Wireless Set No. 52 Canadian - Project

[David Dunlop]

I found myself at a bit of a wall this passed weekend with the 52-Set Project. I would very much like to get on with the reassembly of the Sender and was very keen to add more bits back onto the front panel.

One of these was the large, conical, Bakelite SOCKETS, Antenna in the upper right corner. This is the main connection point of the set to the Coils, Aerial Tuning and beyond.

The problem was, I am missing two 6-32 external tooth lock washers from the mounting hardware: the two screws that are the most difficult to access when the set is in its normal upright position. And secondly, when I looked inside the Bakelite cone at the front. The brass sockets assembly way inside is a filthy mess and needs to come out for a full clean up. I eventually pulled myself back from the idea of reinstallation at the moment and will take the time to clean and source the proper missing hardware.

Won that round so far!

David

[David Dunlop]

One of the other parts I wanted to reinstall on the weekend was this one.

I have the original from the Sender and a second one, which is from a spare parts Coil Aerial Tuning Unit. Both of these, however, have had their mounting hardware over tightened when last mounted on their respective parts. The result of this, over time, is the pressure exerted by the hardware slowing pushes the material out from under the screw heads and to the left of the PLATES assembly. This has the effect of lifting the extreme left edge about 1/16-inch off the front panel face.

Both of these PLATES are dimensionally identical, but the similarities end there. The upper one in the photo is from the spare COILS, Aerial Tuning, and is identical to the one on the COILS, Aerial Tuning on my 52-Set (except that one lies perfectly flat). Both of these COILS units were rebuilt at some point post war. The original two luminous decals have been replaced with none luminous ones with white borders. It would not surprise me if these two PLATES were replacements as well. They may be prone to a lot of breakage, as they get older.

The lower PLATES is from the Sender and is very likely an original example of what CMC used on their production line.

All three are a sandwich assembly; a thick inner core with a very think white skin bonded either side. The similarities end there.

The original one is much more translucent than the other two, when they are held up to a light. The printed markings are a definite, dark black. The printing on the other two is a pale mid grey colour. The background of the original was probably a smooth clean white colour that has yellowed over time. The other two have a parchment paper kind of colour to them and although the surface is completely smooth to the touch, it has the look of very fine sandstone to it.

If anyone has a COILS, Aerial Tuning still with its original all black, luminous green decals, I would be curious to see what PLATES, Phenolic, Calibration is fitted to it.

David

[David Dunlop]

It turned out to be such a nice sunny, warm, calm day this afternoon; I could not let it go to waste. I stripped down all the varnished, chipped paint from these two KNOBS for the Sender and primed them out on the driveway.

They should be cured in a couple of days, and it is supposed to still be nice weather then, so they can then get a final coat of Gloss Navy Grey.

These KNOBS must have been refinished during the sets 1966 Workshop Overhaul. No primer was used. The core metal is cast brass with zinc plating. You could actually put pressure on the stem of each item with a thumb and finger and twist the paint off the KNOBS. I could not see any primer of any colour on the inside of the paint chips.

David

[David Dunlop]

These are the Cross-Pins (-5 or #5) used with the large Airloc Cowl Fastener Studs found on the 52-Set Receiver and Coil, Aerial Tuning assemblies.

I found them in stock at MilSpec Products, Inc. in Sorrento, Florida. Their Stock Number for these parts is 294185.

David

[David Dunlop]

This is the tool needed for installing the Cross-Pins for the two versions of the Cowl-Fastener Studs found on the Wireless Set No. 52 components. It can also be used to carefully press out the pins already in place, though, with a little care, any adjustable head set of pliers could do this, as long as you do not damage the stud trying.

They were out of stock of this tool at AIRCRAFT SPRUCE CANADA, but did have them available at MilSpec Products when I ordered the larger Cross Pins from them.

They look like a simple large Vise Grip, but the jaws have been machined to accept the two sizes of Cross-Pins (-2 and -5) and if you have more than one of the same type to install, after the first one is centred in its stud, you can close up the hex nut on the adjustment shaft of the tool to lock the settings in place for the rest of the pins you need to install.

And, No, this brand new tool is not rusty. That was the reflection from a large pile of orange wool on the dining room table when I took the photo this morning. I did not notice it when taking the picture.

David

[David Dunlop]

Another beautiful, warm, sunny day, so these two KNOBS received their top coat of Armor Coat, Gloss Misty Grey paint this morning, so they will be ready for reinstallation on the Sender front panel when the time comes.

David

[David Dunlop]

I finally got around to disassembling the central core of this SOCKETS, Antenna, to give it all a good cleaning. Good thing I did, as there was a lot of sooty grease packed between the Bakelite fitting and the central assembly.

Once cleaned and polished, I reassembled it for reinstallation on the Sender panel down the road, once the missing pair of #6 external tooth lock washers have been replaced. I should be able to source them locally, in spite of the current lockdown we are in.

It was interesting to notice the plating on the brass central socket was worn away, leaving the shiny brass when cleaned. The similar brass socket on the COIL, Aerial Tuning also shows a high degree of wear on the plating with and lot of brass visible. However, the ones on the three receivers are essentially factory mint in condition. They simply never got used over the service life of this 52-Set to wear them down.

David