Wanted: WS19 No3 control unit

[Russell Boaler]

You're right Chris, the Remote control unit plugs into one of the leads of the leads of the control unit so the two do need to be close together. Alas there's barely enough room for the A and B side aerial cabling above the radio let alone something big and bulky like a remote control unit. The cable reel is mounted on the outside rear of the turret and has a rotary junction built into the inside of the reel (I posted a couple of photos of it on the wireless forum last year). It's unfortunate that I don't have any specific mounting details for the wireless to copy... I'll just have to dream something up that's reasonable.

Re the radio, the last time I looked at this radio must have been close to 20 years ago. I've just recently pulled it out of storage and mounted it in the back of the turret. I'd be surprised if the data plate had been taken from a different radio and put on this one. That said I think it was me who fitted the watch holder way back when I got it as the original was broken. It is also possible that some of the knobs may have been swapped out at some point (although I don't recall actually doing it myself). I'll make contact with you separately to find out which bits are wrong on the radio... I may have another donor British set somewhere that I could pirate some bits off... to improve its appearance for the rivet counters....

[Tim Bell]

I have one of these somewhere... don't recall what the markings are... I will see if I can find it.

I bought it to cut up and turn into a Control Unit No12 for my Sherman - as this is the closest I could find to the one I need.

I am therefore in the market for the Control Unit No 12.

Tim

[Russell Boaler]

Alas Don't have a No12 control unit Tim. The closest I have is a No16 unit as per the attached picture.

Also attached for reference is a picture of a couple of remote control junction boxes. They connect to the remote control box inside the turret via the two wire terminals on the end (and the wiring held on the external cable drum of course). Presumably these were kept in a signals satchel along with a headset for use when someone left the vehicle.

[Chris Suslowicz]

I have a sneaking suspicion we should move this thread into either the Wireless or the Armour forum.

The original A.C. Daimler used a Control Unit No.1 and Junction Distribution No.1 (for the driver intercom), I think. (Though that was for the WS 19 Mk.1.)

The Junction Remote Control _has_ to be fitted to the turret in order to connect to the external cable reel, and it must be within a foot or so of the other control unit, so I suspect they both go on the underside of the turret roof, the JRC plugs in to the operator's droplead (on the bottom box with two switches), and the operator connects to that. That leaves one or two dropleads free for commander and gunner, and the driver can have a Junction Distribution No.1 or No.3 for his intercom down in the hull - fed via the rotary base junction. (How large is the crew anyway?)

Sigh... having just watched all the clips I can find on Youtube, I don't think you can fit the control units to the turret roof because it opens! Nobody seems to bother to cover the radio fit. Turret sides, maybe? Are there any mounting plates or signs where they were removed?

Chris.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Still doesn't show the main control units, but worth a look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSyblVR5NmQ

The "haversacks" are Satchel Signals No.1 with headsets, etc., it shows where the spare valve and spare parts cases are stored and the location of the Driver's Intercom box.

The advantages of current training films!

Chris.