Wireless Set No. 52 Canadian - Project

[David Dunlop]

I think I have mentioned it before, this project would have been better started 50 years ago when 52-Set equipment was much more readily found. But then what is a project without challenges.

One of the items issued with the Remote Receiver and stocked in its Operating Case was a 100 foot coil of antenna wire; Wire, Electrical, R4, Mk 1. Next to impossible to find today under that specific identification. A little over a year ago, however, I stopped searching for the official military named product and started searching the internet using the actual description of the cold draw, stranded copper wire, provided in the Master Parts List for the 52-Set.

Not only did I discover this product is still alive and well and in production, but 100 foot coils can still be purchased from a number of Amateur Radio suppliers in the United States, or directly from the primary manufacturer, Davis RF, also in the USA. Most pricing falls in the low to mid $20.00 USF range but pay attention to shipping costs. Some will hit four times the value of the goods, or more.

I picked up my order in Pembina, North Dakota today and was delighted to find the coil was wound to within one quarter inch in diameter of the size of the coil illustrated in the Master Parts List. The weight of this coil comes in at 1.375 pounds and it was nice to finally have one of the items stored in the left side compartment of the Operating Case, actually in place.



David