Wire-3 Fitted For Wireless Box details

[Jordan Baker]

Id like to start a thread on the Wire-3 Fitted For Wireless box in the hopes of documenting and figuring out the equipment and layout of it all. First up is a number of wartime pictures courtesy of Service Publications.

Of note in these pictures is the mounting of a 20' Antenna mast to the right side of the cab just to the rear of the driver door. There is also two 34' Antenna masts stored on the front panel of the box. Im not too sure on how they are secured in place on the box. Ive read that the spring rifle mounting clips were used.

In the first picture one can just make out a white headset/mic hanger bracket on the inside of the cab behind the passenger seat. Furthermore (can't find any pictures) the parts manual lists a dome light for the cab as well as the map light mounted on the dash.

Another thing to note is the cover for the chorehorse generator on the left side cab step. This has been covered in another thread but not fully answered.

Lastly, the two A & B antenna mounts on the box roof. Not the brush gaurd. Also does anyone have any pictures on the type of mount used for the right side one? I havent seen what appears to be a plate mounted paralle too but above the canvas roof.

[Jordan Baker]

Now we see the same truck with the canvas cover rolled up showing off the unique FFW box framework. The idea with the substantial framework was similar to the early C8/F8 wireless trucks, whereas you could remove the framework and setup a covered ground station for the wireless set.

Of note in the first picture. On the cab rear wall is a line of 3 bolts/screws. One is on the upper wall portion and two are on the lower portion. At this time the function of these is unknown. There is also two other bolt/screws on the upper wall right on the curve of the wall. Again their function is unknown to me. As per other posting on MLU there appears to have been a buzer mounted on the cab wall. Along with a headset/mic hanger. The parts manual makes mention of a different numbered rifle mount for FFW trucks to be used on the left side. As far as I know there is no further information.

Moving onto the box.
You can make out the C5 charging board mounted at the front of the box in the first picture. I beleive it is mounted to the wooden plank that runs along the top edge of the box but is attached to the canvas framework. On my original box (pictures to follow) there is an oval hole cut in the floor almost directly inbetween the charging board and where the radio table would go. To me this hole makes sense for the cableing from the chorehorse to the charging board and onto the radio batteries.

Also of note is the wooden boards that run horiziontaly along the length of the top edge of the box. These are secured to the canvas frame work with a number of brackets. The ones along the left and right side have 4 footman loopes while the front one has only 2. On both the right and left boards there are two sets of holes towards the front of the box. These are 5" apart. In the pictures it is clear something is mounted to them as the holes have bolts in them. Im not sure if there would have been various wireless headset junction boxes mounted or not.

One can also make out the three sets of spring rifle clips. Two are on the left side and one on the right side.

[Jordan Baker]

Onto the inside of the box.

The wire-3 FFW box featured a WS19 set and its ancilliary equipment. There were three operator seats mounted in the back. A C5 charging board mounted at the front on the left. Two headset/mic hangers at the front hanging from the front canvas framework. On each side of the box was three storage containers. One was the same size width and depth as the wheel well and had a height up the top metal edge of the box (not the wood board) Both the right and left side ones had a door that hinged down using three hinges. The next storage box was mounted to the floor of the Wire-3 box in the area between the wheel well and the tailgate. It was the width of the wheel well and the height of the metal edge of the box. They both had a door that opened to the outside of the Wire-3 box. The right side box also has a headset/mic hanger mounted to it. The last two boxes covered the other two boxes and had a height approximately half way between the top metal edge of the wire-3 box and the first horizontal canvas frame support. Both boxes had a canvas top. The right side box had a hinged side that would drop down. The left side one, although behind the artillery plotting board, doesnt appear to have any hinges and would suggest a simple canvas top. It is beleived these two boxes were for storage of the crew's kit.

On the left side there also appears to be a folding table and one dome light is visible. Im not sure if this was a one off design but the wiring in spots is simply taped.

Lastly is the wireless table. This I am told is an all metal design based ont eh British FFW table. It has a pull out drawer with a reversed sloped door and a small note table.

The 5th picture is a bit of an oddity. It is the same truck but the layout is slightly different then the rest of the pictures. The big difference is the seat layout with one up front and two at the back. There is also an 11set charging board at the front left. The truck also has the doubled up 2 gallon carriers. Also the truck has 2 artillery plotting boards.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

I think with some creative scaling you could do a pretty accurate version, pending real dimensions of course.

Two questions: what are the round wheels and chains on the wireless table for? What is the box with the web handle to the right of the wireless table on the bottom 'test' pic. It almost looks like a 58 set but is a smidge too large I think.

[Jordan Baker]

Now for some photos of an original Wire3 box. This box is a model 2J4. This pattern of box was originaly a knockdown style that was welded together. It featured a 1 gallon POL can holder on the back left side and two 5 gallon jerry can holders on the front corners. This box did come with the 1 gallon POL holder and I have managed to save it.

More photos will be coming over the next week as I document the individual brackets.

[Jordan Baker]

Two questions: what are the round wheels and chains on the wireless table for? What is the box with the web handle to the right of the wireless table on the bottom 'test' pic. It almost looks like a 58 set but is a smidge too large I think.

Ive got no idea on what the round wheels/chains are for on the wireless table.

As for the other item. I believe it is two different items stacked together. The left one I think is a folding table with a handle to carry located on one side. im not sure what the other item might be. I can see the securing strap is attached to a footman loop.

[Eric R.]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Ive got no idea on what the round wheels/chains are for on the wireless table.

As for the other item. I believe it is two different items stacked together. The left one I think is a folding table with a handle to carry located on one side. im not sure what the other item might be. I can see the securing strap is attached to a footman loop.

The wheels were for adjustable slide out side sections. at one time i had a photo of an original table showing this feature which I snagged of another forum. I tried looking for it before when Jordan and I started communicating about the wire 3 trucks but for the life of me can't locate it anymore.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Ive got no idea on what the round wheels/chains are for on the wireless table.

As for the other item. I believe it is two different items stacked together. The left one I think is a folding table with a handle to carry located on one side. im not sure what the other item might be. I can see the securing strap is attached to a footman loop.

I think it's the same folding table, just stowed in a different position. The LHS has what appears to be a large map case or plotting table in a webbing case.

The charging switchboard is the standard No.5 (or C5) from what I can see.

The right hand aerial mounting is for the older aerial base (No.2?) used with WS11 - the "cage" is the anchor point for the big spring.

Chris.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Now for some photos of an original Wire3 box. This box is a model 2J4. This pattern of box was originaly a knockdown style that was welded together. It featured a 1 gallon POL can holder on the back left side and two 5 gallon jerry can holders on the front corners. This box did come with the 1 gallon POL holder and I have managed to save it.

More photos will be coming over the next week as I document the individual brackets.

That last photograph (Box06) is just perfect! It's the holder for the original microphone & headgear No.1 (the type with the hook fitted to the back of the hand microphone). The top clip is for the headband or strap for the headset and the 'open box' at the bottom is to protect the microphone from bumps.



Chris.