Issue 122 of the Marconi Mariner News, (Nov/Dec 1967) indicates that SALVARE was installed on FR ship Sir Tristham. The first  mention of SALVARE was  issue 47 Mar/Apr 1955 . It  was fitted on Southern Cross. Following Salvare, there were other variants such as  -2, -3 and -4.

SPECIFICATIONS

Use: An all valve transmitter/receiver permanently installed in a life boat.
Alternate designator NTS304
Power Output: 50 watts on MF;  60 watts on HF.
Transmit frequencies   MF 500 KHz-;  HF 8364 KHz
Receiver tuning range: MF 475 to 530 KHz
                                  HF  8.1 to 8.9 MHz
Mode: MCW only for both MF and HF.
Keying: Manual with Morse key or automatic.
MCW tone: 550 Hz square wave,
Antenna: The Salvare can be used with a mast rigged aerial or a kite antenna.

Power: 24 volt battery 144 amp/hours.
Dimensions:  2 ft 4 in H'   2 ft 10 in W  1 ft 6 in D
Weight: 200 pounds.

Additional specifications can be found  here.
The Salvare was announced on page 690 of  the November 1954  issue of Practical Wirelsss magazine

This example of the Salvare life boat radio can be found aboard the retired vessel Queen Mary.  Note the yellow numbering on the front panel.  Using the Instruction Manual, it was designed so that any unskilled person could operate the set just by following the number sequence. There was no need to have a qualified radio operator aboard the life boat.  At the lower left corner there was a slide out try to hold a paper pad and it was also used for headphone storage. The Stinger power supply is not part of the Salvare kit. It is only used to flash up the lights on the radio for display  purposes.  The Machine Unit and Keying modules are in reversed order.  Click on image to enlarge. . (Photo by  Bob Burchett)

In this view of the Salvare, one can see the standoff insulators atop the enclosure. What appears to be a speaker grille on the Machine Unit is actually a vent to allow heat. to escape. Heat would be generated by the rotary transformer.  Note that the headphone is plugged into the jack below the receiver tuning knob.  (Photo courtesy Marconi Marine International)

SALVARE SUB-ASSEMBLIES

SALVARE used  the following sub-assemblies

1103A  -  Transmitter
1104A  -  Receiver
1105A -  Machine Unit (power supply)
1106A -  Battery charging unit
1107A -  Keying unit

All of the subassemblies  slide in and out on rails

OPERATION

The radio has one excellent feature. When set to DISTRESS by an unskilled operator,  the SALVARE sends SOS three times followed by a long dash of 54 seconds. It will continue to send this distress sequence at twelve minute intervals until switched off. Shown here is the procedure that was to be used.  It would be found on the pullout tray in the bottom left corner  

Procedure for an unskilled operator. (Provided by Heinrich Busch),

Closeup of the sliding tray, power connector and the operating procedure for  an Unskilled Person .

TRIVIA

1) In Italian, SALVARE means  to save or  rescue.
2) For reasons not known to anyone, Marconi Marine opted not to provide any physical identification for the entire unit. Only the sub-assemblies bear a type number.  

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Contributors and Credits:

1) Ross Bradshaw [ross.bradshaw@mypostoffice.co.uk]
2) Marconi Mariner News May-June 1978 edition
3) Michael Kerwin   EI3KO <michaelkirwan53(at)gmail.com>
4) Jacques Fortin  VE2JFE <[jacques.f(at)(videotron.ca>
5) Bob Burchett(at)eeontheweb.com
6) Clive Kidd <5snafu55(at)gmail.com>\
7) Unskilled procedure via  https://www.seefunknetz.de/ddqh53.htm
 
 

Apr 16824