Wanted: Signals Spool for cable reel

[derk derin]

Hi All,
I just finished cleaning up this cable reel backpack and now am in search for a spool to finish it off. I believe this is WWII era? And doing internet searches I found no images showing this backpack in use but the different types of spools out there show I am probably looking for a wooden spool of a British design. The metal spools seem to have too small a square for this particular backpack. The square part of the crank rod assembly is 5/8”. The width of the mounting rod is maximum 6 3/4” wide so probably looking at 6 1/2” wide spool and a spool with a diameter of 10” will fit.
If anybody has a spool they are willing to part with or know of one for sale I would appreciate hearing from you.
Thank,Derk
P.S. I would love to find any images of this backpack in use if anybody comes across one!

[rob love]

I have some spools of wire that have paired cloth covered wire on them. These are available at the same surplus yard (in fact the same shed) that you got the backpack at. I'll check mine at home to see the diameter fo the square hole. They are 16" in diameter.

[Harry Moon]

Count me in rob, I have the same backpack, two would be great.

[rob love]

Derk has informed me that the 16" diameter spools would be too large for this. Oh well, guess I will keep sitting on those spools in the shed.

[Chris Suslowicz]

The 16-in spools are probably for use with a drum barrow.

That backpack unit is an Apparatus, Cable Laying, No.6A and takes the standard WW2 reel (also usable with the wooden frame ACL No.2 and Bars, Carrying, Lightweight).

If you've got cloth covered twin (twisted) telephone cable, that's definitely worth keeping since it was obsolete in the 1960s - it would be D3 or D8 and was all replaced by the plastic covered D10 (or American equivalent (WD-1?)).

The later reels have a larger spindle and will not fit the WW2 backpack or hand cable laying equipment.

I'll see what information I can find.

Chris.

[Lynn Eades]

I have 3 of them, without looking they woud be 10" dia. Steel sides with a wooden center. (Small steel plates with square pressed in screwed to the wood) They fit my AOP Carrier and were used on a wooden frame with a shoulder strap. (man pack- infantry???) I'll try and get photos later.

[derk derin]

Well I solved my own problem. My last trip to our favourite surplus yard had me digging deep under the pile of surplus to finally unveil 3 of the cable reels I was looking for. Just finished restoring 2 of them for my man pack. 2 were painted green and one was not. I liked the look of the unpainted one so kept it like that.
I have some sigs wire I’ll wind on the reel.
Now onto the other projects I have waiting!
Derk

[derk derin]

And on the backpack.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Lovely work, Derk.....and lovely finds on your recent trip to the surplus yard!