Wireless of the Week - week 31
 

Keeping wireless sets going was a chore, and that chore was especially difficult because batteries were always going dead. Some sets, particularly man-pack ones, used single use dry cell batteries. Once expended, they were discarded. Others used generators…manually cranked or motor driven…to charge wet cell lead acid batteries. Smaller sets generally required that the various voltages they required be fed to them from dry batteries or separate supply units, whereas larger sets often had components that used regular vehicle type batteries (generally 12 volts from two 6 volt in series) to generate the necessary higher voltages. For a good number of signalers, batteries were charged someplace else and a truck came every morning to exchange fresh ones for spent, much like milk bottles used to be. Alternatively, and to be more self sufficient, a generator set, invariably nicknamed a ‘chorehorse’, was used.

One such ‘chorehorse’ was the CHI-395-6 built by Johnson Motor Co. in Peterborough, Ontario. It was a small portable gasoline engine generator used to charge secondary batteries and designed to be rugged to withstand shock and handling during field operations. Its 12 volt generator was powered by a 5/8 horsepower four stroke, air cooled single piston engine. The gas tank doubled as its base. It was 15” wide by 15-1/2” long by14” tall and weighed 97 pounds including tools, exhaust hose and waterproof cover. For ground use it was provided with a protective metal cage and a flexible exhaust pipe connected to a muffler that was often buried to deaden the noise. In vehicles, the cage was generally removed and the generator hard wired to the vehicle wireless charging switchboard and batteries.

Controls consisted of an ammeter, positive and negative terminal posts and rheostat dial that could control the charging rate. A button was provided that would reverse polarity and use any remaining battery charge to ‘motor’ the generator to crank the gasoline engine and start it. Alternatively the motor could be started with a pull cord wound around a pulley attached to the flywheel. A stop button was located on the back of the magneto plate. Fillers for gasoline and oil, an oil bath air cleaner and choke was also provided. There was no separate throttle as the revolutions were determined by a governor throttle control, though the linkage could be joggled manually if required.

Running spares, a funnel, generator brushes, tools and a starting cord were kept in a separate tool box.

Many of these sets, such as this one, were modified post war (by their original manufacturer, though now re-named Outboard Marine & Manufacturing Company of Canada Ltd.) to be used with the 1960’s era C-42 set. The conversion consisted of upping the output to “24 volts” (actually providing 30 volts at 300 watts when running at 2200 rpm), re-naming them ‘Generator Set, Gasoline Engine PU-5008/U’, painting them dark green consistent with army equipment of the era and providing a new name plate. Often this paint flakes off revealing the wartime brown or olive drab paint and, if you’re lucky, a large English-Russian-Chinese Lend Lease decal.

Bruce, the Johnson motor by itself was known as the Johnson Iron Horse so that's likely how the Chorehorse label came to be used. I thought just the Johnson generators were labeled Chorehorse.

crate
 

My NOS chorehorse came in its shipping crate with all accessories . From Canada to Aust. - when ?

For years Aussie disposals had the NOS starting rope and wooden handle for 50 cents or something.

Early production definitely had the Johnson designation "Chore Horse" on the data plate and manual. The date on this CHI 395-4 is: 1-12-43

Here's an ad out of a Sept 1940 Country Guide.

This site has a number of chorehorse manuals available for download.

http://www.oldirongardentractors.com...horse-engines/

Some days you luck out with what you find.

And inside the box..... a fantastic un modified Cnd Chorehorse. With a complete tool kit still in the cosmoline.

It must be a day for generator sets. I test fit one in the HUW generator cabinet I'm building. It goes back to the WIRE-5 discussion but you can see the sliding rails and plate for the mounting.

Here are some more pictures the Chorehorse and its NOS tool kit.

Some great background reading on the DND requirements for the Chorehorse Generator.

https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/o...7/3803?r=0&s=2

There was a pile of Chore Horse/300watt charging set spares in the well-known auction site this week, starting price 60 GBP and I was considering a bid (30 GBP shipping), but eventually decided not to bother as I'd never need about 5-each of new valves, pistons, brushes, and sets of gaskets/seals.

It went for 170 GBP + shipping, which was well over my limit anyway.

At some point I need to get the toolbox and funnel (etc.) for mine. (It came in a crate with the cover and exhaust hose/silencer but someone had extracted the metal box with all the other ancillaries.) :(

Chris.

Weak spark
 

Tip: If you are having weak spark issues with your chorehorse, go to the ignition lead, the lead has a in-line resistor/interference suppressor, these resistors are often the source of the weak spark. I spent hours chasing down this issue.

Many of these sets were converted to 24V operation during the 1950s, basically for use with the Larkspur wireless sets, I believe the field coils were swapped out. I've seen a number of them in the 24V configuration, usually painted in post-war 'deep bronze green'.

I've not seen a Johnson badged version here, only seen the Outboard -Marine brand that is usually fitted with a metal cage/frame that bolts to the main set.

There was also a similar American built version, these have a dual AC/DC output voltage. I will have a look for a pic. https://hmvf.co.uk/topic/41162-ww2-generator/

A club member used to bring along his American 1A unit on many club trips - Bevan F. The output is: 240V AC and 12V DC more info https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threa...e-motor.55746/

http://www.internalfire.com/xenf/ind...enerator.4828/

Found on Facebook
"Lost Illinois Manufacturing
8 September 2018 ·
In 1962 the Pioneer Gen-E- Motor Corporation located at 5841 West Dickens Street, Chicago employed 400 people who made gasoline engines, mowers (Pincor brand), generators, power plants, and tools.
Sometimes incorrectly associated with General Motors, Pincor mowers were produced by the Pioneer Gen-E-Motor Corporation in Chicago. Ads refer to 1932 as the beginning o the company. When the company closed is not known."

Thanks
 

Some drawings included for the FFW 8 cwt chassis. Very valuable source for those with a C8 or F8

Thanks Jordan (and Mike); interesting. Pity the drawings are that dark, but it does show that the round hole in the corner of the cab rear wall of my C8 was most likely for a clamp holding the exhaust tube.

I completely missed this find! Well done Jordan.....and even the version with that elusive hinging cover! (not jealous at all)

Better
 

reversed the colours

Why didn't I think of that :bang:. Thanks Mike!

Alex

elusive hinging cover!
 

Incredible find Jordan!

Alex dragged me all the way to Belgium to chase one of these with the hinged cover. It turned out to be a wild goose chase, alas. (I'm sure Alex will share the pics and story one day :D)

For Sale
 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4387...2055421274688/

Iron Horse: I thought was a steam loco.

Hi,
i juste got one for 60$ but is not the right spark plug do you know what is the model of the plug i should use :confused
thanks
eric

An expert on the Iron horse could be referred to as a Ferro-equinologist.;)

The proper plug is a vintage style Champion J8, with a screw top and blackened parts. In fact, there are a couple on ebay in Canada right now. I just bought one that's NOS for my spares box. It's exactly like the plug in Jordan's photos above.

thanks :salute:

To add a bit more to this discussion. I just took delivery of this repair kit box. Nicely marked for the Canadian CH1-395-4 model.