19-Set Vario/Aerial Base Mounting Plate

[Tim Bell]

Chris

Thanks for the info.

I got the plate to install with my WSC as indicated in Pamphlet "Wireless Sets No 19, 19 HP, 19/19, HP/19 in Trucks 15 CWT, 4x4 Personnel and Trucks, 15 CWT, Half-Tracked, Personnel", "Fitting Instructions", Jan 1945.

In this there are some line drawings which appear to show the plate mounted on top of the WS19 and also on top of the WS19 HP... and in the manual there are frequent references to the ATU and Control box being mounted with screws on...

Wireless Sets No 19, Plate, Mounting No 1.

Alas no ZA number given for this part.

However, I then acquired and fitted the Canadian WS9... so the plate never got used.

I will retain the plate though as in the short term, it may be the only way I do get to mount the WS38AFV... though initially to keep things simple (and given a lack of documentation and pictures) I will only install the standard WS19 set up... and also, a lack of suitable bolts to attach it to the top of the WS19 make using it a bit harder too.

Cheers

Tim

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Tim Bell

Chris

Thanks for the info.

I got the plate to install with my WSC as indicated in Pamphlet "Wireless Sets No 19, 19 HP, 19/19, HP/19 in Trucks 15 CWT, 4x4 Personnel and Trucks, 15 CWT, Half-Tracked, Personnel", "Fitting Instructions", Jan 1945.

In this there are some line drawings which appear to show the plate mounted on top of the WS19 and also on top of the WS19 HP... and in the manual there are frequent references to the ATU and Control box being mounted with screws on...

Wireless Sets No 19, Plate, Mounting No 1.

Alas no ZA number given for this part.

That will be in the "Installation Kit List", which in your case you have not got[1].

Does your plate have the L.H. notch and duplicated hole patterns?

The White Scout Car, being an open topped vehicle would be a good use for those plates, as any fixed aerial bases could be fed from the one on the plate with a standard feeder cable (plug that simulates an 'F' rod, length of P11 cable and a spade or ring terminal). Quick to connect or disconnect, and the whole set is demountable for ground use if required.

Originally Posted by Tim Bell

However, I then acquired and fitted the Canadian WS9... so the plate never got used.

I will retain the plate though as in the short term, it may be the only way I do get to mount the WS38AFV... though initially to keep things simple (and given a lack of documentation and pictures) I will only install the standard WS19 set up... and also, a lack of suitable bolts to attach it to the top of the WS19 make using it a bit harder too.

Cheers

Tim

Depending on the introduction date of the Firefly, you ought to be able to fit a WS19 Mk.III with Canadian supply unit (or the U.S. Mk.II with Eicor supply unit) and dispense with the battery selector box as they can both run off 24 volt 2 or 3 wire systems.

As for bolts, I think we need 2BA set screws, and I will work out the length necessary and order some - if they're under 1" long they're only 20p each.

I don't have a lathe right now (house move and hostile ex-family) so can't machine suitable grooves to make them captive screws.

The Part 0 EMER for the WS38AFV shows a steel angle frame with what looks like webbing securing straps to fit on the WS19. It might be a fairly simple job to mock this one up. (I doubt that anyone would be in a position to challenge its authenticity, given the rate of equipment development in WW2.)

The Centurion (O.P. Tank) with WS38AFV install is definitely post-WW2, and someone on the WS19 group was recently extremely confused by a supposedly WS19HP control lead (12-pt - 12-pt with 2-pin socket) that put the amplifier onto continuous transmit. The "control" socket was connected across 12V instead of in series with HT2+ and was obviously from the WS38AFV kit (which taps 12V from the split primary of the Canadian dynamotor supply unit).

Chris.
[1] cf: "The naming of parts." Henry Reed

[Patrick Johnson]

I'll be back in my shop on Saturday and will photograph the bolt next to an imperial tape measure so that measurements can be determined by all. Is there any chance some of these bolts or retaining rings could be found NOS from British Fasteners or the other company (insert name here) in the US? Perhaps once I provide a picture a forum member could approach these companies to see if they have any in stock?
If there are any other pictures of items on the mounting plate please let me know and I'll post this weekend. I may also post a series of "oddities" from my collection of WS19 parts in the coming weeks to see if someone can identify them.
Thanks for everyone's input, all this information makes for a great informative read!

[David Dunlop]

Here is a photograph of the plate shown in a No.2 Mk II* Cdn Carrier. Sorry for the low resolution but the most obvious differences with this plate assembly are the length (covering both PSU and Transceiver), the open front edge showing the four mounting spacers/feet along the front edge, and the carry straps either end. Pretty hefty straps, so I am thinking they might pass underneath the entire wireless assembly.

Interesting the accessories on top are still the Variometer, Aerial Base (No. 8 this time around) and the Control Box No.1.


David

[Patrick Johnson]

Here are the pictures providing all the dimensions of the retaining ring and bolt. The bolt head accepts a 5/16" socket. The third photo shows the bolts and lock washer combination used to hold the Control Unit to the mounting plate, its bolt head matches a 7/16" socket.
David requested the length of cable connecting the Variometer to the aerial, it measures a clear 4-1/4" between the metal fasteners at each end.
A question: is that likely Cadmium plating midway on the retaining bolt below the threads?

[David Dunlop]

Thanks for the photos, Patrick. That will be a big help.

Yes, the odds are quite high the hardware plating is cadmium. Very common up to the end of the war when zinc plating started to replace it. You can simulate the cadmium plating today with a good zinc plating. Hard to tell the difference when done right. Most shops just go for a quick galvanizing job which leaves an entirely different finish, that frosty dust bin crystal sort of look.

David

[Tim Bell]

My plate... possibly repainted?

WS19-1.jpg

WS19-2.jpg

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Here is a photograph of the plate shown in a No.2 Mk II* Cdn Carrier. Sorry for the low resolution but the most obvious differences with this plate assembly are the length (covering both PSU and Transceiver), the open front edge showing the four mounting spacers/feet along the front edge, and the carry straps either end. Pretty hefty straps, so I am thinking they might pass underneath the entire wireless assembly.

Interesting the accessories on top are still the Variometer, Aerial Base (No. 8 this time around) and the Control Box No.1.


David

I've seen that variety of top plate on a Scandinavian (Danish/Swedish?) post-WW2 WS19 setup at the War & Peace show recently. I didn't see any carrying straps (it seemed to be on a standard No.1 (or 21) carrier), but those handles would be necessary if you ever needed to lift it out of the "bin" on that UC install. The No.8 serial base indicates US or Canada - I don't think the USA ever produced the No.10 base, they just stuck with making Mk.II sets with the final upgrade to the complete station being the Eicor supply unit.

That may be an early "demountable" install, it's hard to tell from the photo.

The carrying straps are probably fastened to the ends of the set carrier "channels", like on the Carrier No.25 (which they look very similar to).

Chris.

[Patrick Johnson]

Hello,
By chance I came across these two photos (link attached) in the Canadian War Museum collection while searching the internet for information on WS19 Mk II sets. This mounting plate shares the same basic Variometer, aerial and CU layout as mine. Nice to see there is one more of these in Canada! Here's the link:
http://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/...&mode=artifact
Cheers, Patrick

[Chris Suslowicz]

That's interesting. it's got a 1950's vintage "Aerial Base No.28" - the larkspur VHF aerial base - fitted to the top plate. Also, the power supply case appears to have been modified to suit the long strap of the Carrier No.25. (According to the drawings, ther should be an adapter plate fitted to the 4 holes in the supply unit (the ones with blanking grommets fitted in the photograph) that has reverse keyhole slots to take the adjustable plateon the securing strap.

This one presumably had the slots re-worked to point to the right, and the original slot cutouts covered up.

Chris.