Canadian transmission bag ?

[wendel daniel]

hello
is there any one who can tel me if this bag is for transmission ?
If it is one, for which radio ?
thanks for all
daniel from france

[maple_leaf_eh]

The name I remember is "Signals Satchel". I remember them as part of the kit for the C42 radios in the 1970s. The ones we used were green or tan, but likely were wartime or Korean war production. The headset and handset were strong but also fragile. The radio operator was supposed to disconnect the plugs and wind the parts together for storage.

[Tim Bell]

Similar to "Signals Satchel No 2".

However, the regular No 2 has the partition running front to back in the middle, not side to side... and does not have that additional tab hanging down at the back.

So... not sure, sorry.

Tim

[wendel daniel]

thanks for your answerd.
What do you think about a bag for the WS 58 battery box and an battery spare ? Is it possible ?
regards
daniel from france

[Ed Storey]

In order for your web bag to be Communications related (Mine Detectors also) there is usually (but not always) a ZA part number stenciled onto the bag. In this case there must be another piece missing as the bag should have two small buckles sewn to the bottom in order to receive the shoulder straps, but there are none which would make wearing this bag in lieu of the Haversack very difficult. I have attached images of a 1937 Pattern Haversack to show the strap arrangement.

[Bruce MacMillan]

Originally Posted by wendel daniel

thanks for your answerd.
What do you think about a bag for the WS 58 battery box and an battery spare ? Is it possible ?
regards
daniel from france

I think you are correct Daniel. There appears to be two versions of the battle battery webbing. The one I have has the buckles that Ed mentions. It has a ZL number.

The photo is from the working instructions manual for the WS58 Mk I*/T dated 30 March 1944. The tab at the bottom should actually be a loop that the waist belt goes through. You can see it also attaches to the side of the radio. The pockets in front of the battery box are for stowage of the cable assemblies.

Bruce

[David Dunlop]

Wendel.

It looks like there were at least two Canadian makers of these Wireless Set No. 58 Battle Battery Bags.

One version is like the one you own. It has no manufacturers marks on it at all, other than the very large C Broad Arrow stamp on the cover, and the two small cover straps end in brown lacquered tips.

I took some photos of the version I own. It is undated, but came in an NOS 58-Set Kit, the major components of which were all manufactured between 10 August 1943 and 2 February 1944. The Kit must have been assembled at some point after February 1944 from available part stocks, so my Battle Battery Bag must date from the latter half of 1943 to the first half of 1944. It was made by ZT&A Ltd which I think is Zenith Tent and Awning Limited and bears their stamp, the ZA Part Number and a small C Broad Arrow Stamp on the inside of the bag lid. The same huge C Broad Arrow stamp your bag has, is also stamped on the outside of mine, overlapping the lid and front of the bag. All the canvas straps on my bag have brass tips riveted in place.. There are no partitions at all inside the bag and the shoulder strap has no markings at all on it.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,


David

[rob love]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Wendel.

It was made by ZT&A Ltd which I think is Zenith Tent and Awning Limited and bears their stamp,

ZL&T: Zephyr Loom and Textile Ltd I believe.

[David Dunlop]

Thanks, Rob. I'll have to make sure both lenses are in my glasses next time.


David

[Bruce MacMillan]

David, I had a closer look at mine and even though it's different (looks like the one Ed posted) it has the same backward stamp. At first I thought it was ZL but I can see it is ZT.

[rob love]

Bruce

You had it right the first time: ZL&TLtd and 1942 underneath

[Bruce MacMillan]

(sound of palm smacking head) Thanks Rob, I see that now. For some reason my brain was thinking it was backwards. At least we know of two versions now.

[rob love]

Bruce: There is an emoticon for that:



I just noticed a number inside your puch at the center divider.....is that a ZA number?

[Ed Storey]

Bruce, what you have there is a standard Haversack and not a signals item. Rob, it is not a ZA number but a number but most likely a production lot number as they show up on other pieces as well.

Here is an example of a Signal Satchel with a ZA number.

[Bruce MacMillan]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Bruce, what you have there is a standard Haversack and not a signals item.

Thanks Ed,

Comparing it to my other 37P webbing I see what you say. It's interesting as it came with a complete WS58 kit. The battle battery box is a perfect fit. I wonder if it's just coincidence or had these been adopted after the cancellation of the UK order and Zephyr hadn't produced enough? We do know the Canadian Army and the Navy used these into the 1950s.

[Ed Storey]

It was probably either an official or unofficial substitution from the supply system. To the average person working in QM, a web bag is a web bag and generally only informed end-users and enthusiasts know the difference so it may have been an unofficial substitution when the kit was surplused.

On the other hand, there may have been a shortage of the actual WS58 web Satchels and the Haversack could have been deemed an acceptable alternative to the WS58 specific bag.