Wireless of the Week - week 30

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

It’s easy here in Canada to think of 19 sets as all having luminous black Russian/English decals, however the original 19 set was a British design which was quite different in appearance. British production continued throughout the war parallel with sets made in Canada, Australia and the United States. In fact British production by Pye Radio Ltd., Ekco, Mitcham Works Ltd. and AGI totaled into the tens of thousands in all three marks beginning in 1941 whereas Canadians produced only Mk.II and Mk.III versions and the Americans and Australians only the Mk.II.

As stated in previous weeks, the Wireless Set No.19 was a ground, vehicle and tank radio comprised of an A set (R/T, CW and MCW, AM, 2 to 8 MHz with a range of 10 to 15 miles), a B set (R/T, VHF, 229 to 241 MHz with a range of 1000 yards) and an intercom for voice communication in armoured vehicles. The set was a modular design, and control and aerial systems were very flexible to allow for a wide variety of installations and uses. British 19 sets operated on a 12 volt DC power source, however they could be centre tapped to use 24 volts for use in tanks with 24 volt electrical systems.

The set featured this week is a British No.19 Mk.III made by E.K. Cole dating probably from 1943. Its components and cables are compatible and can be used with their corresponding Canadian and American counterparts, however its internals are different. For instance the British ‘Supply Units No.1 Mk.III’ shown has individual rotary transformers to supply HT1 (275 volts) and HT2 (500 volts) whereas the comparible Canadian ‘Supply Unit No.2’ had one rotary transformer with commutators on a single armature shaft for HT1 and HT2. The set also has the usual British style of English only black lettering on its face which takes some getting used to for a colonial like me.

This set is a work in progress and requires a correct British base, variometer and control units to complete it.