11 Set stuff

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by cletrac

My Canadian remote unit A is serial # 44 and dated 1940.
My Canadian low output power supply is serial # 200 and dated 1941.
It's obvious the Brits must have used their 11 sets after assembling the trucks in the UK. By the time the Canadian sets were in full production the 11 cab 8cwts were out of production after a run of several thousand. Some of the early Canadian sets likely made it into these trucks though.

Yes that would be correct .

I think some of the C8/F8 were shipped directly to North Africa .

[cletrac (RIP)]

I got this key off ebay for parts. It's a ZA3145. What wireless set is it for? I saw one on the net and the brass mounting plate said ZA4500 which is for an 11 set. I'm assuming the plate had been swapped. I used the plate and finger rest on my other key.
The third picture is the strap on assembly that I thought was a No4 assembly but it has a US J37 key in it. I thought the cover looked a bit too wide and a bit too shallow. The seller said it was for a 19 set.
I included the flashlight in one picture just because it's kinda cool!
I was looking for a different wire than the red and black one I have for my Morse key then I looked at the blue yonder page. He says red and black is original! Who'da thunk it??? Now I just need the slide ZA4381.

[Ron Pier]

This sounds like bad news for me then! Ron

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by cletrac

I got this key off ebay for parts. It's a ZA3145. What wireless set is it for? I saw one on the net and the brass mounting plate said ZA4500 which is for an 11 set. I'm assuming the plate had been swapped. I used the plate and finger rest on my other key.
The third picture is the strap on assembly that I thought was a No4 assembly but it has a US J37 key in it. I thought the cover looked a bit too wide and a bit too shallow. The seller said it was for a 19 set.
I included the flashlight in one picture just because it's kinda cool!

Not sure about the ZA.3145 key, as it's not in the 1940 Z1 vocabulary but must be fairly early. It probably is original, and may be for the WS.2 or WS.3 since it's got the finger guard to protect the operator from high voltages on the key.

The one with the J37 key is a US or Canadian Key & Plug Assembly No.9 for the WS19, possibly made by Westclox - there may be a name stamped on the cover or base. (Actually, it's most likely American manufacture.)

The Flashlight is the standard "Lamp, Electric, No.1" with its blackout shutter and red filter (to avoid ruining your night vision). It's a pity the "800" cycle lamp batteries are no longer available.

Chris.

[things_green]

Originally Posted by cletrac

I got this key off ebay for parts. It's a ZA 3145. What wireless set is it for? I saw one on the net and the brass mounting plate said ZA 4500 which is for an 11 set. I'm assuming the plate had been swapped. I used the plate and finger rest on my other key.

reading through a 'www Royal Sigs etc' doc;
"Key WT 8Amp worldwide survey results" circa 2006.

ZA 3145 shows WW2 lineage....various uses and makers including;
in RCU 'E' for WS19
in YA 8414, Sigs Training Unit
as the key in Key & Plug Assembly No 9.
as the key in Key & Plug Assembly No 2B ZA 4500.

some with some without the finger-plate/skirt.

so you may have your WS11 key just requires the brass plate?

Brent

[cletrac (RIP)]

Originally Posted by things_green

reading through a 'www Royal Sigs etc' doc;
"Key WT 8Amp worldwide survey results" circa 2006.

ZA 3145 shows WW2 lineage....various uses and makers including;
in RCU 'E' for WS19
in YA 8414, Sigs Training Unit
as the key in Key & Plug Assembly No 9.
as the key in Key & Plug Assembly No 2B ZA 4500.

Brent

So the ZA4500 used more than one key then. Four at least! Any of the 11 set period pictures have a key like my original one. I thought this one on an old ebay listing had had the plate changed but I guess not. I guess I have two 11 set keys now but I'll go with the ZA3145 unit.

[things_green]

Originally Posted by cletrac

So the ZA4500 used more than one key then. Four at least! Any of the 11 set period pictures have a key like my original one. I thought this one on an old ebay listing had had the plate changed but I guess not. I guess I have two 11 set keys now but I'll go with the ZA3145 unit.

I'm no expert on keys David, merely passing along info...
but on the face of it, yes certainly more than one WT8 amp key utilised in the ZA 4500 set-up....
the keys were technical progressions on the previous ones, so if one failed it stands to reason a more 'up-to-date' unit would have been swapped for it?

and after 70 years its sometimes difficult to sift the fact from fallacy.

best,
Brent.

[cletrac (RIP)]

I picked up this hammer off ebay. I think it's the right one, but the handle seems a bit short.

[Chris Suslowicz]

I don't know about short, it looks far too thin!

Chris.