Which headsets ?

[Johnny Canuck]

Actually referred to as Headset Assemblies.
Canadian types:


British: Wireless set No 19 Headset Mike Hand No 13 ZA17606 GI


There are more British types, but I'm not familiar with them.

The Tannoy version was to be used by the Driver/Assistant as they thought the signal would be lost in the slip rings of turreted tanks. This proved unfounded and was later dropped. The Tannoy also required a special JD for power if I'm not mistaken.

Geoff

[David Dunlop]

Hi Richard. Great summary posted by Geoff on how they evolved.

You will notice the early types were fitted with a single head band (usually metal with or without a thin leather cover) that went over the top of your head, and the Mic had a canvas neck strap. If you get a chance to wear these for any length of time with the mic unsecured, you discover rather quickly just how heavy all that cording and the mic actually are in work mode. If you should happen to be leaning forward at all to tune the set, work the morse key or be writing anything down and drop the mic, the entire headset will come flying off.

The later designs did away with the mic strap and added a second, adjustable canvas strap setup to the head piece. The canvas strap adjusted over the top of your head and the metal/leather strap went around the back of your neck. If you happened to drop the mike with one of these on, everything stayed put on your head.

Another slight wrinkle to all this is that the American Mk II production for sure also utilized a metal and canvas breast plate assembly one could mount the mic into and fasten round your neck to keep the mic readily at hand. Not sure if the British or Canadian production ever made this item.

Fun stuff and thanks for sharing the photos, Geoff.

David

[David Dunlop]

Here is a photo of an NOS Breast Plate for the 19-Set Mic. Several dealers flog them on a regular basis on eBay.


David

[RichardT10829]

Cheers guys.

Will need three for my carrier installation

[Johnny Canuck]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Another slight wrinkle to all this is that the American Mk II production for sure also utilized a metal and canvas breast plate assembly one could mount the mic into and fasten round your neck to keep the mic readily at hand. Not sure if the British or Canadian production ever made this item.

Pretty sure I have the Microphone Holder with C /l\, will see if I can find them and post. The holder only works with Microphones No.3 and 7, the CDN Type 10 had a clip on the back and the British No.13 had a strap.??
One has to remember that Lend/Lease was both ways, the Americans bought Canadian manufactured products to prevent our bankruptcy. Roosevelt and King worked out a trade deal between the USA and Canada that allowed us to sell goods to the US balancing the trade deficit caused by Lend/Lease. So to find Canadian items in US manufactured kit or visa versa is not surprising. The Allies tried to work efficiently most of the time.
Canada wanted to get into tank production, Valentine, Ram, then Grizzly, but USA M4 production supplied all the Allied needs for Shermans, so Canadian M4 production was stopped at 400-500+- units and focused on the Sexton instead. This type of rationalization of production won the war.
Most of the Mackinaw jackets that the USA used, were actually made in Canada and sent to the USA as reverse Lend/Lease if I'm not mistaken.


David

Geoff aka Johnny Canuck