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Miniature of RMCA sign

In 1919 the government assisted by GE engineered the formation of RCA to take over the American interests of the Marconi Company.  At its inception GE owned at least 80% of the stock in the new company with the Marconi owning the remainder.  The new RCA was initially a communications company, though broadcasting and the manufacturing of tubes and broadcast equipment soon over-shadowed the communications operations.   According to George C. Oslin's book The Story of Telecommunications RCA's Radiomarine Corporation of America was formed in 1927.  

Radio Broadcasting Magazine - May 1928 states: RADIOMARINE CORPORATION ORGANIZED - The ship-to-shore marine radio communications of the Radio Corporation of America were transferred to a new subsidiary, the Radiomarine Corporation with which was combined the Independent Wireless Company. Charles J. Pannill, former president of the Independent, is now vice-president and general manager of Radiomarine and J. P. Duffy, for years superintendent of the New York division of RCA marine, has been appointed superintendent of operations.

RMCA was one of the prime providers  of marine communications equipment and services for more than 40 years. It appears that on the lakes both RMCA and Lorain Electronics gear were the most popular with Lorain having the top position.  On the rivers one ex-serviceman indicated that most of the AM gear that he serviced was RMCA brand.  However, some of the early AM gear was Western Electric and Dennis Widdows, who did service work for Lorain from a Chicago base, stated that in addition to working on the "lakers" he went down the illinois River servicing boat gear - probably Lorain.

Here's a link to information on the RMCA AR 8503 VLF receiver.

Here's a link to the manual for the RMCA AR 8506 receiver, and some service info. for it.

Here's a link to the manual for the RMCA ET 8023 Radio-Telegraph Transmitter.

Above:  RMCA ET-8044 rig with a tunable receiver.  Likely intended more for pleasure boat use than for commercial service. Need more info. on this model. Left: Alex Holden, VA3AEX supplied this photo of the RCA ET-8037.     It's a 6 channel unit rated at 30W (from a pair of 1624's modulated by 1624s) and is a hefty 93 lbs.

Bruce Spacer, WB8VCM provided the photo and information about his RMCA AR-8514 receiver shown at the left. The introductory paragraph of the manual reads as follows:   Radiomarine model AR-8514 is a two channel, crystal controlled, radio receiver designed primarily for shipboard service in the 2000-3000 kc radiotelephone band.  This receiver may be used to maintain a radiotelephone watch on the safety-calling frequency 2182 kc, or on other frequencies in the band.   It appears that all radios were factory equipped with a 2182 kc crystal.  The radio operates from 115 VDC.  The RM-208 Rectifier (separately available) was used to power the radio from a 115 VAC source.  The receiver is a seven tube, single conversion superheterodyne with a 455 kc IF.  The drawings have 1952/1953 dates.

The RMCA AR 8510 is a 5 tube regenerative Rx,  covers 15-650 KHz in 4 bands and operates from 120 V DC. Top View of 8510   Here's an external link to another RMCA  AR-8510 receiver. On the left is an AR-8712 direction finding receiver.  For more on RDF  see the Chum Bucket site's AR-8712 page and RDF page .

RMCA 10 tube Superhetrodyne RX Model 8506 - ca. 1940s. Covered from 85KHz to 550KHz & 1.9 to 25 MHz Larger Views: Front  Back  Top  Bottom Doran Platt, K3HVG supplied this additional  AR-8506 photo.

RMCA Backup/Emergency LF Xtal receiver - ca. 1944. They worked since Morse code was actually a modulated AM signal that was keyed on and off.

Here's an external link to another RMCA receiver, a superhet, the AR-8507

Here's a link to a photo of what appears to be a RMCA crystal controlled receiver.  Model number unknown.

Above is a RCMA Model 8059 1950s vintage 6 channel AM unit which included a BC band receiver. To the right is a somewhat later but still 1950s RCMA 8 channel rig.