MLU FORUM  

Go Back   MLU FORUM > GENERAL WW2 TOPICS > The Wireless Forum

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 26-08-16, 00:32
Bruce Parker (RIP) Bruce Parker (RIP) is offline
GM Fox I
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,606
Default Wireless of the Week - week 28

It took until the end of the war but the British, unlike their Americans and Germans counterparts who had figured it out long before, finally realized VHF portable radios worked better on the battlefield than AM radios and began to produce their own VHF sets. One, the Wireless Set No.31 (covered earlier) was a close copy of the American BC-1000 man-pack set, and this week’s set is another. The Wireless Set No.88, is a smaller and more portable contemporary of the No.31 and followed the lines of British wartime sets like the No.38 and 46 that were worn on the breast.

The wireless set No.88 was developed beginning n 1945 and was too late to see wartime service. It was not only last in the series of British and Commonwealth portable sets ending with the number “8”, it was the last of the numbered sets before the Larkspur era. Production of the No.88 was by E.K. Cole commencing in 1947.

The Wireless Set No.88 was a man pack set for short range infantry communications. It was tropicalised and came in a waterproof aluminum case with simple to use controls on its top. The set was worn in a specialized pouch resembling a standard infantry ‘Basic Pouch’ on the left and the battery providing HT and LT voltages was carried in a similar pouch on the right. The left pouch also contained an instruction card and a sleeve for the aerial sections. A “Satchel, Signals’ was also part of a complete station and used to carry a wire aerial, headset and a spare battery. The effect of wearing the set on the operator’s front in pouches resembling standard infantry ammunition pouches was a method of protecting him from becoming a target for enemy snipers.

The set operated R/T (voice) only over a frequency range of 38.01 to 42.15 MHz however frequencies were limited to four crystal controlled channels. These four channels were marked as letters A, B, C and D on the dial of the Wireless Set No.31 which formed part of an integrated communication system with the No.88. Additionally, there were two versions of the set each with a different set of channels. Type A (40.20 to 42.15 MHz) was an infantry platoon/company level set and its face was colour coded khaki green. Type B (38.01 to 39.70) was for mortar platoons and its face as black as in the example presented this week. Set controls consisted of nothing more than an on/off switch, a channel selector switch and sockets for the handset and aerials. A cable went from the set to the battery and another ended in a strange plastic spring loaded “press to speak” contraption. Unlike earlier sets that required the operator to open it up to change valves, the No.88 set operator was warned against doing so.

The set was 5-3/4” wide by 3-3/4” deep by 8-3/4” tall and weighed 5 lbs. The battery was generally similar in size and weight and the complete station was 11 lbs. Range was up to two miles and the original British fear that FM VHF was too ‘line of sight’ for battlefield conditions was somewhat justified as the manual includes instructions for the operator to choose better locations when communication should be happening…but wasn’t.

A No.88 AVF version was also produced for tank infantry communication.

If anyone can direct me to where I might find accessories to complete this set (pouches, aerials, battery, headset, instruction card) I’d really appreciate it.
Attached Thumbnails
1.jpg   2.jpg   3.jpg   4.jpg   5.jpg  

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 27-08-16, 23:32
Chris Suslowicz Chris Suslowicz is offline
Junior Password Gnome
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 814
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Parker View Post
If anyone can direct me to where I might find accessories to complete this set (pouches, aerials, battery, headset, instruction card) I’d really appreciate it.
I have some aerials (both the sectional rod type and also the wire aerial - though the rubber insulation has perished on the latter) and can find you the instruction plate (printed on aluminium sheet, rather than card).

Headsets and officers handsets appear reasonably frequently. The set pouch turns up but the battery pouch (with no hole in the top) is hard to get.

Batteries stopped being available in the late 1970s, I think. The cadet forces were the last users and then got the A40/CPRC26 as a replacement. I can get you the battery connector and the specification of the battery if you want to make up a dummy unit (or run the set from a bench supply) if that's any help.

Chris.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 28-08-16, 00:09
Bruce Parker (RIP) Bruce Parker (RIP) is offline
GM Fox I
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,606
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Suslowicz View Post
I have some aerials (both the sectional rod type and also the wire aerial - though the rubber insulation has perished on the latter) and can find you the instruction plate (printed on aluminium sheet, rather than card).

Headsets and officers handsets appear reasonably frequently. The set pouch turns up but the battery pouch (with no hole in the top) is hard to get.

Batteries stopped being available in the late 1970s, I think. The cadet forces were the last users and then got the A40/CPRC26 as a replacement. I can get you the battery connector and the specification of the battery if you want to make up a dummy unit (or run the set from a bench supply) if that's any help.

Chris.
Thanks Chris!! Any help would be most appreciated.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 28-08-16, 00:21
cletrac (RIP)'s Avatar
cletrac (RIP) cletrac (RIP) is offline
David Pope
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Eston, Sask, Canada
Posts: 2,251
Default

Handset on ebay
Attached Thumbnails
Screenshot_1.jpg  
__________________
1940 Cab 11 C8 Wireless with 1A2 box & 11 set
1940 Cab 11 C8 cab and chassis
1940 Cab 11 C15 with 2A1 & Motley mount & Lewis gun
1940 Cab 11 F15A w/ Chev rear ends
1941 Cab 12 F15A
1942-44 Cab 13 F15A x 5
1942 cab 13 F15A with 2B1 box
1943 cab 13 F15A with 2H1 box
1943 Cab 13 C8A HUP
1944 Cab 13 C15A with 2C1 box
1943 Cletrac M2 High Speed Tractor
MkII Bren gun carrier chassis x 2
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 28-08-16, 00:27
Chris Suslowicz Chris Suslowicz is offline
Junior Password Gnome
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 814
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cletrac View Post
For some bizarre reason that one's missing the wire frame! It would be very difficult to use like that.

Chris.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 28-08-16, 19:53
Bruce MacMillan Bruce MacMillan is offline
a Canuck/Brit in Blighty
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Hell Fire Corner, Kent UK
Posts: 697
Default

Hi Bruce,
I have a handset & headset you can have for the price of postage. PM me your address if interested.
Attached Thumbnails
headsets.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 28-08-16, 20:48
Bruce Parker (RIP) Bruce Parker (RIP) is offline
GM Fox I
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,606
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce MacMillan View Post
Hi Bruce,
I have a handset & headset you can have for the price of postage. PM me your address if interested.
Very interested...PM sent.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-04-17, 02:07
Bruce Parker (RIP) Bruce Parker (RIP) is offline
GM Fox I
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,606
Default Thanks guys!!

Thanks to MLU-ers Bruce MacMillan and 'Johnny Canuck' my W/T 88 set is way more complete now.
Attached Thumbnails
1A.jpg   1B.jpg  
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Wireless of the Week - week 19 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 6 15-08-16 10:48
Wireless of the Week - week 17 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 10 22-06-16 06:48
Wireless of the Week - week 18 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 0 17-06-16 00:28
Wireless of the Week - week 16 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 3 05-06-16 20:24
Wireless of the Week - week 8 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 5 09-04-16 23:24


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 23:15.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Maple Leaf Up, 2003-2016