One of the many mysteries for me regarding the 52-Set today, was the apparent universal usage of standard 1/4-inch Hex Bolt hardware for mounting the three components of the main set in the Carriers No. 4, and the Remote Receiver in its case.
There are absolutely no spanners, wrenches or sockets in the tool kit for the set the operator could use to easily remove any of these four items for a basic inspection or repair. The manual stated there should be no need for the Operator to ever have to remove any of these items from their cases, but at the same time provides a detailed explanation of what the Operator needs to do to reinstall the three components back into the Carriers No. 4, should all three need to be removed at once for some reason, but again, no reference for sourcing the necessary tools.
My assumption for years was simply that the hex hardware commonly found today must have replaced some form of factory original hardware, and the most logical hardware seemed to be 1/4-inch x 20 by half inch, slotted, RH Machine Screws, since a set of three slot head screw drivers were a part of the tool kit.
Then, around this time in 2021, a chap in England had a very original 52-Set Remote Receiver up for sale on eBay and I contacted him to ask if there were any stencil markings to be found anywhere on the exterior of the No. 2 Brown case. He replied, with additional photographs, that there were none anywhere. What did surprise me, however, was one side photo he sent that clearly showed a slotted hex head bolt, in No. 2 Brown paint, holding the receiver in its case. The owner confirmed, all four sets of hardware were the same, all were fitted from the outside in, the bolts were one half inch long and the nuts were all skinny. A mystery finally solved.
My Remote Receiver had 1/4-inch x 20 x half inch hex bolts, split washers and hex nuts in all four locations, but all were installed from the inside. I had always thought this had looked rather ugly and unfinished with the open ends of the bolts and nuts sticking out so far, so I was pleased to turn them all around with the heads to the outside. What I discovered with that change, was that the two upper sets of hardware stuck out so far, the upper service panel on the receiver er could not be removed. The combination of the hex nut and split washer actually exceeded the bolt length just enough to create the problem. So I flipped the hardware back around while I tried to sort out the problem.
For the last three years, I have swept the internet from time to time looking for slotted 1/4-inch hex bolts with little success. Lots of shouldered head stuff out there, like you find for automotive licence plates, but not the basic hex head bolt style. Then, 10 days ago, I did another sweep and found a company in Chicago with an extensive illustrated inventory. For some reason, I typed in “1/4-inch slotted hex head” and forgot the word ‘bolt’. Up popped a bunch of items called “Cap Screws”, and among them was a one inch long 1/4-inch x 20 in packs of 100, dirt cheap with free US shipping. After I calmed down a bit, I decided to see if they might have matching thin headed hex nuts so typed that in next. Up came 1/4-inch only, also in packs of 100. They were described a ‘Jam Nuts’, half the thickness of a standard hex nut.
That just left the issue of the lock washers. When I took a close look at existing split style lock washers in my wartime wireless equipment, they are all noticeably thicker than modern ones available today. When you do a similar comparison between wartime Shakeproof style lock washers and their modern equivalent internal toothed lock washers, there is very little, if any, difference in thickness.
So after several years of off and on searching, with somewhat incorrect parameters, I finally figured out what was originally used for mounting hardware for the main components of the 52-Set. I could only get 1-inch length Cap Screws but I have had to trim hardware down before, so that is not a problem. It will be a nice bench project over the winter.
David
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