15-CWT, 2K1, WIRE 5 Body Details

[David Dunlop]

I think I may have posted some of these pictures in another thread quite some time ago, but since they relate to this thread (and I rediscovered them again) I thought I would post here.

This is only the second example of the buzzer assembly for the 2K1 WIRE 5 I have ever seen and Bill Gregg was kind enough to lend it to me from his collection in Rockwood many years ago to document. The lens cap is from a 58mm lens for scale purposes. For the record, there are absolutely no maker markings or numbers of any kind anywhere on this buzzer assembly, but I suspect it was a very common commercial item probably used in city street cars or buses prewar, or as residential door buzzers.

I will attach the first three pictures to this post and add a second post with the remaining three photos. This particular buzzer assembly came from a cab that had been painted aluminium inside late in life, hence the weird outer paint job.

The mounting block is solid fir, machined on the backside to match the inside curve of the rear cab corner, behind the co-drivers head. It is secured to the cab by two diagonally positioned hex head bolts which thread into lock nuts set into the two holes shown. The lock nut is still in place in the lower right hole. These lock nuts have a fancy name I cannot recall at the moment, and identical ones are used on the 2K1 Body to anchor the truss head slotted aluminium screws that help secure the roof assembly to the body sides along the roof line, just above the rain gutters. Last I looked, the nuts were still available from SPAE NAUR in Canada.

The buzzer is mounted to the wood block, terminals down, to connect to the wiring coming up from through the floor, that feeds back to the 2K1 Body, up through the conduit behind the front wall plywood of the body and out the passthrough to the lanyard switch mounted on the roof. And before I forget, the Signal Buzzer Switch and the lanyard loops are standard transit bus fittings commonly in use through the 1960's.

The base assembly of the buzzer is all black, with the exception of the circuit plate that is bare metal as shown. The buzzer cover plate is grey. Both colours are of a semi gloss finish. And that thing is loud!

David

[David Dunlop]

The remaining three photos of this buzzer.


David

[Robert Bergeron]

Very nice detail David, thanks.

So the guys in the box could '' buzz'' the driver and say: Oh , we wanna stop and have a beer here...

[David Dunlop]

This particular Signals vehicle is probably the smallest wheeled vehicle used by the Corps with just a crew of four making up the personnel: Wireless Operator, Cypher Clerk, Driver and Co-Driver, which makes it an ideal candidate to better understand how the crew was put together and how it actually functioned.

What I would like to better understand, is whether or not these four positions would actually be filled by specifically trained individuals for each position, or would the crew have been fully inter trained? My civilian gut tells me if all four crew were fully cross trained, it would be the best way to man the vehicle. Any one of the crew could drive as needed, operate the wireless, or perform the code work. You would get the best possible shift rotations and be at a minimum of risk with potential illnesses, or injuries within the crew.

I could be wrong, but it is my understanding the crew would all be RCCS personnel who are seconded to 'XYZ Regiment' to perform that Regiments communication functions.

I would assume that whatever the structure of the crew for this size of vehicle, would just be increased in required numbers for larger vehicles like a Command Low Power, or Command High Power.

If the crew positions were filled by specifically trained personnel, I have a bit of trouble wondering what the driver and co-driver would be doing if the Wireless truck was set up in one fixed location for an extended period of time.

Experts…I await your enlightenment.

David

[Phil Waterman]

Hi David

Really good question about vehicle crew training and duties. Look forward to reading peoples thoughts. Would like to add to the question, how practical was it to operate the radios while the truck is on move?

I've ridden in the back of my C60S radio while it was being driven off road across open ground and it was hard to stay on the seat in the radio box. Cannot imagine trying to operate radios, or ride for any length of time in the box. Would expect the senior guys wanting to ride in the cab.

[David Dunlop]

Oh, She is looking SWEET, Rich!!!

From what I have seen of these bodies, they were all equipped with the same exhaust plumbing in the floor of the Gen Box. A fairly large diameter pipe through the floor to absorb the pressure of two generators running at the same time, with a Y-Fitting at the top end. If I recall correctly, one branch of the Y should point straight up and will take the exhaust feed for the upper, portable Chorehorse. The second branch of the Y will angle outward towards the lower compartment and will take the exhaust for either the second Chorehorse, or Onan. It's all pretty much standard plumbing stuff and adapters or plugs would have been used to connect generators as required.

Underneath the body was a 90 degree elbow and an extension pipe feeding a sausage shaped muffler about 2 to 3 inches in diameter and about 10 inches long. It pointed about 10 degrees aft of perpendicular to the side of the vehicle with the end of the pipe about 2 inches back from the bottom edge of the side of the truck. There may be a bit of a fiddle factor involved with the muffler placement as one has to deal with mud flap and jerry can racks back there. All that equipment had been removed from the bodies I ever examined, but I have seen the identical muffler setup on a couple of Machinery bodies, if that helps at all.

Cheers,


David

[David Dunlop]

I puzzled over the same question from a slightly different angle (pun intended).

It never made sense to me why the poor Cypher Clerk had to sit side saddle in the seat at his work station. Then one Winter's day I was riding the bus on a side seat down one of Winnipeg's pothole breeding streets and more than once was nearly thrown into the isle. For some reason the Cypher Clerks seat came to mind and I realized when on the move, he would be much better off facing forward.

Certainly no reason the wireless could not be worked or at least monitored on the move. Wonder how it's done today?

Keep out of mischief, Phil.


David

[David Dunlop]

Rich.

That is an interesting option for that terminal box. Had forgotten about the little ring tab inside there. Wonder what the heck it was for???

Nice to see you have the paper bin under the Cypher Desk. It was missing from most boxes I ever saw. Popular item it seems.

Do you have the folding Cypher Desk?


David

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

This particular Signals vehicle is probably the smallest wheeled vehicle used by the Corps with just a crew of four making up the personnel: Wireless Operator, Cypher Clerk, Driver and Co-Driver, which makes it an ideal candidate to better understand how the crew was put together and how it actually functioned.

What I would like to better understand, is whether or not these four positions would actually be filled by specifically trained individuals for each position, or would the crew have been fully inter trained? My civilian gut tells me if all four crew were fully cross trained, it would be the best way to man the vehicle. Any one of the crew could drive as needed, operate the wireless, or perform the code work. You would get the best possible shift rotations and be at a minimum of risk with potential illnesses, or injuries within the crew.

I could be wrong, but it is my understanding the crew would all be RCCS personnel who are seconded to 'XYZ Regiment' to perform that Regiments communication functions.

I would assume that whatever the structure of the crew for this size of vehicle, would just be increased in required numbers for larger vehicles like a Command Low Power, or Command High Power.

If the crew positions were filled by specifically trained personnel, I have a bit of trouble wondering what the driver and co-driver would be doing if the Wireless truck was set up in one fixed location for an extended period of time.

Experts…I await your enlightenment.

David

During WW2 (and after) they trained signallers in specific roles (after the basics of "Signal Training, All Arms", of course).

I suspect the crew of four would be:

NCO I/C, who can probably handle any task except that of the Cipher Clerk.
Driver - "ED" (Electrician/Driver) and is drive, vehicle & generator mechanic, electrician and battery charging expert.
Operator - "OWL" (Operator, Wireless and Line).
Cipher Clerk - this is a specialist role and subject to security clearance.

Chris.

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks Chris, i think you are right on with the roles.

[Robert Bergeron]

Gents,

i tought i would post this picture .

Alex de W. from Holland says it was taken in Utrech Holland at the end of the war.

Nice !