19-Set Vario/Aerial Base Mounting Plate

[David Dunlop]

Here is a photograph of the plate shown in a No.2 Mk II* Cdn Carrier. Sorry for the low resolution but the most obvious differences with this plate assembly are the length (covering both PSU and Transceiver), the open front edge showing the four mounting spacers/feet along the front edge, and the carry straps either end. Pretty hefty straps, so I am thinking they might pass underneath the entire wireless assembly.

Interesting the accessories on top are still the Variometer, Aerial Base (No. 8 this time around) and the Control Box No.1.


David

[Patrick Johnson]

Here are the pictures providing all the dimensions of the retaining ring and bolt. The bolt head accepts a 5/16" socket. The third photo shows the bolts and lock washer combination used to hold the Control Unit to the mounting plate, its bolt head matches a 7/16" socket.
David requested the length of cable connecting the Variometer to the aerial, it measures a clear 4-1/4" between the metal fasteners at each end.
A question: is that likely Cadmium plating midway on the retaining bolt below the threads?

[David Dunlop]

Thanks for the photos, Patrick. That will be a big help.

Yes, the odds are quite high the hardware plating is cadmium. Very common up to the end of the war when zinc plating started to replace it. You can simulate the cadmium plating today with a good zinc plating. Hard to tell the difference when done right. Most shops just go for a quick galvanizing job which leaves an entirely different finish, that frosty dust bin crystal sort of look.

David

[Tim Bell]

My plate... possibly repainted?

WS19-1.jpg

WS19-2.jpg

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Here is a photograph of the plate shown in a No.2 Mk II* Cdn Carrier. Sorry for the low resolution but the most obvious differences with this plate assembly are the length (covering both PSU and Transceiver), the open front edge showing the four mounting spacers/feet along the front edge, and the carry straps either end. Pretty hefty straps, so I am thinking they might pass underneath the entire wireless assembly.

Interesting the accessories on top are still the Variometer, Aerial Base (No. 8 this time around) and the Control Box No.1.


David

I've seen that variety of top plate on a Scandinavian (Danish/Swedish?) post-WW2 WS19 setup at the War & Peace show recently. I didn't see any carrying straps (it seemed to be on a standard No.1 (or 21) carrier), but those handles would be necessary if you ever needed to lift it out of the "bin" on that UC install. The No.8 serial base indicates US or Canada - I don't think the USA ever produced the No.10 base, they just stuck with making Mk.II sets with the final upgrade to the complete station being the Eicor supply unit.

That may be an early "demountable" install, it's hard to tell from the photo.

The carrying straps are probably fastened to the ends of the set carrier "channels", like on the Carrier No.25 (which they look very similar to).

Chris.

[Patrick Johnson]

Hello,
By chance I came across these two photos (link attached) in the Canadian War Museum collection while searching the internet for information on WS19 Mk II sets. This mounting plate shares the same basic Variometer, aerial and CU layout as mine. Nice to see there is one more of these in Canada! Here's the link:
http://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/...&mode=artifact
Cheers, Patrick

[Chris Suslowicz]

That's interesting. it's got a 1950's vintage "Aerial Base No.28" - the larkspur VHF aerial base - fitted to the top plate. Also, the power supply case appears to have been modified to suit the long strap of the Carrier No.25. (According to the drawings, ther should be an adapter plate fitted to the 4 holes in the supply unit (the ones with blanking grommets fitted in the photograph) that has reverse keyhole slots to take the adjustable plateon the securing strap.

This one presumably had the slots re-worked to point to the right, and the original slot cutouts covered up.

Chris.

[Patrick Johnson]

Currently up for auction on ebay is another one of these rare plates, same manufacture and finish as mine. The seller is suggesting they were used in the bren carriers.
eBay item number: 132398883162

[David Dunlop]

Well after sweating bullets for a while and seeing this item go unsold, I was able to make a deal with the seller and this Plate, Mounting No 1 is now on its way here. And it only took 30 odd years to track one down.

I am beginning to suspect that when these Plates were first disposed of, the Army scavenged all related components to put back into the system. By the time the last ones were surplussed out, they were so obsolete they were disposed of with most or all fittings still attached.

The stripped plates would be a challenge for anyone to figure out if they bought a box at a disposal sale.

Now I just have two bits to find for it, an intact Aerial Base No. 10 Mk II, and that fiddly little steel packing plate that sits between this Plates, Mounting No. 1 and the wooden Variometer mounting bracket.

David

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Now I just have two bits to find for it, an intact Aerial Base No. 10 Mk II, and that fiddly little steel packing plate that sits between this Plates, Mounting No. 1 and the wooden Variometer mounting bracket.

David

No, you only have one piece to find: an Aerial Base No.10 Mk.II.

The steel plate is only used for mounting the variometer on the supply unit or similar arrangements with four small screws. For this plate you use three 1/4" BSF setscrews (hex head) and the wooden/rubber/bakelite/etc. "Piece, Packing" to fill the gap between the flat plate and the curved variometer.

Much simpler.

Chris.