Early range-finding radar needed substantial equipment

How small could early-1950s range-finding radar be?

The dish might be only as large as a big monitor, but the complete supporting unit would be closer to refrigerator size.

The answer distinguishes the visible aerial from the larger electronics and support unit behind it. The dish is compared to a large computer monitor, while the complete unit is closer to a single-height refrigerator. A viewer assessing an early-1950s proposal therefore has to budget for both the compact antenna and the much bulkier equipment behind it. The small dish alone does not show how readily the whole radar installation can fit into a ship or vehicle.