Rouge, LA.
View attachment 38841

Hahaha, coincidentally I am watching it now. I'll have to go back and verify your findings

 

[nomadradio]

A coiled cord?

In WW2?

Don't think so. Pretty sure you need vinyl plastic to make a coil cord. And vinyl plastics are mostly a "post-war" invention.

73

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

A coiled cord?

In WW2?

Don't think so. Pretty sure you need vinyl plastic to make a coil cord. And vinyl plastics are mostly a "post-war" invention.

73

Actually the very first coiled cords used a thin rubber. They would eventually crack and rot. The coiled telephone cord was invented in 1937 actually.

 

[Road Squawker]

that almost looks like a UHF connector on that handset.
I remember a much smaller knurled connector.

 

[sunbulls]

These are just a few variations of this handset. I believe the first one is historically correct for a Navy ship of that time period. Other examples are typically seen with various field phone type applications. Strain relief springs coupled with a different adapter are yet another adaptation as seen in the second photo.