Fullerphone details needed

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Here's my 1941 Fullerphone, serial C-329, so rather at the start of production.

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

I have a pair of 1943 Northern Electric Canada production Fullerphones in really great shape, with the exception they have both been repainted in typical postwar Cdn Army gloss green.

Can anyone post some detail photos showing what and where the factory original stencils were on the outside of the cases? Not sure how long Northern Electric made these items in Canada. I have only ever seen 1943 dated ones with serial numbers in the 1,700 to 1,800 range.

David

[Bruce MacMillan]

I have a 1943 dated N.E. unit also painted like yours (lousy brush job).

I can see on the bottom the original stencil if I hold it to a light at the right angle.
The letters were raised and it reads in approx. 1/2" type:

FULLERPHONE
TYPE IV >|<
(CANADIAN)

The font was pretty basic, square forms to the letters.

[malcolm erik bogaert]

very similar to my own...some time ago one sold on ebay to a swiss museum for £600.00 GBP...and now I see on milweb a complete 38 set for £650.00GBP my collection must be worth a small fortune!!!! best regards form a cold and foggy north-northumberland ...malcolm

[Bruce MacMillan]

Found this on the web. This is what my set looks like. Similar to Bruce P.'s set but missing the YA number.

[Jon Skagfeld]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

Here's my 1941 Fullerphone, serial C-329, so rather at the start of production.

Hey, Bruce...does that Fullerphone look familiar to me?

[David Dunlop]

Great photos, everyone! Thanks. I should not have a problem scaling an appropriate font from them.

A quick question you have raised, however, is what are 'YA' numbers and how do these relate (if at all) to 'ZA' numbers?

Hmmm. I guess, technically, that is two questions.

David

[Bruce MacMillan]

YA are to do with telephony and ZA are to do with wireless.

These are VAOS numbers, Vocabulary of Army Stores.

There are sources on the net that list what the various numbers are.

[David Dunlop]

I had a closer look at the side of the box where original markings should be and lo and behold, they are still visible under the postwar paint. Three lines as per the photo Bruce M posted. No sign of the "YA Line" at the very top. Also noticed Northern Electric also made the headphone assemblies (two metal head band style) and the Buzzer Mk. F pieces as well.

Both units were made in 1943, about 100 numbers apart in Serial Numbers, but the schematic plates inside the back of the boxes are different. Looks like more than one manufacturer may have been involved in the manufacture of the wooden cases.


David

[David Dunlop]

Just noticed the tool mounted on the strap of your Fullerphone. What is it? I have seen a lot of those straps, nearly always fastened to Signals equipment like RCU's, Fullerphones etc and wondered what the three small canvas loops and the small adjustable canvas strap secured. I think the strap has a YA number on it (YA 1532 or 1632) sometimes stamped in black. Don't think I have run across a maker code or date on any and some are completely blank. Both my Fullerphones have these straps. One has the YA stamp only and the other is blank. The small buckled straps on both have a reddish dipped end to keep it from fraying. May need to find a few more if them.

David

[universalgrl]

http://www.wftw.nl/ful.html

Every thing you need to know about the fuller phone.
The tool is actually the ground spike for the L 2 terminal on the phone as the fuller operates on a 1 wire system.