Wire-3 Fitted For Wireless Box details

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Hi Bruce.

Thanks for the reply and giving some insight.

With your battery measurments I'm not sure two would fit on that try on the floor. It has that central rib and two pieces of angle iron on the end of it. I'm still scratching my head on what it could be for.

There was a C5 charging board mounted inside the truck. In post number 3, photo 2 you can see it along the front panel of the box mounted just to the left of the ws19. Also on the floor of the box is an oval hole. This was for the power cables from the Chorehorse to feed up to the charging board. In this picture you can see the hole in the floor just to the left of the table.

As for the terminal strips. I'd assume the truck would have some. I have my thoughts that they might be mounted on the wooden boards that are attached to the top bows. The two boards running along the sides have two sets of holes. In the pictures in the first couple of posts you can see two sets of two holes and there is definitely something mounted in them. What would be the length of the terminal strips?

Ah yes, I see the No.5 panel. It feeds the batteries so its location suggests they were up front near the panel and therefore also near the table. Do you know, or have evidence from holes, where the batteries on a WIRE-3 went? For comparison, the WIRE-5 had two pairs on the right side beside the wireless operator with the No.5 panel and terminal strips right above them. The HUW had a similar 2 pair battery arrangement under the wireless table centrally located immediately behind the cab/rear body partition. The No.5 panel was hung on the underside of the table and the terminal strips were on the rear face of the body partition (ie. right above the batteries and just below the No.5). I expect the WIRE-3 used the same battery pairs as the HUW and WIRE-5.

On your table, on the bottom angles between the legs are brackets with holes. Are these to secure the table to the box floor? If not to secure the table, then perhaps they were to clamp a battery tray on to that mystery tray you're asking about? Maybe the tray is really stiffeners (and space for lead lined acid sumps? ..the HUW has lead sumps on its battery holders) for another, removable battery tray that clamps in place there and the studs are for alignment? The HUW table (with the No.5 panel), battery pairs, operator seats and chorehorse were all "quick release" removable so a complete station could be set up remotely from the vehicle. Is this feature duplicated in the WIRE-3?

As for the terminal strips being on those wooden rails on the top lips of the box...perhaps...but only if the batteries are somehow stowed in the rear of the box or just under the rails. Are there pairs of holes on the front wall of the box forward of the table for terminal strips?

Pics of HUW table with terminals trips and HUW battery trays attached.

[Jordan Baker]

Do you know what the distance between the holes on the terminal strips are? I'm wondering if they were mounted on the wood boards. If you look at post #9 drawing number 1 I've shown the wood board that is mounted to the top bows. The hole centres are 5" apart. Each side has two sets. That would give the truck 4 terminal strips. The wood boards acted as a lower frame for holding the top bows together when setup as a ground station. See the picture for the holes (with bolts/nuts) on the wood. You can also just make out the charging board on the extreme left.

The bottom angle brackets on the table were simply for mounting the table to the floor. Those knobs I was looking for pass through the angles and go into bolts welded on the underside of the floor.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Do you know what the distance between the holes on the terminal strips are? I'm wondering if they were mounted on the wood boards. If you look at post #9 drawing number 1 I've shown the wood board that is mounted to the top bows. The hole centres are 5" apart. Each side has two sets. That would give the truck 4 terminal strips. The wood boards acted as a lower frame for holding the top bows together when setup as a ground station. See the picture for the holes (with bolts/nuts) on the wood. You can also just make out the charging board on the extreme left.

The bottom angle brackets on the table were simply for mounting the table to the floor. Those knobs I was looking for pass through the angles and go into bolts welded on the underside of the floor.

The mounting holes for the bakelite strips are 4-15/16" apart on metal brackets stepped out from the 18ga. steel wall.

[Jordan Baker]

So I would say that those holes are infact for the terminal strips. It makes sense then that they are mounted to the framework and not the actual box. The way when setting up for a ground station everything stays in place on the frames.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

So I would say that those holes are infact for the terminal strips. It makes sense then that they are mounted to the framework and not the actual box. The way when setting up for a ground station everything stays in place on the frames.

So then the batteries would be in the bins immediately below? Two pairs on one side (if so, probably on the left to be near the C5 panel) or are there holes on either rail indicating one pair of batteries on the left and the other on the right? I'm a little reluctant to think the batteries would be enclosed in bins because of the gas they generate when being charged but perhaps I am wrong.

[Jordan Baker]

I'm thinking the batteries went on the floor in the space between the wheel well and the front wall. Facing the wireless table this would be to the left. And possibly two batteries to the right of table.

There is another bracket on the wireless table on the right side. It is a flat bar that goes front to back and has a long bolt with wing nut on it. It goes out horizontally. There is also a stopper plate on it. It appears like it may have a had some kind of cable reel on it. But I'm not sure if its original or added post army use. I'll post a picture shortly.

[Jordan Baker]

Here is the other mystery bracket.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

I agree with Dave. Even if your mystery plate and holes are for aerial masts I'm certain the masts would be encased in some sleeve to prevent mud and moisture splattering all over them. The mast collars would not do well with grit in them, not to mention the Signal Corps credo of cleanliness and ready to operate in an instant components.

I see one mast on the right cab running board just behind the side window. The HUW has one there as well. The second HUW one is mounted horizontally in the top right inside of the rear wireless body where the sheet body metal curves to form the roof. That's exactly where the right side rifle clips are on the WIRE-3 body. Rifles and aerial masts are just about the same 'diameter'. So just wondering...are those rifle clips on the top right of the WIRE-3 real meant for rifles?