WS 19 spare tube box

[Bob Carriere]

let's see if this works..... thanks to my wife

[David Dunlop]

I don't think you are seeing the results of progressive evolution in design of this box. Rather just the variations in concurrent production across a number of manufacturers in Canada, England and the USA. I have seen the two variations you have noted, as well as a snap fit lid style and a luggage clasp style. A similar variation also occurs with the Spare Parts Box.

I have only ever seen the two variations in tube packing you have mentioned and both are displayed on the cloth padding in side the lid. Some makers used strips of black 'roofing felt' wrapped around the valves, in two different patterns and at least one other manufacturer used felt cloth 'booties' on each individual valve.


David

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

I don't think you are seeing the results of progressive evolution in design of this box. Rather just the variations in concurrent production across a number of manufacturers in Canada, England and the USA. I have seen the two variations you have noted, as well as a snap fit lid style and a luggage clasp style. A similar variation also occurs with the Spare Parts Box.

I have only ever seen the two variations in tube packing you have mentioned and both are displayed on the cloth padding in side the lid. Some makers used strips of black 'roofing felt' wrapped around the valves, in two different patterns and at least one other manufacturer used felt cloth 'booties' on each individual valve.


David

The left hand case is U.S. made, since it has VT-nnn valve/tube numbering in the diagram, the right hand one is probably Canadian. US and Canadian cases have a metal tray with sockets to hold the contents, British made cases (Case, Spare Valves, No.4G) have either sponge rubber or impregnated card inserts. Quite often the contents are still in their waxed paper bags in the latter insert - most likely post-WW2.

I think the felt "booties" or socks were intended to protect the operator's fingers when changing valves - either from a hot envelope or (more likely) broken glass - since there are only four in the cases that I have.

The "cube" type case was common to a large variety of equipment, from the R106 (HRO receiver) which had Case 4A through to the WS62 (4K) and (I think) SR C12 (4L). Case No.5 used the same shell but had a wooden insert to hold 4 x 807 and a small block for replacement lamps and fuses. This was used with the British WS19HP (Amplifier, R.F., No.2).

The 4G case was also used for the WS22, with a different content list, and some of them are stencilled 19/22 on the lid (between the handle and front edge).

Chris.

[David Dunlop]

I was told many years back by a neighbour of my Grandparents, who was a retired Lt. Col from the Signals during the war, that the felt wrapping and booties were to protect the valves from breakage caused by impacting one another in the case during rough transit. He could not recall if this protection was common from the start, or something added to production at some later point, based on field experience.

David

[David Dunlop]

I was looking at two cases of mine this morning and realized they are similar to the two Bob posted photos of.

I have a similar pair. Neither has a C-Broad Arrow Stamp anywhere on them. One came with an American made Mk II 19-Set finished in No. 2 Brown that does have the C- Broad Arrow Stamp on the Set and PSU Cases. The other is a stand alone case finished in a wrinkle OD Green.

What I have just noticed is that the one case was issued with a pair of spare E1148 Valves (the wrinkle OD Green case). In the second case (in No. 2 Brown), the uppermost E1148 is replaced with an additional 6K7G. Never noticed this before and now I am wondering why. Were there problems with E1148's early in production that required the 19-Set be issued with 2 spares?

I don't think I have ever seen a Canadian made Spare Valves Case with two E1148's, unless this was with very early production as well?

David

[Bob Carriere]

Hi David.....

I had to go back to read the threads...it's been so long..... what I remember most about the early of 2014 are the months spent indoor hooked up to an oxygen machine while enjoying pneumonia...... but I licked it!!!!

Cheers

[David Dunlop]

Glad you did, Bob.

I trolled eBay this morning and found three more American made Spare Valve Cases for the 19-Set. All the same wrinkle OD Green, with brass hook closures, and all of them show the second E1148 valve to the right of the 807 Valve position. This is really intriguing me now.

If the American 19-Set production was mostly, or all, MkII related, it raises some questions.

(1) Did all Mk II 19-Set Spare Valve Cases made in Canada and the USA have two E1148 Valves, and if so, why?

(2) What improvements were made between the Mk II and Mk III 19-Sets that allowed for only one E1148 spare valve and an extra 6K7G to be added?

(3) Was the pair of E1148 valves unique to American production only, and if so why?

(4) If all Mk II 19-Set Spare Valve Cases were issued with two E1148’s, has anyone ever seen a Canadian made case with this configuration?

David