what kind of batteries do i use for my Field Telephone Set D.MK.V ?

[Cpl.George]

what kind of batteries do i use for my 1942 Telephone Set D.MK.V ?



http://www.rcsigs.ca/dbimages/fs/tel...d_d_mk5_fs.jpg

[jeff davis]

I used two d cell
regards
Jeff

[Jon Skagfeld]

Originally Posted by jeff davis

I used two d cell
regards
Jeff

"X" cells were originally used. Now unobtainium, they were 1 1/2 Volts with brass screw terminals. Two were used per phone. The cells were carbon zinc...really old battery chemistry and subject to leakage.

I've heard of, but not seen, modern "D" cells used in a jury-rigged fixture.

[jeff davis]

looked at my sets and they are different there is not enough room for the d cells in the MK5 I have mine installed in MK1 sets.try to post pics
Jeff.
the battery holders came from Princess auto a few years ago.

[jeff davis]

Some more pics.
The old Batteries are out of My MK5

[rob love]

I was able to get some of the old X batteries from my unit sigs stores back in 1978 for one of the remote units that went with the 19 set. I ended up donating the set with batteries to the regtl museum, not realizing I would never see that style of battery again.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Cpl.George

what kind of batteries do i use for my 1942 Telephone Set D.MK.V ?



http://www.rcsigs.ca/dbimages/fs/tel...d_d_mk5_fs.jpg

This has mostly been answered, but....

The original battery was a pair of "Cells, Dry, X, Mk.II" or "Cells, Inert, S" which were 1.5" square x 5.25" tall (including the terminals). The 'S' cell was manufactured with completely dry ingredients and had a cork in the top so that water could be added to activate the cell when it was required for use. (This gave it a very long shelf life - vital in the days when shipping stores around the world could take several months, and high temperatures reduced the shelf life of normal batteries to weeks.

The original cells had square cases folded from sheet zinc, wrapped in bitumen impregnated fabric and then dipped in pitch or wax to seal them.

Later (post-WW2) cells had card cases dipped in microcrystalline wax as a waterproof "conformal coating", the cell inside was a standard 'F' size as used in the 996 lantern battery, and the name changed to Cell, Dry, 1.1/2V No.12.

The telephone requires 3 volts to power the carbon microphone insert, C or D cells are fine for this. (Ericsson manufactured a holder that took two 'D' cells for the Telephone Set J (and their commercial derivatives of that and the 'L').

Telephone Sets D and L require a handset with a switch to activate the microphone, otherwise the battery will be exhausted very quickly as there is no cradle switch to disconnect it when not in use.

Chris.