11 Set stuff

[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

[cletrac (RIP)]

Ron, the No 9 key that it calls for is the one with the leg straps.
Mike, that Aussie case is the same layout as the Brit one but it has that extra compartment on the left that makes it longer. Can you post a straight on pic of the contents label?

[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.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by cletrac

Mike, that Aussie case is the same layout as the Brit one but it has that extra compartment on the left that makes it longer. Can you post a straight on pic of the contents label?

the contents

[cletrac (RIP)]

The Australian case doesn't include the brush sash tool or the brush holders and the extra compartment on the left is for the Relay, W T SPDT.

[cletrac (RIP)]

I finally found a picture of an 11 set with a calibration tablet in place then checked the holder on my set for size. The tablet would be 1 1/4" wide, 2" high, and 1/8" thick. This holder is the same size on the British and Aussie sets. It has a lot more stuff on it than the 19 set one has. Seeing as how there's a tablet No 1 to tablet No 5 listed, they must have had different markings on them. I looked in the manual again and the complete wireless vehicle setup just used tablets No 1 and No 2. Any thoughts on what would be on the pictured tablet? It looks like 3 rows of printing. I'll make a set of tablets out of white plastic then if I find what's printed on them I'll print out some decals.
I also noticed the plug and wires going to the Aerial Unit C. Those wires look to be pretty well 12 inches long. I have four ZA0933 cables that are 30 inches long. That's the wire that goes from the capacitor to the aerial on the truck. I'll shorten two of them to go from the set to the aerial unit Connector No 3 and one to go from the set to the capacitor on top of the set. I'll need another of the set end wire ends for the ground wire and I'll have those wiring setups complete with all the proper connectors. All the proper cables sure are hard to come by but I'm slowly getting there.
I still need a couple of Connectors N0 1 and the wire for my remote units.
I made a list of contents for the spare parts case using the font and format as close as I could get to Mike's post. I even made it slightly discoloured. The Ammeter HF 1 amp No 3 is the one used with the vehicle setup. The other ammeter I listed was used with the high power sets with the H.T. battery.

[cletrac (RIP)]

I've been doing a bit more research on those calibration tablets.
The No 1 tablet was used on the ground station and the general purpose vehicle station.
The No 2 tablet was just used with the general purpose vehicle station.
The No 3 to 5 tablets were just used in AFVs.
Therefore No 1 or No 2 must have been used with the Aerial Unit C and the other one must have been used with either the end feed aerial or the aerial on the truck.
I found this one image that shows part of the Aussie tablet and it's actually legible. I emailed him to see if he'd send a better picture.
That one is for truck with 6 foot rod antenna so my guess is that's the No 2 and the No 1 is for use with the Aerial Unit C.

[cletrac (RIP)]

I've come across images of three different tablets.The ground one would be #1; the truck one would be #2, and the light tank one is one of the AFV tablets.

[Mike K]

The truck 1 Ton tablet was issued for the Australian AWA set only . Before the CMP based wireless trucks became available , the AIF and AMF wireless vehicles were normally based on the 1 Ton GS Van - usually Fords 122" w.b. . There was also a AWA tablet for the MG carrier .

That particular AWA tablet is the one that I had at one time

[cletrac (RIP)]

I checked out my Brit 11 set manual to see what the Ammeter HF 1 amp No 3 that's carried in the spare parts case was used for. The aerial ammeter in the set is used with low power and my new one is used with high power. I guess you pull one out and push the new one back in. Never tried it though. The Aussie set is the same.
I cleaned up the Brit manual I got off the net in pdf format and now I'm doing the same with the Aussie manual. I get rid of all the smudges etc, then adjust the contrast and set the image size. I rotate the pages that need it too. It ends up with a pretty good copy when I'm done.
If anybody wants copies, email me and I'll send them. They're over 50 megabites.

[Mike K]

Many of the 350ma meters are blown up and useless because the wireless operator forgot to change over to the 1 amp meter before hitting the transmit key after switching to HP

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Many of the 350ma meters are blown up and useless because the wireless operator forgot to change over to the 1 amp meter before hitting the transmit key after switching to HP

Still more thermocouple meters are blown up because idiots 'test' them with a dry cell - even an AAA cell will deliver sufficient current to blow the nichrome resistance wire in an RF Ammeter. (After that it's completely useless since there's no damping on the movement - it relies on the circuit of meter coil through thermocouple to provide the damping, so you can't just add a shunt or series multiplier and repurpose it as a 'normal' DC amp or volt meter.



Chris.

[cletrac (RIP)]

I received my two spare parts cases today. They both have the embossed lettering but the back side of the lid is smooth. How did that work?
I tried a wire wheel to remove the old paint and discovered the secret. The white embossed lettering is just built up paint.I can sand off the C and change it to a B. Now for a repaint job.
I have most of the case's contents on hand too.

[Ron Pier]

Ah that's interesting! Naturally it was first come first served and I got the last one, which unfortunately has a broken clip, hanging on by a thread! I didn't notice that in his description? The clip does work and I'll have to see about getting the split brazed up. Mine also has the big 19 and the Z number on it. I will need to read back through previous posts but I guess the Z number is wrong for an 11 Set? Ron

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Ron Pier

Ah that's interesting! Naturally it was first come first served and I got the last one, which unfortunately has a broken clip, hanging on by a thread! I didn't notice that in his description? The clip does work and I'll have to see about getting the split brazed up. Mine also has the big 19 and the Z number on it. I will need to read back through previous posts but I guess the Z number is wrong for an 11 Set? Ron

Case, Spare Parts, No.5B is ZA.0943 according to WftW Vol 2.

The clip is spring brass and if you braze it you will soften it so it no longer works. I think I have some gutted spare valve cases with the same clips and will have a look for you.

Chris.

[Ron Pier]

Thanks Chris. The best I could hope with this box, is make a cosmetic repair to the clip. Maybe even just soft solder if you don't find anything. Cheers Ron

[kevin powles]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

These are the reels of wire for the 11 set remote units . The thicker wire isn't original , its some kind of coax . The reels are dated 1942

Hi, Ive picked up one of these drums, it's missing whatever should go on the ends of the wire, can anyone advise what the ends should look like, I think Mike posted a video of a ground station being set up but I can't find the post.

Kevin.

[kevin powles]

Originally Posted by kevin powles

Hi, Ive picked up one of these drums, it's missing whatever should go on the ends of the wire, can anyone advise what the ends should look like, I think Mike posted a video of a ground station being set up but I can't find the post.

Kevin.

Hi, Can anyone help with this?, I've got 11 set stuff to trade. 🤔

[cletrac (RIP)]

It uses Connectors No 1 that are sorta like the Connectors No 3 on the aerial unit C. I haven't been able to find any yet either except for the one with my NOS remote unit.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by kevin powles

Hi, Ive picked up one of these drums, it's missing whatever should go on the ends of the wire, can anyone advise what the ends should look like, I think Mike posted a video of a ground station being set up but I can't find the post.

Kevin.

If that's your actual reel, then the wire looks ti be the correct stuff.

(I've never seen any of the connectors though.)

The original reel (without the clips to hold the connectors) was for intended for linemen, and there was a special leather belt with iron fittings to act as a cable layer, and a separate pouch to hold another reel. I've seen both in the Blandford museum. I recently bought some modern manufacture "Reels, cable, No.1 (I think they were No.1), but the manufacturer had made then from steel plate rather than tinplate with rolled edges and they weigh several times as much as the originals and are completely unusable as a result.

Chris.

[things_green]

Originally Posted by kevin powles

Hi, Can anyone help with this?, I've got 11 set stuff to trade. 🤔

hi Kevin,
I have a spare couple of No1 couplers here....
note that one has an edge 'gnawed' on.

PM me your adress and I'll get them off to you.

[cletrac (RIP)]

In the erecting the 11 set video they use a 'battery clamping rod' for a spindle to unroll the wire.

[kevin powles]

Originally Posted by cletrac

In the erecting the 11 set video they use a 'battery clamping rod' for a spindle to unroll the wire.

This site is so great, many thanks to Brent I can complete the reel. Now I need to find another reel.

Cheers Kevin.