Wireless Set No. 52 Canadian - Project

[David Dunlop]

The parts for the PA TUNE Dial Assembly went back on this afternoon. This was the assembly that had a broken spring on its Bracket and Spring Assemblies No. C1 when I purchased the 52-Set, so the PA TUNE was totally none functional.

A fellow Amateur in the Maritimes donated a complete Drive Assembly as a replacement and that spring has now been put back to work on the Sender.

David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

The parts for the PA TUNE Dial Assembly went back on this afternoon. This was the assembly that had a broken spring on its Bracket and Spring Assemblies No. C1 when I purchased the 52-Set, so the PA TUNE was totally none functional.

A fellow Amateur in the Maritimes donated a complete Drive Assembly as a replacement and that spring has now been put back to work on the Sender.

David

Spectacular!!!!!

[David Dunlop]

Now that reinstalling the three dial assemblies has been completed on the Sender, I was also able to reinstall the three Knobs, Phenolic, Pointer on the set of switches across the lower right section of the front panel.

That just leaves the lock for the High Power portion of the Power Selector Switch to put back in the Sender. The lock is currently soaking in a small container of light weight air tool oil. A set of keys should arrive for the lock sometime this coming week. Much easier to leave the lock off the Sender until I have the lock working again.

David

[David Dunlop]

First thing this morning I went to the locksmith's and picked up the three keys they had made for me.

They were as amazed as I have become with the skills of the Illustrators CMC had on staff for creating all the drawings that went into the Master Parts List for this wireless set.

They discovered the Key Code was one of a series of about 1,500 that Corbin had assigned to some unknown contract. Very likely a military contract covering all the locks they had to make during the war. In addition, when they pulled up the computer image of the key code on their system, the key shape was a perfect match to the illustrations of the key in the manual I had sent them for reference.

David

[David Dunlop]

As I had noted earlier, the Lock Assembly has been soaking in light oil for the last week. It took two days to get all the air bubbles out of it, so after that I was confident all the interior bits were fully immersed. I knew the cylinder was moving in its housing and the bolt moved back and forth about a 32nd of an inch but was not at all certain what state of corrosion, if any had evolved inside the lock. When I got the Sender home, I had flooded the cylinder with DeOxit and followed that with 3 in 1 Oil, but that was the extent of any work done on it.

When I pulled the lock out of its oil bath last night, I was pleasantly greeted with a lot of very fine grey ‘dust’ coming out of the keyway and from around the cylinder. I took that as a good sign.

At the locksmiths this morning, they had one cut key ready to go to try out in the lock. If it was OK, they would cut the remaining two I had ordered. The key went in easily but alarmed us all briefly when it would not turn at all. The bolt was in its withdrawn position and the natural instinct was to turn the key clockwise to extend the bolt. We went to anticlockwise mode on a whim and instantly, the cylinder turned and the bolt extended. Learned something new about the lock today. It is a one half-turn mechanism. I am not at all certain when this lock last had a key in it, but I am thrilled it now has a set and the lock is fully operational once more.

The reinstallation of the lock into the Sender was relatively straightforward. The really nice thing is the Power Switch is very stiffly fitted to the chassis by its wiring so tends to stay put. The first step of installation was to slip the lock back into place. Then install the spacer on the lower right corner between the back of the lock and the switch plate, drop the screw down into it and attaché the star washer and hex nut, just a couple of turns, Then using a pair of long, needle nose pliers, I was able to reach in with the spacer for the screw located top dead centre on the switch plate and drop its screw down through it, thereby holding the spacer in place. Then you can go back and install the lower left side spacer, screw, star washer and hex nut. Tighten both of these about half way.

The top screw will now be lined up close enough to its captive nut on the top of the switch plate; you can engage the screw in its nut with a screwdriver and secure it. Then go back and tighten the lower two screw assemblies and you are done.

David

[David Dunlop]

I had to review my notes on the weekend to confirm I started the physical cleaning and restoration work on the Sender back on 01 March 2020. It seems a lot longer than that!

Here are a couple of photos of what I started out with, and a pair showing what the Sender looks like now. I honestly did not think I would even come close to having it look like it does now.

David

[David Dunlop]

Thanks for the kind comment, Bruce.

I have a little reno project to do in the Rec Room now, which will be a nice diversion. It will also allow me to think about what to do next with the 52s-Set.

David

[Jordan Baker]

Very impressive and wonderful restoration. Thanks for such detailed posts every step of the way.