Wireless Set No. 52 Canadian - Project

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Last evening, I did a quick test on the glue residue left on the lower right side of the front panel and it look like it will remove OK with a little careful work and soaking with a glue solvent I have on hand.

I also started some online research on anything I could find about these switchboards, and in particular anything about the MK I Model. Surprisingly, I got a hit from the MLU Forum regarding the Week 37 Wireless of the Week Series Bruce Parker had put together several years ago. Week 37 covered the Switchboard Charging 5C Canadian and in it was a post from Jordan Baker who had run across a photo of a 5C MK I, Serial Number C183, also a 1944 product of Rogers Majestic. The comments back then suggest this variation was intended for the 19-Set HP and the 52-Set as both were rather power hungry wireless sets, and it was noted a new inboard pair of terminal posts were added on the upper portion of each side. The left set are marked, BATT, NO 1, CHARGE. The pair on the right BATT, NO 2, CHARGE. Upon a closer inspection of my switchboard, I now noticed where these additions were located, but the upper terminal post on each side is missing.

I suspect they were never installed. There are differences between your switchboard and the ones I've seen and yours appears to be for field use with two charging sets, rather than permanently installed in a wireless vehicle.

Clearly the next step will have to be removing the plywood rear cover to see what has been going on with the wiring. I am hoping the terminals were simply removed, but not the related wiring.

It looks as though the positive terminals for the charging (independent of the switch settings) were deleted, and the board re-marked for two charging sets rather than a single charging set when static and "Vehicle Dynamo" on the move.

None of the switchboards I have seen have a rear plywood cover - an indication that they were fitted to a vehicle with non-conducting walls perhaps, whereas this one was for use on the ground and stray bits of metal might short it out if it was unprotected?

In the meantime, I remember a Forum Member a few years back was parting out a Switchboard Charging 5C. If anyone has one being parted out, please get in touch with me. I suspect even a British one will have identical terminal post assemblies.

Almost certainly the same.

Be nice to confirm exactly why these two new sets of terminal posts were added and how they function.

My guess is they are simply wired in parallel with the battery terminals, and the positive terminals were removed (For safety?) when the design was adapted for use out of the vehicle.

I have seen wiring diagrams for the original version of these switchboards, so there must also be ones issued for the 5C MK I.

Optimist!

Best regards,
Chris.

p.s. Now I know what those bits of mounting hardware are for (and need to get some) - they probably fitted to the underside of the radio table (or to the vehicle wall) so that the "spare" switchboard could be stored out of the way when not required. (The vehicle one would be permanently wired in.)