Wireless Set No. 52 Canadian - Project

[David Dunlop]

While giving a closer look to the Remote Receiver today, a piece of beige paper revealed itself trough a circular hole on the left side of the chassis. While looking at it, I noticed a pattern of four screws, above and bracketing this hole. I had seen that pattern before and it took a while to register exactly where. It was on either the side, or rear B-Set chassis plate on my 19-Sets. It was a Modification Card Holder and this one on my Remote Receiver clearly held a card.

I was delighted when I removed the card to find it confirmed the Serial Number of the Remote Receiver as being '7746'. Three modifications were done to the receiver on 10/03/61 (I can never remember the Military Day/Month sequence on these things but interesting the work was done in 1961).

'F257' is probably the reference code for the 52-Set Cdn, and if that is correct, at least six modifications exist and the three noted relate to the receiver.

This prompted another look at the Main Set receiver. Sure enough, the Modification Card Holder was there, but I could not see a card initially. However, when I shone a flashlight down into the top of the holder, I could see something was there. This resulted in a quick raid of my lovely wife's sewing room. A possible tool was found. A return to the receiver and an insertion of the tool pulled out a modification card. (Who knew a crochet hook could be so handy!) A different pattern mod card than the other one. Much stiffer paper and when folded over in the holder it stayed put. Interestingly it shows the chassis Serial Number to be '8356', as opposed to the plate on the front of the receiver being '8349'. At the moment, my gut is going with the Mod card. It was firmly in place in its holder and invisible. More likely the data plate was replaced or the entire upper front panel of the receiver.

Only one modification was performed on this receiver on 01/12/52 - F257/#1.

Be interesting to find a record of these modifications.


David

[Wayne Hingley]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

...Three modifications were done to the receiver on 10/03/61 (I can never remember the Military Day/Month sequence on these things but interesting the work was done in 1961).

Nice couple of finds David. I believe the date format is dd/mm/yy. That was the format used on the RCEME engine rebuild tags anyway (at least the ones I have seen).

[David Dunlop]

Does anyone have an original condition Carriers No. 4, or Remote Receiver Case in the No. 2 Brown colour?

My Remote Receiver case has been refurbished in postwar NATO Gloss Green, and was completely painted inside and out. I am curious if these two items were completely painted, inside and out, at the time of manufacture, or if the interiors were only painted as far back as the overhang that protrudes beyond the face panels of the main components.

And while I think of it, was the C-Broad Arrow stamp applied anywhere on the outside of these two items? And in what colour?

David

[David Dunlop]

Thanks for the date confirmation, Wayne.

On looking at the two Mod Cards again, I realized two different numbers were referenced: F527 and F257. One of those has to be a brain fart.

Looking at my two receivers over the weekend, I have decided to focus first on restoration of the Remote Receiver. Foremost, it is electronically intact and also cosmetically very good looking. The chassis will need a cleaning and an inspection/testing of all valves and should then be ready for a careful feeding of electrons. The case needs a few repairs but they can wait until I get the correct painting information sorted out. I will also benefit by becoming more familiar with the receiver chassis before I have to tackle the more serious switch damage repairs in the Main Set Receiver.

I was able to download and print out a copy of the Parts Identification List for the set on the weekend. An absolute goldmine of information for a project like this.

David

[Tim Bell]

Epay - not mine... ws52 remote receiver psu...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW2-Canad...wAAOSwDFBaS4UL

[David Dunlop]

Thanks, Tim. I will check it out.

David

[David Dunlop]

Well I have found another receiver this past week that will be serving as a parts doner for my Main Set and Remote Receivers. It is complete but has been in a humid location somewhere just long enough to build a bit more surface rust on the chassis than is worth dealing with. Also, a number of key decals on the front have been badly damaged/chipped away. Not a choice I take lightly, but other events this week led me to conclude it was a wise decision.

I started to clean and visually check the valves on the Remote Receiver, starting with V2B, the 12Y4G Noise Limiter. I chose that one as it was missing it's shield cap and I now had a replacement from the doner receiver. You can see this valve in Post 37, horizontally mounted, mid rear chassis.

First thing I discovered was this valve is the only receiver valve that does not have any physical locking means to keep its shield assembly in place. Consequently, Marconi sweat soldered the base of the shield to the valve socket and coated the solder seam with clear red lacquer. Marconi appears to have used this lacquered solder technique throughout the 52-Set Receiver chassis. This valve is the most difficult to get at on the chassis and it takes a bit of wiggle to remove it from the shield. When it was out, I realized the top of this particular shield was different from others I have encountered. The top edge is straight cut, not rolled in, The rolled in approach makes for a very firm shield top that a cap can be pushed over very easily. Not so the straight cut edge as a close look showed several dents and bumps around it. Which explained why the cap was missing. Back to Debbie's jewellery supplies for her small, smooth faced, needle nose pliers. After nearly 45 minutes of bending, tweaking and muttering, I finally had the edge of the shield smooth enough to accept the cap. Then the second problem smiled at me.

The 12Y4G has no central key post on its base. It relies on proper seating in the socket by the pattern of spacings of the pins, No big deal for a vertical installation with no shield to deal with. Very big deal in a horizontal mount with a fixed shield obscuring any observation of the process. I ended up staring at the bottom of the socket at the back of the chassis, with a flashlight in one hand while the other twiddles the valve, which I hoped was at least starting out in somewhat correct orientation. Only took 10 minutes.

Extra valves on hand are going to be a definite asset with this project!

David