11 Set stuff

[Ron Pier]

David I just bought the other one for the sake of 11 quid. I'd have happily paid that when I was looking for door clips for my switchboard. But these ones appear to have the lettering embossed in the lids with what looks like No 5C. So I'm guessing these were the next generation box? The lettering could be just picked out in white. Ron

[cletrac (RIP)]

The first 19 sets used the same case so could be. I almost bought all of them but thought somebody else might want one. I like how they were listed as art-deco collectable tins. The guy didn't have a clue what they were.

[Ron Pier]

Originally Posted by cletrac

I like how they were listed as art-deco collectable tins. The guy didn't have a clue what they were.

Good when that happens! I bought an utterly rare WD Miller motorcycle tail lamp for £15 because the bloke had listed it as "Strange Lamp" Ron

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by cletrac

The first 19 sets used the same case so could be. I almost bought all of them but thought somebody else might want one. I like how they were listed as art-deco collectable tins. The guy didn't have a clue what they were.

They're variations on the same outer case for different wireless sets.

5A ZA.0942 was for Wireless Sets 9, 12, 12HP, 33, etc.
5B ZA.0943 was for Wireless Sets 11, 12, 12HP, 14, 33.
5C ZA.1904 was for WS19 and R.208
5C Mk.1/1 ZA.29388 was for WS19 or SR C12
5D ?
5E ?
5F ZA.24797 was for R308

According to Wireless for the Warrior Volume 2.

I bought a couple of Canadian 5C tins with assorted contents many years ago, advertised as "Parts for Case Tractor" on eBay. They had a lot of WS19 spares inside and about four of the operator lamps, plus unrelated fuses and oddments.

The 5C has a wooden block to take fuses, lamps and brushes. I think the 5B has a soldered/welded in divider/compartment that takes the spare thermocouple meter for the WS.11. Externally they're identical.

Latches vary by manufacturer, as does the style/colouring/lettering, without considering repainted ones.

Chris.

[cletrac (RIP)]

Some of the ebay spare parts cases have the embossed lettering and are 5C for the 19 set. With not much effort with a hammer and punch the C could become a B. The others have no lettering and would need a decal or a stencil. I have no idea which ones I'll end up with but they'll both become 5B cases.

Here's a list of the spare parts case contents from the operator's manual:
Ammeter H. F.
350 mA No 1
Brushes, D or M, No 4
Brush holders No 5
Brush sash tool No 2
Bulbs, 6V J (4 req)
Lamps, operators, No 2
Tablets, calibration
No 1
No 2
No 3
No 4
No 5
Voltmeter, pocket,250 volts, No 2
Case for meter

I have the voltmeter and case and the operator's lamp.
What's the brush sash tool?
What are the calibration tablets?
The left picture is one of a 5B that Bruce sent me. The dividers are riveted in place.The right picture is a newer 5C but it's the same dimensions and I put my voltmeter and light into place. In Bruce's the green circle obviously holds the ammeter and the compartment on the right is for brushes and the other small bits.

[Ron Pier]

Dave as far as I can make out from the ebay pictures, all three have the embossed lettering, but like you, I'll see what I get.

I've had this one for years in my universal carrier and haven't paid much attention to it in a long time. But inside it has a fixed wooden block with lots of holes and there is a No9 Morse key? Maybe Chris can enlighten me what it's all about? Ron

[Mike K]

The Aust. No. 11 set spares box is quite a bit larger than the 5B/C types, I will have a look and see if I can find mine and take a pic

Those 19 set 5C boxes. In the early 1980's, I bought a lot of them from Ham Radio supplies in Highett st Richmond, for $2 each.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Ron Pier

Dave as far as I can make out from the ebay pictures, all three have the embossed lettering, but like you, I'll see what I get.

I've had this one for years in my universal carrier and haven't paid much attention to it in a long time. But inside it has a fixed wooden block with lots of holes and there is a No9 Morse key? Maybe Chris can enlighten me what it's all about? Ron

The full complement of spares (and the actual holes in the block) vary according to the set and supply unit. Usually there's a contents list in the lid.

Standard contents are:

Left to right....
1 x spare microphone insert (dynamic type).
12 x 250mA fuses for the supply unit.
4 x Bulbs, 12 volt, 'F', ditto.
2 x replacement fuse carriers (in case you drop them into the bowels of your AFV, never to be seen again).
2 x LT brushes and 4 x HT brushes for the dynamotor.
carried loose in the tin (or in small envelopes)

Spare wire clips for the 6pt and 12pt plugs on set and supply unit, control boxes, etc.
Spare wire clips for the Pye connectors on the set.
Spare circlips for the 6 & 12 point cable connectors.
Rubber (blind) grommets for plugging unused holes in the set canvas cover and possibly unused droplead connectors on junction boxes.
4 x flick locking screws.
2 each Aerial Pigtails for the A and B set aerial bases (8 or 10, and 9)
The morse key.

Optional (not always supplied): dummy antenna (AFV kits only, I think.)

The operator lamp sometimes ended up in the box, too.

The dynamotor brushes varied according to the supply unit, and I think were discontinued later on as the were rarely needed. Likewise the quantity of springs and clips were reduced post-WW2. Sets with the Canadian Supply Unit No.2 also got 12 x 10 Amp fuses for the vibrator part of the supply, these had a blue band on them as a distinguishing mark.

Regards,
Chris.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by cletrac

Some of the ebay spare parts cases have the embossed lettering and are 5C for the 19 set. With not much effort with a hammer and punch the C could become a B. The others have no lettering and would need a decal or a stencil. I have no idea which ones I'll end up with but they'll both become 5B cases.

Here's a list of the spare parts case contents from the operator's manual:
Ammeter H. F.
350 mA No 1
Brushes, D or M, No 4
Brush holders No 5
Brush sash tool No 2
Bulbs, 6V J (4 req)
Lamps, operators, No 2
Tablets, calibration
No 1
No 2
No 3
No 4
No 5
Voltmeter, pocket,250 volts, No 2
Case for meter

I have the voltmeter and case and the operator's lamp.
What's the brush sash tool?
What are the calibration tablets?

Tablets, Calibration will be celluloid (or similar) sheets with a preprinted grid and/or lettering for the operator to note settings on (in pencil) for various frequencies, etc. Think of them as a very early whiteboard or reusable Post-it notes.

Brush, Sash Tool will (I assume) be a small round paintbrush for keeping the set free of dust - especially carbon dust from the dynamotor brushes.

Chris.

[cletrac (RIP)]

So those calibration tablets would be like a smaller version of the Wave Maker C correction chart. How big would they be? Would anybody have a picture of one? My guess would be that they'd fit in the voltmeter compartment.
Also a picture of the list of contents would be nice!
I found these ammeters on the net. The first one should be the one called for in the WS11 manual.

[Ron Pier]

Thanks for that concise description Chris, even if I am a bit more baffled than I was before. Obviously the Morse key shouldn't be in there. If anyone has any of those bits and bobs to fill up the holes, I'd be happy to buy them. Ron

[Bruce MacMillan]

Originally Posted by cletrac

So those calibration tablets would be like a smaller version of the Wave Maker C correction chart. How big would they be?

It is Chart, Calibration No. 2, ZA14680. It is the little plastic square you often see on the lower right hand side of the 19 set. Often mounted under the handle. New ones are white but it sometimes turns orange. It records the variometer setting for particular frequencies. Makes changing frequencies quicker when using the flick mechanism. I have a spare that is marked with two settings, one for Blue and one for Red.