Wireless Set No. 52 Canadian - Project

[David Dunlop]

This is the largest of the three wooden Boxes/Cases of equipment issued with the 52-Set Canadian. These photos are of one of these boxes courtesy of Chris Bisaillion.

The inside is divided into three sections. The centre section holds the Remote Supply Unit for the Remote Receiver. It is a heavy little sucker and this central location in the wooden case places it directly under the carry handle on the lid of the case, thereby keeping things nice and balanced for the lucky Private who has to lug it about.

The left section stores the two headsets and the cables and remote aerial needed to operate the Remote Receiver. The right side section held the spare valves and other delicates for the receiver. You can see on the lid above this section, a square of KimPac padding to protect the valves. The rest of this section of the case was likewise padded.

Originally, a square paper label would have been glued to the inside of the lid, listing all the contents of the case. This has been replaced, as of July, 1962 by an envelope with a new List of Contents utilizing the newly introduced NATO Stock Numbers. Hence the large wash of tan paint across the front of the case covering the original wartime stencilled ID and the new NATO Stock Number Data applied there.

It is possible that 1962 saw the end of the WS. No. 52 Tool Box as a separate entity in the Canadian Army supply system.

David