what is it?

[Chris Suslowicz]

Photo #1, clockwise from top left:

Microphone, Hand, No.4, 4A, or 8. (4 is for WS 8, 12, 21 or 33; 4A is for WS18 (thicker wires for switching the valve filament supply), 8 is for Remote Control Unit 'F' for the WS 22.

American 'T17' microphone. Depending on the plug it could be for the WS48 or the AN/GRC-9 (I think), or a variety of other things.

Telephone, Hand, No.? - for field telephones. May have a switch in the handle which would make it for Telephone Set D Mk V, no switch is for Telephone Set F.

Microphone, Hand, No. C3. Canadian version of Mic. Hand. No.3 and used with the Wireless Remote Control Units (Canadian) for the WS19, etc. Also can be used with anything that takes the No.3 (e.g. WS 9, 11, remote control units A, B, E, etc.)

Photo #2 (again clockwise from top left):

American headset and throat microphone - don't recognise either.

Microphone & Headset Assembly No.1 for WS19 or 52 - missing the snatch plug. (Check the headset inserts for continuity, they have a high failure rate.)

Canadian Mic & Headset Assembly No.10 for WS19 or WS52 - should have the conical rubber "snatch plug" on the end of the cable.

Canadian headset with jack plug - probably for the Wireless Remote Control Unit No.1 - the jack plug should have an oversize 'boss' on the back to prevent it being used in the microphone socket (which would discharge the batteries). Equivalent to (but far more comfortable than) the British CLR and DLR No.5 headsets.

Photo #3

4-pin cable is American.
Short 12 pin to 12 pin dogbones are Supply Unit No.2 (or equivalent) to WS19 Mk.3.
Long 12 pin to 12 pin cable is a WS19 harness connector, probably for a set on the "wooden board" Carrier No.3 or 23, but may have other uses in complex setups (command vehicles).

Photo #4

Long cable is a WS19 harness cable, probably for running between two control units in a tank turret - there is a whole range of these. Black plastic insulation means American or late/post-WW2 manufacture.

Short cable is a power input cable for the WS19 supply unit, probably in a wireless truck (Charging Switchboard or Batten, Terminal to Supply Unit). May originally have had 4 lug connectors, the other two being for jumpering a pair of batteries to provide 12V (from 2 x 6V 125AH accumulators).

Best regards,
Chris.