11 Set stuff

[cletrac (RIP)]

Some of the ebay spare parts cases have the embossed lettering and are 5C for the 19 set. With not much effort with a hammer and punch the C could become a B. The others have no lettering and would need a decal or a stencil. I have no idea which ones I'll end up with but they'll both become 5B cases.

Here's a list of the spare parts case contents from the operator's manual:
Ammeter H. F.
350 mA No 1
Brushes, D or M, No 4
Brush holders No 5
Brush sash tool No 2
Bulbs, 6V J (4 req)
Lamps, operators, No 2
Tablets, calibration
No 1
No 2
No 3
No 4
No 5
Voltmeter, pocket,250 volts, No 2
Case for meter

I have the voltmeter and case and the operator's lamp.
What's the brush sash tool?
What are the calibration tablets?
The left picture is one of a 5B that Bruce sent me. The dividers are riveted in place.The right picture is a newer 5C but it's the same dimensions and I put my voltmeter and light into place. In Bruce's the green circle obviously holds the ammeter and the compartment on the right is for brushes and the other small bits.

[Ron Pier]

Dave as far as I can make out from the ebay pictures, all three have the embossed lettering, but like you, I'll see what I get.

I've had this one for years in my universal carrier and haven't paid much attention to it in a long time. But inside it has a fixed wooden block with lots of holes and there is a No9 Morse key? Maybe Chris can enlighten me what it's all about? Ron

[Mike K]

The Aust. No. 11 set spares box is quite a bit larger than the 5B/C types, I will have a look and see if I can find mine and take a pic

Those 19 set 5C boxes. In the early 1980's, I bought a lot of them from Ham Radio supplies in Highett st Richmond, for $2 each.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Ron Pier

Dave as far as I can make out from the ebay pictures, all three have the embossed lettering, but like you, I'll see what I get.

I've had this one for years in my universal carrier and haven't paid much attention to it in a long time. But inside it has a fixed wooden block with lots of holes and there is a No9 Morse key? Maybe Chris can enlighten me what it's all about? Ron

The full complement of spares (and the actual holes in the block) vary according to the set and supply unit. Usually there's a contents list in the lid.

Standard contents are:

Left to right....
1 x spare microphone insert (dynamic type).
12 x 250mA fuses for the supply unit.
4 x Bulbs, 12 volt, 'F', ditto.
2 x replacement fuse carriers (in case you drop them into the bowels of your AFV, never to be seen again).
2 x LT brushes and 4 x HT brushes for the dynamotor.
carried loose in the tin (or in small envelopes)

Spare wire clips for the 6pt and 12pt plugs on set and supply unit, control boxes, etc.
Spare wire clips for the Pye connectors on the set.
Spare circlips for the 6 & 12 point cable connectors.
Rubber (blind) grommets for plugging unused holes in the set canvas cover and possibly unused droplead connectors on junction boxes.
4 x flick locking screws.
2 each Aerial Pigtails for the A and B set aerial bases (8 or 10, and 9)
The morse key.

Optional (not always supplied): dummy antenna (AFV kits only, I think.)

The operator lamp sometimes ended up in the box, too.

The dynamotor brushes varied according to the supply unit, and I think were discontinued later on as the were rarely needed. Likewise the quantity of springs and clips were reduced post-WW2. Sets with the Canadian Supply Unit No.2 also got 12 x 10 Amp fuses for the vibrator part of the supply, these had a blue band on them as a distinguishing mark.

Regards,
Chris.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by cletrac

Some of the ebay spare parts cases have the embossed lettering and are 5C for the 19 set. With not much effort with a hammer and punch the C could become a B. The others have no lettering and would need a decal or a stencil. I have no idea which ones I'll end up with but they'll both become 5B cases.

Here's a list of the spare parts case contents from the operator's manual:
Ammeter H. F.
350 mA No 1
Brushes, D or M, No 4
Brush holders No 5
Brush sash tool No 2
Bulbs, 6V J (4 req)
Lamps, operators, No 2
Tablets, calibration
No 1
No 2
No 3
No 4
No 5
Voltmeter, pocket,250 volts, No 2
Case for meter

I have the voltmeter and case and the operator's lamp.
What's the brush sash tool?
What are the calibration tablets?

Tablets, Calibration will be celluloid (or similar) sheets with a preprinted grid and/or lettering for the operator to note settings on (in pencil) for various frequencies, etc. Think of them as a very early whiteboard or reusable Post-it notes.

Brush, Sash Tool will (I assume) be a small round paintbrush for keeping the set free of dust - especially carbon dust from the dynamotor brushes.

Chris.

[cletrac (RIP)]

So those calibration tablets would be like a smaller version of the Wave Maker C correction chart. How big would they be? Would anybody have a picture of one? My guess would be that they'd fit in the voltmeter compartment.
Also a picture of the list of contents would be nice!
I found these ammeters on the net. The first one should be the one called for in the WS11 manual.

[Ron Pier]

Thanks for that concise description Chris, even if I am a bit more baffled than I was before. Obviously the Morse key shouldn't be in there. If anyone has any of those bits and bobs to fill up the holes, I'd be happy to buy them. Ron

[Bruce MacMillan]

Originally Posted by cletrac

So those calibration tablets would be like a smaller version of the Wave Maker C correction chart. How big would they be?

It is Chart, Calibration No. 2, ZA14680. It is the little plastic square you often see on the lower right hand side of the 19 set. Often mounted under the handle. New ones are white but it sometimes turns orange. It records the variometer setting for particular frequencies. Makes changing frequencies quicker when using the flick mechanism. I have a spare that is marked with two settings, one for Blue and one for Red.

[cletrac (RIP)]

Bruce, could you send a picture of the chart? If you have a spare, would you part with it?
Ron, here are two different spare parts lists for the 19 set and both have the wireless key listed.
I put some of the small parts so you could see what they look like.

[Bruce MacMillan]

Here is the 19 set chart. It is small, only 1.5" by 1.25".

The 11 set also has one that is mounted to the left of the main tuning dial. Not sure of that p/n.

Sorry, not for sale as it is part of a complete spares kit.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Those are both for the WS19, the left hand one being for a Mk.II set (with 3-commutator dynamotor, 12V only) and the right hand one being the 'fully loaded' Canadian Mk.III spares kit with the Supply Unit No.2 (4-commutator dynamotor and the 10 Amp vibrator fuses).

The Morse key was supplied (and usually stored when not in use, I think) in the spare parts case.

Chris.

[Ron Pier]

Ah thanks Dave/Chris, so the Morse key is correct. Mine has the leg straps and it seems such a fiddle to get it to fit in the tin. Maybe It should just be a desk top key?

Ron

[Mike K]

The 11 set spares box I have

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Ron Pier

Ah thanks Dave/Chris, so the Morse key is correct. Mine has the leg straps and it seems such a fiddle to get it to fit in the tin. Maybe It should just be a desk top key?

Ron

It was for AFV use originally, and you can't fit a desk in a turret.

The keys for most vehicles (not dedicated wireless trucks or command vehicles) tended to have leg straps, ditto the manpack sets like the WS18 and WS62.

The 'ground station' keys for the WS12, WS33, WS36, etc tended to have a heavy baseplate so they would stay put on a desk, and a table mounting slide for vehicle use, but those were not really intended for mobile use.

They solved the problem after WW2 with the Larkspur range that used the same key for everything, had terminals for remote control, countersunk holes for mounting it to a desk or shelf (I think), and a carrier with leg straps that it could be clamped into. (It's also much better protected against water and dirt getting inside it.)

Chris.