15-CWT, 2K1, WIRE 5 Body Details

[Robert Bergeron]

Gents,

In this picture taken by our friend richard when he had the box sandblasted we clearly see the tube that is in a vertical plane used to store aerials we were discussing earlier.

We also see the map table storage bracket but in a different position than in the previous picture of another box.

[Robert Bergeron]

picture uploaded

[RichCam]

David and Robert,

Regarding Picture #3, the dual exhaust Y pipe that protrudes through the floor in the generator closet, that is what the Wire 5 Radio Box has at our shop. We removed it to be able to remove the closet frame such that the paneling is exposed. I'm safe to assume then that this Box was then using 2 chore horse generators?

With regards to the map table, I don't have one but I do have the bracket in place and the 4 angled holes for the support rods.

With regards to the +/- plate on the side. If one leaves the copper bar in place behind the wing nuts, I guess it could be used as an external grounding plate. If you spin the wing nuts off, remove the bar, you could use it as a + and - connector through the wall of the box, like Picture #2. I'm not a radio guy but that would be kind of handy, I think.

That's all for now, Steve is working on the window slider frames, Jim is working on the convoy lights - amazing that they work after 70 years of sitting in the mud and stuff once you change out the bulb. I'm still trying to get a couple of hours of peace and quiet so I can finish wiring the dash.

Let me know what you think!

[Jon Skagfeld]

A previous poster wondered what was done for interior heat.

As far back as the late '50s, we had a black stove about 2 1/2 ft high, 3' in diameter, with a wire handle. These were stores issued items. I have no idea how they were used...coal, oil, naptha??? Our time on location was so short that the rad ops just soldiered on.

Note to Richard (which may put to bed all the questions about the 12 v feed): There was a rolled up laminated large diagram showing the WS No 19 vehicle installation which was part of the 19 set stuff that you loaded up at my place.Perhaps reference to it may sort things out.

[David Dunlop]

Over the years, I have had a few people ask if there was a manual for the 20' Vertical Antennae Mast and to my knowledge, there never was one, simply because the 20' Mast was just one part of the Antennae Vertical 34' Steel Mk I Kit.

Thought I would post a couple of pictures from the manual for this kit showing what all went into it. There is a picture of the Base Plate, Vertical Roof there which may help some individuals identify this item at their favourite surplus hangout. The post in the centre of this plate is actually ball shaped to allow for correct vertical orientation of the steel mast on any vehicle roof that is not flat. The ZA No. for this Base Plate is ZA/C 00103 and the Mfg. Part Number is PC 82495C-269.

The Vehicle Mounting Brackets & Hardware for storing the 34' Mast on the 2K1 Wireless Body would not be used as this mounting was factory installed. However these parts would be used on the HUW to mount the mast on the right side of the vehicle, just aft of the Driver's Door.

David

[RichCam]

David,

Thank you for the diagrams. I will print them out and study them in more detail tomorrow morning.

Jon - I will look at the rolled up radio set-up diagram and see if I can decipher
the +/- wall connection.

One more part to the mystery, I have a Ford HUW chassis out in the back 40. The seat isn't a regular CMP seat but after looking at Robert's pictures of various Wire 5 bodies, is it possible that this is a "radio" operator's seat - from the back of the HUW?

Let me know what you think and I could transfer it to the Wire 5 box if it is.

Regards,

[rob love]

The seat almost looks like the seat from a M-series Dodge. Seems to me there was two different heights in the command post vehicle and this would be the higher one.

[David Dunlop]

Rich.

That'almost' looks like a Bantam Jeep seat, but not quite. Whatever it is, it is definitely not a seat for your 2K1, or very likely the HUW.

THe two seats in the 2K1 for the Wireless Operator and Cypher Clerk are standard Chev CMP seat assemblies identical to those in the cab. In earlier 15-cwt Wireless bodies the seat assemblies were bolted onto wooden spacers on the floor, but these proved to be very poor in durability. For the 2K1, a seat mount assembly was designed out of tubular steel in a roughly figure eight shape. It sits about 3 to 4 inches high with four feet on it that bolt into the hole patterns in the floor you will find in front of the wireless desk and off to the left, in front of the Cypher Clerk Desk. The complete Chev seat and rail assembly then bolts down on top of these mounts. The mounts are drilled to take the hardware in the same spots that mount these seats to the cab floor. Both seats face forward. The Cypher Clerk works side saddle.

If you can find one of these tubular seat mounts, any shop could knock off a bunch for you in pretty short order. They are pretty straight forward in design.

Cheers for now,

David

[David Dunlop]

Well I found the Packing List for the Antennae, Vertical 34ft. Steel Mk. 1 this morning and thought I would post a copy of it since it shows the quantities of some of the key little bits and confirms exactly what items go in the heavy duty leather Bags, Aerial Gear, Canadian, which is part of the kit.

This bag is a heavy brute when all items are stowed in it and I am thinking it must have been stored on the floor inside the 2K1 when not in use. Thinking about this, a dim light in my memory went on, perhaps one of you can confirm, the details of for me.

The shelving unit mounted against the back wall of the body, left of the rear door on entering has a lower compartment with a vertically sliding door (this is the dim part I referred to). This would seem to be the perfect spot to put the leather Bags. I think the shelves were fibreboard and fairly thin so likely would not stand up to the weight of the leather bag for long. I think the door on the lower compartment might also have been fibre board with a grab handle.

David

[RichCam]

Thanks David for an explanation of Wire 5 Radio Box Seats. I don't have any extra CMP seats as anything that I do have is going to be going into the back of the Cab 12 Ford FATs when I get to restoring them.
Cheers, Richard

[David Dunlop]

Rob Love.

You mentioned these 15-cwt penthouses were not covered in the Design Branch records, but do your references covering the 30-cwt penthouses provide enough information to get a good idea of how the 2K1 penthouses would have looked?

I am thinking there must have been a large number of design/construction similarities and the 15-cwt items would essentially be shorter versions of the larger ones. Trying to figure out in my mind if they were one piece of canvas, 2 or more. They were probably interchangeable on either side of the 2K1 Body. A left and right version would be overkill.

I suspect they had two support poles for the outside corners at the very least, probably wooden, but would they be one piece or sectional?

The hem at the roofline for the 2K1 should probably have a line of grommets fitted tofasten to the hooks installed along the roofline and this hem may also have had some sort of weather strip to minimize the elements getting in. Don't know if the 30-cwt and other vehicles would have used the same hooks on the roof attachment method or something else.

Does it say if the penthouse came with it's own Storage Bag for all the pieces?

I am thinking the penthouse might not have been a standard issue for all WIRE 5 Trucks, but was more likely issued on an as needed basis. Not sure if that makes sense.

Can't help thinking of all the piles of canvas that used to be lying about at Tuelon and Westbourne many years ago that looked like bits and pieces of tent and wondering now if some of it was penthouse canvas. They would probably only ever have sold on the civvies market to anyone looking for bits to cut up and sew into something the customer needed. Can't imagine them ever flying off the shelves for what they were, although if they were stencilled with an ID and NOS today, they might attract a lot of attention.


David