WS19 guide for dummies?

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Bruce.

Could you give me a brief idea on how you wire in and use the variac to gradually warm up your set.

Bob C.

[Bruce MacMillan]

Hi Bob,

The variac I use is a variable transformer complete with AC power cord & socket. I plug the WS19 AC supply into the socket and the cord into a 240-120 stepdown xfmr. Remember the UK is 240V not 120V.

As the supply is actually rated for 110VAC I slowly turn up the voltage to 110VAC. This only takes about 5 seconds but it eliminates the instant on inrush current to the primary. Without going into a whole lot of electronic theory this has worked for me for years.

These variable transformers can be had from dealers like Electrosonic, Digikey or Mouser.

Here's a thought for you guys in Ontario that have get togethers. Why not have a 19 set workshop where people can learn & have a hands on experience. Mr Parker, Mr Skagfeld??

[Bob Carriere]

.....sounds like a good idea. I know Jon gave us some very interesting information sessions on the use of the 19 set back when the Caldswel annual convoy exisited.

Need to verify what kind/capacity "variac" I have to play with.

Bob C.

PS... how complicated would an online session be to setup organize.....with each participants sitting with his computer/laptop and own 19 set in front of him...?

[Alex van de Wetering]

All,

Thanks for the interesting comments and links. Indeed those online manuals come in handy, although I do have to study the proper terminology to make sence of it all.

Bob, glad I am not the only dummy here No serious....I think this is a common "problem" for MLU-ers....we want the vehicles to look the part and a Wireless set is an essential part for a lot of vehicles.

So, does anyone have experience with the Italian WS19 sets? I know they were plentiful in the late 90's and they still come up for sale quite often. From what I have heard they are Canadian mk3 sets that were rebuilt by the Italians post-war. Most had the faceplate replaced by one with Italian lettering. So, is the faceplate painted over or completely swapped?. Does anyone make new faceplates and decals so you can change the faceplate back to the proper look?

Apart from the lettering next to the switches, Voltmeter etc.....does anyone make new "Canada" decals?


Alex

[David Dunlop]

With regard to the decals applied to the front of the 19-Set, the wartime, and early 1950's RCEME Shop Rebuild manuals for the Set reference use of a decal sheet for redoing the transceiver face plate. The process was to strip the faceplate and repaint it the pale grey colour. A stencil was then placed over the plate. This stencil had cutouts on it locating the places where the luminous paint was applied. Next, the decals were applied over the appropriate patches of luminous paint. Finally, a clear coat varnish was applied over the whole face plate. There is some debate today as to whether or not this varnish was clear or tinted a slight yellow. I have a Mk III Cdn Set that had a mint, yellowish looking face plate and tried a little liquid car polish on the edge of it. The yellow came off and a nice bright grey showed up. I am assuming the yellow tint was the product of many years accumulation of cigarette smoke building up on the front of the set.

Initially, the replacement decal set was the original multi lingual version. At some point in the late 40's or 50's, an English only version came into use here in Canada. I don't know the exact date of that transition, but in all likelihood, old stocks were used up before the new ones came on line.

As for the Canada Decal, that seems to be uniquely a wartime production item. There is no reference to it being reapplied in subsequent rebuilds. It came in a great range of sizes, right up to a 6 or 8 inch version applied to doors of CMP's and sides of Carriers built in Canada during the war for export. I have even seen it applied to wooden shipping crates.

Just took a quick rummage in my manuals filing cabinet. If you are serious about overhauling a 19-Set, the manual to track down is the Canadian Army EME Instructions Manual - Telecommunications F 254/3. Later versions were renamed - Electrical F 254/3. I have seen copies of it dated from 1944 all the way up to 1957. It's the bible for these sets. The fancy title for the manual is: WIRELESS SET CANADIAN No. 19 Mk III, 2nd - 4th ECHELON WORK

Interestingly, the very first section of the manual lists the Test Equipment needed to completely overhaul and tune the 19-Set. The types of equipment stay the same over time, but the models of each change as better test sets were developed. Between a friend of mine and me, we have a fairly extensive collection of test equipment from the 1940's through to today. A number of years back, we took a 19-Set Mk III and tuned it according to the above noted manual using nearly all wartime test equipment. We got a very good response from the set. We then retuned the set to the specs in the manual using the most modern test equipment available to us. The improvement in the performance of the 19-Set was amazing! An observation for what it is worth.

David