Wanted: WS19 F aerial sections

[Chris Suslowicz]

(Looks at Sentimental Journey site, sees prices, faints.)

The original "Aerial Rods 'F'" were push-fit and tended to come apart when travelling across country. The Canadians (I think) improved them by adding an extra 1.5 inches to the length and incorporated a rolled-in thread at each end.
Those were in general use later on in WW2, remained in service during the Larkspur era, and were still in production in 1981 - possibly later still - they are in the RACAL Antennas catalogue of that date.

Clansman saw the introduction of a metric version, the rods being 1 metre instead of 48 (or 49.5) inches long but the specification is the same and they will all fit (as far as I'm aware).

It's probably easier (and a lot cheaper) to get them in the US or (especially) Canada, as there will still be Lend-Lease surplus tucked away in odd corners, plus Canada used Larkspur initially.

This is my table of "what's what":

Aerial Rods 'F'

ZA.0894 No.1 (Bottom)
ZA.0895 No.2 (Centre)
ZA.0896 No.3 (Top)

ZA.44684 No.1 Mk.1/1
ZA.44683 No.2 Mk.1/1
ZA.44682 No.3 Mk.1/1

Z42 5820 99 949 1166 No.1 Antenna Rods, F. Mk.2 - bottom = ZA.44684
Z42 5985 99 949 0985 No.2 Antenna Rods, F. Mk.2 - middle = ZA.44683
Z42 5985 99 949 0995 No.3 Antenna Rods, F. Mk.2 - top = ZA.44682

Racal Antenna Catalogue 1986

Section Steel 1 metre Steel 1.2 metre Fibreglass 1 metre
No.1 (bottom) 5985-99-630-8455 (MA681) 5985-99-949-1166 5985-99-649-8138 (RA746)
No.2 (middle) 5985-99-630-8456 (MA682) 5985-99-949-0985 5985-99-649-8139 (RA747)
No.3 (top) 5985-99-630-8457 (MA683) 5985-99-949-0995 5985-99-649-8140 (RA748)
Carry Case 5985-99-745-3190 5985-99-102-3666 5985-99-745-3190

(Okay, so it was a table before the MLU "space eater" snacked on the formatting.)

Best regards,
Chris.

[Michael R.]

Chris wrote, in part: “(Looks at Sentimental Journey site, sees prices, faints.)”

Chris, three complete rod sections, £65 quid? That price makes you faint? How much should a set of three cost?

[James D Teel II]

I’ve been running the bottom section and two RC-292 sections, but that makes it almost 3 feet too short. That’s not too bad on the receive side, but not too good on the transmit end.

Surely someone has the middle and top sections for sale.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Michael R.

Chris wrote, in part: “(Looks at Sentimental Journey site, sees prices, faints.)”

Chris, three complete rod sections, £65 quid? That price makes you faint? How much should a set of three cost?

The last ones I bought were about £5 - £10 per section (they only had the base & middle sections), but the complete set before that was £25 including the post-WW2 paxolin storage tube.

There's been the occasional bargain in the past, like the (those of an excitable disposition should stop reading now) WS38 rod set in its canvas carrier for £10, but deals like that are few and far between. (It was an amateur radio 'junk sale' about a decade ago.)

Chris.

[James D Teel II]

I just paid 20USD each for three bottom sections from a member out of Canada, but he had no middle or top sections.

[rob love]

I have a fair stash of antenna sections. I'll have a look and see what is there.
I saw tenders from the last decade for the Cdn Forces trying to purchase more of these. They were still used on various antenna units.

[James D Teel II]

Thanks much! You’re greatly appreciated.

[rob love]

James
I had a look at what I had, and I have between 10 to 20 of each section. However, they are marked with the later part numbers. Some are the Canadian NSN, but many have an American number of MS116, MS117 and MS118 (bottom, middle and top). They are all the thread in style.

Happy to sell you some if those are the ones you want, but you may want to check your surplus guys in the US. I see lots and lots listed. Chris can better answer if these are the equivalent antennas, but I suspect they are.



Don't ask me why I have 10 to 20 sections of each.....but I did find a couple C42s along with the half dozen WS19 radios out in the sheds, so they won't go to waste.