Onan generator working and connected
 

Hi , today i started for the first time the Onan generator in the box . It is wired to the outlet in the front wall and to the starting batteries under the radio table . Video available on the Facebook page of MLU . It’s nice to have 110 V to power lamps , heaters and radios . This version of the box , 1/5 was for the No 19 HP . Post war it was fitted with a No 52 set according to period pictures already posted .So yes it’s a second Wire -5 truck but this one is different : Instead of the two 12 Volt / 300 watts Chorehorse generators it’s got the rare (1942) Onan generator and .. i may install my complete No 19 HP set in it . Right now it has a working / tested and proven reliable No 19 set on the table . Stay tuned for that one . On the Onan : The upper gauge if for AC and it indicates 120 V and the lower is DC and it indicates the amperage of the 12 V charger side of the generator .

Pioneer tool rack & whip antenna tube
 

Found an original whip antenna tube last summer during my air cruise in the Canadian West . Installed today as the pioneer tool rack on the front of the box .

Pioneer tools installed
 

Today i installed some NOS original Canadian canvas straps to hold the shovel and pick axe . Used the original scews i had to fight with but managed to break loose . Nice addition to the truck especially the shovel : Original WW2 Bulldog .

Upper picture : P-37 Canadian strap . Lower strap : Original Canadian vehicle equipment / utility straps as found on these trucks . Found a nice lot of them last summer somewhere in Canada .

control panel
 

Have begun connecting the cables behind the generator / battery control panel.

Rifle clips installed for the two operators in the box .

A door installed on the generator compartment . White inside the box and green inside the compartment . Sound test with the generator in use will be more realistic with a closed airtight door.

Little details : The shelf over the wheel well were the rifle butts abut . The cypher clerks table . Finishing job .

Found contemporary pictures of the Onan generator
 

For the first time i have found contemporary pictures of the elusive 1 KW Onan generator .Credit : RC Sigs Museum as installed in a 3 Ton low power radio truck.

2 KW generator
 

For comparison , here is a nice picture of the more powerful 2 KW generator as found in the 3 Ton High power 3 Ton lorries . Photo credit RC Sigs museum.

2 KW generator
 

This is what the 2 Kw generator looks like when it is installed as a stand alone unit on skids in a trailer . It is a water cooled unit .I have one of these also and i want to mount it in a trailer next year .Photo credit RC Sigs museum.

Rifle butt sockets installed . Antenna accessories leather valise installed on the shelf . It is to heavy and cumbursome to go in the shelving cabinet . It contains antenna spikes , isolators and a big hammer . It must weight 45 Lbs .

It looks a bit over-full. (I think the flap should close more than that - both of mine do.) According to the working instructions, the bag should contain:

Guys, Assembly ZA/C 00022 Qty 8
Hammers, 4.1/2 lb. striking Qty 1
Hammers, Engineers, Ball Pein. 8 oz. Qty 1
Leads, Aerial No. C6 ZA/C 00102 Qty 1
Pegs, Antennae Rods "A" ZA 0374 Qty 8 + 2 spares
Spikes, Ground ZA/C 00024 Qty 2

...which will be heavy enough, since the forged steel ground spikes are very heavy, but there's probably other bits of the vehicle hardware mounting kit crammed in there as well that should be in its own bag. Mine had the aerial base and a halyard, plus a multi-section wire aerial that looked to be a replacement for the WS19 kit of 6 aerials (but was cut to the wrong length) on a wire-frame winder, tipped in.

I think the best place for the Bags, Aerial Gear, Mk.II is on the bottom shelf of the cabinet (i.e. at floor level) to keep the c.g. as low as possible. :D

Best regards,
Chris.

Down here Chris ?

A little background on the Onan 1 KW generator used in the Wire-5 truck . It is derived on the 1934 model .

1934 model .

A picture of my Onan 10LS-6 genarator dataplate : 1000 Watts .

Some useful information pertaining to this generator.

Here are the instructions for the manual starting of the generator with rope and handle . I tried it . It’s easier to start the dam’ed truck with the startîng handle than to try to start the generator this way !

Noise test
 

Today i started the Onan generator , closed the generator compartment and box doors and took sound measurements with a ( dB )app . 84 (dB) the result . I posted a video in the MLU Facebook page. I had already added a Brighs & Stratton small engine silencer to the exhaust pipe . I can only imagine how loud this équipement would be without !

According to OSHA anything higher than 85 dB is considered harmful .My conclusion is the operators were working in a difficult environment.With the constant noise , the small cramped box , the smell of exhaust and the constant monitoring of assigned frequencies the guys were working hard .Bless them for their service !

Charging switch plate scans
 

If it helps anyone, scans of the switchplate for selecting which charger is active and a caution plate for 110V 60Hz Ac are attached. Both plates are brass with black lettering. At first glance, the style of the lettering is very similar to that produced by the Leroy Lettering Guide system used by draftsmen for decades before computer-aided design and drafting came along. I'd have to set up the Leroy, make sample texts and compare to be sure.

The caution plate is simple brass sheet while the switch plate is very much the style of domestic switch cover plates. Links to current suppliers are below.
https://www.homehardware.ca/en/polis...late/p/3664680 (overall dimensions within 1/8" but not perfect)
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/ame...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
I'm not sure how easy it would be get someone to engrave or etch the plate so you could then fill the letters. A description of etching your own plates can be found at https://www.gasenginemagazine.com/ga...ss-nameplates/ An option for filling the letters could be paint or lacquer, sanded level with the brass and then the brass polished again...
Another description - http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/ind...equipment.226/
There are also articles to be found from people who want to make their own printed circuit boards. Naturally, I expect anyone taking on a project using chemicals to make their own decisions regarding risk/reward and act accordingly. In other words if you acid burn yourself it is your fault and no-one else's

I bought and restored this truck / box . It is operable with engine running , a 120 V period Onan generator and a working no 19 set . It is now available for a museum in Canada . A No 19 HP set for it is also available . One of a kind . None in existence in Canada in this version .

Hey Hanno my friend it’s my thread not Craig’s . I bought that truck 4 years ago ! Thanks . Robert

Hi Robert
I wondered what happened to Craig T’s wireless project.
The Wire 5 box he had as well as a pile of interior parts , radio gear etc all came from my collection which I sold to him years ago.
Nice job btw.
Chris