No. 19 Set Horizontal Aerials

[universalgrl]

So far for the WS-29 set I have found 2 B radios, 1 aerial tuning unit # C 2, 1 head set working instructions Wireless set No. 29, and Kits aerial gear No. C1.
I had heard that a number of the A sets had been buried because of the radiation hazzard. Possibly around the Winnipeg area.

Bobbie J

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by universalgrl

So far for the WS-29 set I have found 2 B radios, 1 aerial tuning unit # C 2, 1 head set working instructions Wireless set No. 29, and Kits aerial gear No. C1.
I had heard that a number of the A sets had been buried because of the radiation hazzard. Possibly around the Winnipeg area.

Bobbie J

Buried in Chalk River I heard, though maybe Winnipeg too. Yes, they are quite 'active'. The white dials have all gone brown due to the radium in them.

One of my uncles worked for RCA during the war. He never worked on the W/T 29 but when I showed him my bits he instantly recognized it as the project being worked on 'downstairs'.

The B set was designed to be used as a stand alone, short range set so it is a nice find just as is.

[Jon Skagfeld]

Originally Posted by universalgrl

So far for the WS-29 set I have found 2 B radios, 1 aerial tuning unit # C 2, 1 head set working instructions Wireless set No. 29, and Kits aerial gear No. C1.
I had heard that a number of the A sets had been buried because of the radiation hazzard. Possibly around the Winnipeg area.

Bobbie J

If the radium hazard was such, then why didn't all the No 19s, etc etc etc get buried?

I love to turn on my 19 sets, turn off the lights, listen to the dynamotor hum, and watch the dials glow.

I'm still alive.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jon Skagfeld

If the radium hazard was such, then why didn't all the No 19s, etc etc etc get buried?

I love to turn on my 19 sets, turn off the lights, listen to the dynamotor hum, and watch the dials glow.

I'm still alive.

19 sets had radium in the lettering on the face and the glass beads at the tips of the toggle switches. 29 A sets had the entire dial wheels coated so is a little more potent. If you look at the two windows on the face of this set you'll see the orange/brown radium paint. The dials were originally white but time has caused them to react and change colour.

[David Dunlop]

Hello Geoff.

That drawing of the short circuiting straps on the sectional aerial is an exact match for the short wire I have and the other pieces with the single insulators now make sense to me. What I think I must have, are the scrap remains of a cut up 4-Section aerial. At some point somebody must have used an empty reel for the 185 ft aerial to store the bits on. So I guess I am right back at square one for finding a complete horizontal aerial.

Now where did I put my 649 ticket?!?…


David

[Bob Carriere]

A counter poise Mk 2 or ground wire.....

Can someone explain in plain English what it is and what it does...?

I am trying to read and understand the jargon.

From what I have read and seen in the posting it seems to serve a some kind of horizontal signal reflector......ground plane..???? so a bunch of leads who are laid out radiating from the mast on the surface of the ground or use a deep rod stuck in the dirt as a ground...???

Thanks for the edification.

Bob
...I should have paid attention when Jon gave us a WS 19 lecture at one of the CC bash !!!!

[David Dunlop]

Bob.

The counterpoise is intended to provide an effective grounding (earth) for the set during operation. This helps with the efficiency of the signal being sent out over the aerial. One could accomplish this by pounding a steel grounding stake into the ground and connecting the set to that, however, in a combat zone that action would have been as popular as having to go out in no-man's land during World War One and pounding barbed wire stakes into the ground. The counterpoise was used as a quiet alternative to all the noise making a hammer produced.

The Working Instructions for the No. 19 Mk III explain the counterpoise as follows:

" The use of an elaborate earth e.g. a radial earth, with the spokes not less than half the wave-length being used, will improve radiation markedly. Even a simple earth-pin near the vehicle will effect some improvement in radiation, and will avoid the noticeable drop in aerial current which would occur through people near the truck touching the parts of its chassis to which the set is earthed. An earth will also, in many cases, improve the signal-to-noise ratio on receive."

Hope that helps.


David

[Bob Carriere]

Every little bit helps me understand better.

Bob