58-Set (Canadian) Vibrator Power Supply

[David Dunlop]

Didn't know these things existed, but a somewhat buggared one has just shown up on eBay today. Made by Electronic Labs Inc. in the United States, no idea when, but it has peaked my curiosity.

If you want to take a look at it, the eBay ID is:

191798458838

Does anyone have any further information on this piece of equipment? Seems like this supply might have been intended to make a base station out of the 58-Set, which seems odd.

David

[Bruce MacMillan]

It was standard issue for the ws58 kit. It fit inside the vibrator power unit. That is the box above the radio. This box also held spare valves, etc for the radio. It was powered by two Willard wetcells that sat in the bottom of the case.

It is covered in the WS58 EMER. These were used a fair bit because of the battery supply issue.

This item is only the psu and probably isn't much use on it's own. The seller also said it had been modified. The complete VPU does appear for sale occasionally. I still have two myself to complete a pair of 58 set kits.

[David Dunlop]

Thanks for that quick clarification, Bruce. Checked my set and there it was, just as it should be. Doh! Silly me! Late in the day when I spotted it and for some reason my brain locked onto the idea it was a new stand alone item. The possibility of it being a stripped out piece of a standard set escaped me completely.

Best regards,


David

[brengunman]

I purchased the one on ebay and am trying to more or less restore it.
I have patched up the holes and made a new fuseholder and installed a battery switch and plug.

I am now trying to figure out what the "C" battery holder looks like.
Does anyone have a picture of this? Was the 21 volt battery special or a commercial one? (I have seen 22 1/2 volt photoflash units which look to be about the correct size.)

Also, does anyone know who made the headset/mic plugs?

George

[universalgrl]

Pics of the VPU
The system laid out
The c battery holder
Accumulator connections
10 pin Jones plug which has both headsets and power to the radio
4 pin Jones plug at bottom of VPU to accumulators.
The headset plugs are Cannon 4 pin microphone connectors Pt. # 4-11

[universalgrl]

VPU Schmatic and parts
The VPU is a fantastic piece of kit, it would not have taken much to turn it into a universal power supply capable of powering many different radios, mine detectors and other electronic equipment of the day.
A multi position selector switch, adaptor cords and a few discrete components plus the ability to be recharged from any 6 volt vehicle and you could tell the QM to keep his short life battery packs.
Just my opinion.

I thought I was wrong once but I was mistaken.

[brengunman]

Thanks Roberta
Pics are of great help in my "sort of" restoration.
George