Suspicious WS19 aerial base on eBay

[Chris Suslowicz]

This one doesn't look right, and I suspect it's a fake.

The metalwork is too clean and the welding too neat, but the actual aerial base No.9 doesn't look right. It should be a rubber moulding with stamped metal end pieces (plated steel or brass st the top end), but this looks like aluminium. Also the bottom section of the insulator looks like painted metal and I suspect the whole thing may have been turned on a lathe.

Caution advised if you were thinking of bidding on it.

(No, of course it's not mine!)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/military-r...k/112200349043

[rob love]

Well in fairness to the seller he did put in the question mark "military radio antenna WW2 ? " into the title, so in ebay speak he has absolved himself of all knowledge about the product. (not sure if my sarcasm comes off properly in a typed reply).

[Chris Suslowicz]

For cosmetic restoration it's probably OK, and if it wasn't so expensive I'd be tempted to buy it, paint it Light Stone, and insist that the IWM replace the wretched lump of 1" conduit and tinplate that was gracing their Daimler Armoured Car the last time I saw it.

(I suspect the DAC is back in store while they have the WW1 displays running.)

Chris.

[David Dunlop]

Good eye, Chris.

One should see the rubber seams running either side of the base from the two halves of the mold meeting, the ZA and PC numbers in raised letters at the bottom of the base and the last quarter inch or so of the rubber should actually taper outwards to the bottom. This one looks like a perfect cylinder.

Also to my eye. the upper guard ring looks a tad too hefty.


David

[RichardT10829]

aye that rubber bit is clearly aluminium

[Ken Smith]

Somebody thought it was worth 130 quid. Like you say ok for cosmetic restoration or until a better one comes along.

Ken