Remote control

[David Dunlop]

Hi Bruce.

They actually all were stamped with a serial number by all three manufacturers; sadly, they all used the same method, which was crap for long-term survival. I never found a readable one on a Northern Electric product but found several with LOTS of TLC on R.C.A. and Dominion Electrohome Industries ones:

RCA

1942: C 03061, C 05661

1943: C 25113

1944: C 33237


DEI

1945: C 60633, C 62404 and C 65020

The ‘C’ and the Number were stamped separately with as much as one half inch of gap between them using a mechanical number stamp. The type offices used to have years ago with an attached ink stamp and a choice of sequential, or repetitive numbering functions. The problem was they used a very thin white paint that you can see through very easily when dried. The Stamps were ¼-inch Roman Style Font.

With the paint being so thin to start with, left exposed for any length of time, it simply oxidized over time and rubs off. If it gets over painted, it is protected, if you know it might be there and are very, very careful. I used to rub back with extremely fine emery paper, or 0000 steel wool and finer, using a water dampened cloth to clear off the dust. As soon as you start to see white marks, REALLY slow down and take your time.


I am not certain, but DEI might have been the only manufacturer by 1945.


David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Thanks Dave, so it would have been after the 'No. ' on these Dominion Electrohome Industries 1945 examples?

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Hi Bruce.

They actually all were stamped with a serial number by all three manufacturers; sadly, they all used the same method, which was crap for long-term survival. I never found a readable one on a Northern Electric product but found several with LOTS of TLC on R.C.A. and Dominion Electrohome Industries ones:

RCA

1942: C 03061, C 05661

1943: C 25113

1944: C 33237


DEI

1945: C 60633, C 62404 and C 65020

The ‘C’ and the Number were stamped separately with as much as one half inch of gap between them using a mechanical number stamp. The type offices used to have years ago with an attached ink stamp and a choice of sequential, or repetitive numbering functions. The problem was they used a very thin white paint that you can see through very easily when dried. The Stamps were ¼-inch Roman Style Font.

With the paint being so thin to start with, left exposed for any length of time, it simply oxidized over time and rubs off. If it gets over painted, it is protected, if you know it might be there and are very, very careful. I used to rub back with extremely fine emery paper, or 0000 steel wool and finer, using a water dampened cloth to clear off the dust. As soon as you start to see white marks, REALLY slow down and take your time.


I am not certain, but DEI might have been the only manufacturer by 1945.


David

[rob love]

Example of the serial shamelessly stolen off worthpoint.

[David Dunlop]

As per Rob’s Post, Bruce, yes.

The first character in Rob’s photo is the ‘C’. The stamping can be anywhere from right behind the ‘No.’ To as far away as under the ‘LIMITED’.

I will try and find the photo I took years ago and post it this weekend.

David

[Mike K]

Yes the asking prices for this military communications stuff on Epay is generally inflated to the point of being ridiculous. In many cases the seller has little idea of what the item is, it's green, it has wires and leads and sockets so it must be worth zillions. The ebay dealers are also asking exhorbitant prices for No. 19 set accessories. I believe a large stash of surplus NOS 19 set stuff has literally been dug up in Italy, back in the 1960s the stuff was buried in an old quarry or similar.

Those remote units were also manufactured in Australia, I can't recall the specific maker but it may have been AWA, I did have one at one stage.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Yes the asking prices for this military communications stuff on Epay is generally inflated to the point of being ridiculous.

<snipped>

Those remote units were also manufactured in Australia, I can't recall the specific maker but it may have been AWA, I did have one at one stage.

The Australian remote unit is more likely to have been a locally built Wireless Remote Control Unit 'E', which itself was a modification of the earlier 'B' unit (for the WS2, 3 and 9 (I think)) to allow it to be used with the WS19. A large number of 'B' units were converted (and retained their original ID plates).

The British "E Mk.1" had a wooden outer case, the subsequent Mk.2 was steel.

For further amusement, consider item 353517254336 on eBay UK, which is a Larkspur-era 27-ft telescopic mast (Racal MA 638) with no accessories and an obvious "clamp-on" repair piece to the top section and some corrosion, offered at the bargain price of 275 GBP. Alternatively there's item 274916183837 that is an incomplete Aerial Base No.28 (Larkspur VHF base) at a bargain price of 79 GBP - at least the seller has changed the description from "WW2, Aerial base for Wireless Set No.19 / WS 19 / WS 21 /WS22" after I pointed that out... (The last NOS one of those I bought cost 7 pounds, and I recently got a bagful of mixed bases for 20 pounds (mainly because it had a Base No.8 in amongst all the Larkspur ones).)



P.T.Barnum was right (or at least some of the sellers think he was).

Chris.

[David Dunlop]

Here is the RCA Unit I had years ago. Pretty much at the opposite end of the spectrum quality control wise from the one Rob posted, which just adds to the challenge of finding them today.

David