[David Dunlop]

Like many military items during the war, these reels evolved somewhat, not withstanding minor variations between manufacturers. Documentation on any of them seems to be a bit sketchy at this point in time.

As far as the wartime production goes, I have found one source that describes early ones as having a simple piece of steel tubing fitted as the crank handle, and with the handle oriented at the 3-o'clock position, a small round feed hole located at 6-o'clock, the edge of which is wrapped with a steel grommet.

Later production has a wooden, mushroom shaped handle fitted as the crank handle and the feed hole as being an elongated oval wrapped with a steel grommet.

Some photos and illustrations show the ID Markings for these reels on the handle end of the reel, some with all markings on one side of the hub, and others show the markings split either side of the hub. On other photos, the ID Markings are on the opposite end of the reel, also all on one side of the hub, and others split.

I have a late issue Reels, Cable with the wooden handle and elongated feed hole, but no trace of original markings. Does anyone have one of these later reels with surviving markings they can post some photos of here on the Forum?


David