Wireless Set No. 52 Canadian - Project

[David Dunlop]

While getting into this part of the project, my brain apparently morphed totally into the model hobby world. I was chatting with a friend last evening about my concern in getting the decals to fit smoothly over the paint pads and blend in. The Micro Set product apparently does a pretty good job of doing this in most situations but according to what I have been reading, if one is dealing with a very complex surface, it is best to add a second step to the decal mounting process by giving them a coat of Micro Sol which really gets the decal to blend onto the surface it was applied to. This product seems to be a bit of an aggressive one to work with, for lack of a better term.

My friend calmly advised I step back a bit and realize I am not applying decals to a model at all, where making them look less like a stuck on item and more like a full scale paint applied item is absolutely not important.

For a wireless restoration, the point is actually replicating decals that everybody and their dogs know are simply decals. They are supposed to look like decals if done properly. The only other consideration is that like the original decals, they need an overcoat of something clear to protect them from unnecessary damage. When I took another look at all the decals on my wireless equipment, that point really struck home. They all look exactly like decals, just as they should be.

So no more overthinking this. Just a bit more time and careful work.


David

[David Dunlop]

In retrospect, I overthought this decal work way too much.

I set some time aside earlier today to trim the two decals needed for the Coil assembly front panel and organize ll the tools etc I would need on my bench to get the job done. As I got into it, all the learning from model work 50 years ago came flooding back like the last decals were worked on yesterday. The only two real differences were hand cutting the decals to size and the added step of MICRO SET. and it all worked.

The decals look terrific finally in place and most important they work: glowing the correct luminous green in the dark. I will have to wait a bit to prove that last point. My Canon DSLR has been acting up lately when it comes to "BULB" Time Exposures. One day it works and two days later with the same setup, I get nothing at ll.

I will be letting the decals cure for the recommended 24 hours and then do a top coat over them of satin clear coat.


David

[David Dunlop]

This amazing piece of equipment arrived safe and sound in this mornings Post, complete with its cotton bag of mounting hardware. Its a heck of a lot larger and heavier that I expected. I have only ever seen photographs of one in various wireless manuals over the years with absolutely no reference of scale to go by.

A number of interesting questions have arisen since its arrival, however.

I know production of this item did not start in Canada until sometime in 1941 and it was probably a direct copy of the British version. I have only ever seen phots of Canadian ones made by RCA Canada Limited and either bearing no date, or any of 1942 to 1944. This one is dated 1944, which ties in nicely with my 52-Set, but it was manufactured by Rogers Majestic Limited, which I believe was based in Montreal. It shows a Product Code of “R M SA 3897” and a Serial Number “C253”. So the first question is whether Rogers Majestic was brought onboard to augment the production of these switchboards, or did they take over completely from RCA Canada to allow them to focus on other wartime production?

Second puzzle is this switchboard is identified as:

SW/BD CHARGING NO5C MK I

I never knew a Mk I ever existed until now and am now wondering what exactly changed in the design to warrant the Mk I status?

The other interesting bits are a 1/4-inch C-Broad Arrow stamp and possible part number stamp for the wooden frame on the lower right mounting post and the larger 3/4-inch C-BroadArrow stamp on the centre bottom of the wooden frame.

There is the remains of a piece of tape that was once over the ID info for the two Charger No. 2 terminals on the lower right and the panel markings areall stencils in either white or yellow paint. The yellow seems to focus on the four main switches, the rest being white.

Lastly, the cotton bag for the mounting hardware was made by The Canadian Bag Company Limited in Montreal.


David