1944 C-15A-Wire-5 Restoration

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

You handle the finger joints...I'll sort out the hardware and dimensions.

Dimensions will be the same as the post-WW2 steel-cased replacements, because those had to be interchangeable with the wooden-cased ones and fit the appropriate trays and clamps.

Chris.

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks Hanno and Chris,

The poster on the wall behind the No 19 set is this in the picture.

It tells pretty much all you have to do to install the No 19 set in the truck.

I will follow up on your references Chris .

Tomorrow , work to make a battery tray to the right front of the box !

[Robert Bergeron]

Friends,

Made a battery tray today for the box. First i started with the base. I had the original 2 ' X 4 ' 's that were already in place. I added a platform. Then i made a sheet metal tray and primed it. Then added the battery boxes and voilà !

Was there just one battery tray in this box / installation ?

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

Friends,

Made a battery tray today for the box. First i started with the base. I had the original 2 ' X 4 ' 's that were already in place. I added a platform. Then i made a sheet metal tray and primed it. Then added the battery boxes and voilà !

Was there just one battery tray in this box / installation ?

You certainly need two sets of batteries, I would have thought, since that's what the Switchboard No.5 is meant for: charge one set while the other set are supplying the equipment. (WW2 radio sets will not take kindly to being supplied by float-charged batteries - you can do it in an emergency but it seriously shortens the life of the valves/tubes. I think the figure is that a 10% overvoltage halves the lifespan.)

Regards,
Chris.

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks Chris. Were would the other battery tray go ? Unless i parked four batteries sideways on the same tray ?

[David Dunlop]

Two square steel trays fit on the 2 x 4 's in that corner, Robert. Each tray holds two batteries. The front and rear edges of the tray have a bracket in the middle that takes a steel rod that is part of the hold down assembly for the batteries so they don't go crashing about when the vehicle is in motion. An upper hold down fits over the steel rods and is secured in place. There are stampings on the bottom of the tray to allow spilled acid to flow away from the bottom of the battery boxes. The tray I have seen were painted with a thin black tar like substance to reduce corrosion.

A fifth battery, called a Grant Battery, fits on the floor, dead centre on the front wall. below the Wireless Table.

David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

Thanks Chris. Were would the other battery tray go ? Unless i parked four batteries sideways on the same tray ?

Park sideways on the same tray. There were two squares on the bottom made of 1x1x1/8" angle or maybe folded 18 gauge (?) (one square holding 2 batteries) and vertical rods topped with 1/2" threaded rod, wing nuts and a bar to clamp the battery boxes down. 1 pair to operate the wireless while the other pair charges then reverse, repeat.

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks a lot Bruce and David . That information is really , really helpfull. 4 batteries sideways , their backs to the sidewall in the square trays . Holdown rods both sides like the battery box of the truck . Then a Grant battery between the legs of the wireless operator and under the table. David, What the heck does a Grant battery looks like ? Cheers . Robert