Wireless of the Week - week 3

[Bruce MacMillan]

You would have thought that a radio design might take into account current production of a battery. For instance the WS18, 46, 48 & 68 all used the same battery. This was made by the tens of thousands and was in supply in most theatres of war.

The WS27 & 58 used unique voltages where the battery produced was a one of. When manufacturing capacity was maxed out after the US entered the war the lead time for a small run was excessive. By the time sufficient quantities were made the war was almost over and other radios had been adopted.

I agree the technology was good, in some cases better than what was available. The designer didn't look at the big picture.

[Johnny Canuck]

Found an article on Don Hings WS27, WS58, seems it might have had something to do with the modulation(not that I understand what that is) but he mentions it was what made the sets possible in the first place, perhaps that is why it required a unique type power source. Battery consumption was greatly reduced, as well as the weight of the equipment, ranges seem to be greater than similar USA and British equipment.

Geoff

http://www.hyperstealth.com/DonHings...evelopment.PDF

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Bruce MacMillan

You would have thought that a radio design might take into account current production of a battery. For instance the WS18, 46, 48 & 68 all used the same battery. This was made by the tens of thousands and was in supply in most theatres of war.

The WS38 could also use that battery, presumably via an adapter or by changing the plug on the set, and the "Amplifier, Field Telephone, No.1" (used to turn a standard field telephone into the equivalent of the Tele-F High Power for long/poor lines) also made use of it.

Chris.

[David Dunlop]

Here are some photos of the satchel my 27-Set came with, showing the chunkier design, as opposed to the standard Satchel Signals. That is an Operator's Instructions Card tucked into the vinyl sleeve inside the cover. I bought this set at the Tail Gate Sale at the Vancouver MVPA Convention a few years ago. It came from a local Scout Troop that had been using a bunch of them at field events for years.

The last photo is battery related information. Inside the battery case should be a linen reinforced, waxed cardboard sleeve, with a green cotton strap fitted all the way around it. The part number on the face of this sleeve is "P 13029 N". The Eveready Battery slips snugly into this sleeve and the whole assembly is lowered into the battery case. The top of the battery has a four pin socket fitted that the power feed plug connects to. The sleeve assembly allows for easy removal of the battery. This particular battery is dated 1 SEPT 43. The socket and internal battery wiring are on the right end of the photo.

Filament voltage went to the two closer spaced pins (1.5 Volts). 90 Volts went to the two outer pins to drive the set. Interestingly, this identical voltage setup was used in the American Mine Detector Set SCR-625 Series. In it, a D-Cell provided the 1.5 Volts and a stick battery provided the 90 Volts. When you take apart one of these stick batteries, you find four 22 Volt Photoflash batteries connected in series.

For those of you not familiar with the 22-Volt Photoflash battery, it is dimensionally and visually identical to a standard 9-Volt battery. However, it does not have two terminals at one end. There is one spring style strip terminal across each end. You DO NOT want to be holding these things in your hand! If you have a camera shop in town that has been around since the 70's, that is your best starting point to find these batteries. They probably run the high side of $15 to $20 each these days, but four of them, and a good AA Cell will get your 27-Set back on the air with no problem.

David

[David Dunlop]

Further to my babbling in Post 9.

I just noticed on a pair of PRC 25/77 Set batteries, they have a nearly identical socket on them to the one used on the 27-Set battery. It has one extra hole on the side and a central key hole, but the basic four pin pattern of the 27-Set battery looks to be there around the circumference of the socket. If so, these dud batteries are all over the web dirt cheap and may prove a source of supply for the sockets and wiring needed to resurrect your 27-Set.

If somebody gets around to checking it out, let us know.


David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Nice set Dave, and I have to think your 'satchel. signals' is purpose built for the No.27. Interesting too that the style of the painted number on your set and the '49' on mine are a similar style. I wonder if they came from the same source?

[David Dunlop]

It's Sunday evening. I am supposed to be studying. Why and I doing this?

Oh well! :roll eyes

Just had another look at my 27-Set. The only marking of any kind I can find on the entire satchel is the number "4135" stamped dead centre on the inside bottom of the satchel in black ink. The number is 1.25 inches long and the height is 0.375 inches.

The carry strap is virtually identical to that on my 58-Set canvas bag for the Dry Battery.

The other monumental discovery (for me at least) was that the headphones installed on my 27-Set, are the same Dominion Electrohome manufactured 'IND' headphones as came with my 58-Set. Thin profile, with thin greenish rubber ear cups designed to fit under the combat helmet, with the same leather thong, metal fobbed adjustable chin strap. My 27-Set is 1943 production, Serial Number 911

The main components of my 58-Set were manufactured between 10 August 1943 and 07 February 1944, for what it is worth.

Now back to the books.


David