Wireless Set No. 52 Canadian - Project

[David Dunlop]

Hi Bruce.

I am sure those Command bodies would not weather well, long term. I think they were all wood framed and interior clad with just a thin sheet metal skin in small sections for an exterior.

Some interesting other details in these photos. Some very hefty, equipment under the 52-Set bench with a row of white switch knobs along the top. The bin by the rear door the 52-set boxes are sitting on also has a smaller box marked ‘TELEGRAPHY EQUIPMENT’ sitting on it. The large front panel on that bin with the bars on it is a fold out desk and folding chair that deploys across the rear entrance. My guess would be Cypher Clerk Station.

Also, the No. 9 Key for the 52-Set is bolted down to the wireless table but not in use. The Key and Mic sockets on the Sender are occupied by the key and mic plugs from the Wireless Remote Control Unit by the front compartment wall, left of the 52-Set. The left hand 5-pin connector from the Supply Unit is also connected to the Remote, so I suspect the headphones for the Remote are also plugged into the lower right corner of the 52-Set Receiver.

David

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Hi Bruce.

Some interesting other details in these photos. Some very hefty, equipment under the 52-Set bench with a row of white switch knobs along the top.

I'm wondering what those are too.

The bin by the rear door the 52-set boxes are sitting on also has a smaller box marked ‘TELEGRAPHY EQUIPMENT’ sitting on it.

That one I can explain: it's a standard "Deed Box" as used by the legal profession, only painted green instead of black. The UK version was stencilled "Telegraph Equipment Unit B" (There was a "Unit A" for other purposes.), and it contained the issued stock of paperwork, binders, and possibly the "Stamp, Army Signal Dating, Mk.II" for the station/office.

The contents will be listed in the relevant section of "Regulations for the Equipment of the Army, Part 2, Section 13" (I think it's the base section 13 (no suffix letter) that dealt with Royal Signals as a whole). I have not been able to get my hands on a copy of this.

Basically it contains the various "Army Book" covers (155 Message Forms, 156 (Records), etc.), plus pads of Signal Register, Wireless Log, Message Form, D/R Docket books, envelopes, pencils, and so on that would be needed by the station or signal office.

The Wireless Log and Signal Register stayed in the AB156 covers, Message pads in AB155 (or used 'loose' in an office) and the forms were removed and distributed as required once filled out (and kept in bulldog clips or mousetraps to keep them organized). Paperwork was retained for 24 hours (I think) and then burned for security. (It's all in Signal Office Organization (for major units) or Signal Training (All Arms) for smaller ones.)

I need to scan more documents, I'm sure I have more forms somewhere!

Chris.

[David Dunlop]

Hi Chris.

Thanks for your input. Would the TELEGRAPHY EQUIPMENTS box be a key locked steel box, like a small strong box by any chance? I have seen the odd one over the years at flea markets but with no ID on them.

Here is a slightly different angled photo of the mystery bits under the 52-Set bench. The photo is from the same RCSIgs .ca Website. In this photo it looks like either two large units with two sets of fittings at the top of each, or four smaller ones with a single fitting on each. There also appears to be a clamping devise across the top of them locking into a vertical rod at the right side, not unlike a battery hold down clamp.

David

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Hi Chris.

Thanks for your input. Would the TELEGRAPHY EQUIPMENTS box be a key locked steel box, like a small strong box by any chance? I have seen the odd one over the years at flea markets but with no ID on them.

Here is a slightly different angled photo of the mystery bits under the 52-Set bench. The photo is from the same RCSIgs .ca Website. In this photo it looks like either two large units with two sets of fittings at the top of each, or four smaller ones with a single fitting on each. There also appears to be a clamping devise across the top of them locking into a vertical rod at the right side, not unlike a battery hold down clamp.

David

Deed boxes are key locked but not thief-resistant.

Reinforced (rolled) edges to box and lid, lock at top edge of front (pipe type key) and a folding wire handle on each end. eBay lot 164550836688 looks about right but is damaged, has no key, and the lock may be broken.

All the ones on eBay appear to have been broken open - the hooks on the lid are missing!

.....

Mystery units under the bench: possibly Canadian versions of the Converter DC/AC No.1 to power TYPEX machines? There's what looks like the slider for a rheostat at one end, plus a meter at the opposite side to the switch, so they may well be rotary converters to turn 12V DC into 230V AC at 50 c/s for coding equipment.

It's a 3-ton command vehicle, so may well be for higher formations and would need that sort of kit.

Best regards,
Chris.

[David Dunlop]

I pulled the Remote Receiver off the shelf this morning and in very short order am now pleased to have the original non luminous dial it came with mounted to it and the fully luminous one is now available as the likely candidate to be installed on the Frequency Dial of the Sender when I get to reassembling it.

The attached photo shows the dial the Sender came with on the left and the replacement candidate on the right. Interestingly, the yellow phosphors still really pop on both of these dials, the Green on the right side dial comes in a pretty good second, not so much on the left. The orange on both really takes a long time to load up and start glowing, but has a very short duration time. This is interesting because in conversations I have had with current suppliers of phosphor luminous paints, it is now the yellow phosphors that are hard to find with any reasonable brilliance and glow time. Orange, on the other hand is now right up there with blue, green red and white for brilliance and duration.

The original dial from the Sender had a lot of splatter on it that covers the luminous sections and I doubt it can easily be removed without taking the original paints underneath it along for the ride. It also has a lot of rust now on the plated surfaces. I am thinking I might use this dial as a test bed to see what can be restored and how, before I take a closer look at the remaining two Sender PA LOADING Dials.

David

[David Dunlop]

On a whim, late this morning, I decided to check the local Michaels store for the black Cable Lacing Cord I discovered I was out of recently. In the modern Crochet World, this is known as 100% Mercerized Size 10 Cotton Crochet Thread. Their website showed a limited supply in stock in 350 yard balls for $4.49 Cdn.

What the heck. I ordered one. 45 minutes later, I received an email confirming it was ready for curb-side pickup, so off I went. Did that, picked up lunch for Debbie and I and was back home, just as the latest snowstorm rolled into town. Life is good sometimes.

This cord will be used with the soldering iron portion of my 52-Set Project in due course.

David

[David Dunlop]

This morning was spent getting the soldering iron cord prepped for installation of a set of Mueller clips, once I find a pair of the correct ones.

First step was to remove the AC Plug, which turned out to be a 4-piece item made by Belden. The central portion of the plug, between the blades, turned out to be a plug and a small slot head screwdriver could be slid down to meet the bottom edge of the plug and pop it free. I then just clipped the two leads at their solder points on the blades and pulled the cord out of the plug, By gripping each blade with pliers and twisting it, they unlocked from the plug shell and could be pulled free.

Next was to measure up 5.5 inches from the end of the cord and mark that point with a wrap of ¾-inch masking tape. I figured 5 inches was a good length to avoid strain on the cord and the 2-3/4 inches of Mueller clip for the No. 24A 25-Amp clips needed gives an excellent reach. The extra half-inch covers the distance from the crimp at the bottom of the Mueller Clip that captures the lead insulation and the screw terminal the lead is secured to and soldered. Interestingly, these Mueller Clips used on the Soldering Iron are identical to the ones used on the 19-Set Dummy Load Grounding strap.

The leading edge of the masking tape was where the loom of the cord would be cut back. The back side of the masking tape marks the start point for the black lacing cord that will be wound forward from that point to cover the main loom and first quarter inch of the two leads to secure them and prevent further fraying of the loom.

When the loom was finally bound, a coat of varnish was brushed on to hold it all in place. Should be ready in about three hours and then I just have to find the Mueller Clips.

There is an important addendum to working with this power cord. You may be familiar with cutting back the sheath on electrical cords to find two or more cords of twisted brown paper entwined with the electrical leads inside the sheath. This fills out the innards of the cable and presents a smooth exterior finish to the loom. It is also very flexible. On older high hear electrical appliances such as this soldering iron, toasters and laundry irons, they could not use these paper fillers. If the cord came in touch with the hot appliance, it was a serious fire hazard. This cord had three windings of asbestos in it, one formed the central core and the other two wrapped around this central core with the two electrical leads. I found that by cutting around the circumference of the black cotton loom at the masking tape and then using the edge of an Exacto Knife Blade under the loom and cutting away from it, I was able to easily slice straight down to the end of the cord, at which point the black cotton loom literally fell away. I did this with disposable rubber gloves on and a respirator and full eye goggles. With the loom off, I sprayed down the asbestos cords with a water bottle and they unwrapped easily and were cut free. Wiped everything down with a damp cloth after and everything went into a plastic bag. I can drop it off tomorrow at a hazardous waste depot at Manitoba Hydro tomorrow.

David