Wanted: Web belt for wireless set

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

I'm looking for the web waist belt used on British WW2 radio sets like the No.18, 22 and 62. They are tan '37 pattern web with two stamped metal brackets riveted on. Some are like this (pic one) with the narrow web straps and buckles at the front and some are wide all the way to the front and have the same brass buckle as used on WW1 web belts (pic 2, from the web).

I've seen these loose in the past and hope there's still one or two out there. Any help or leads would be great.

They turn up fairly regularly on eBay, though at an inflated price.

The "full width" (Pattern 08) belt is the original issue, and used with the modified cross-straps (brass hook on each end and a short strap and buckle stitched diagonally to one end of the wide portion of the strap - these are 'handed' - to fasten the strap to the support ring on the case.

The "narrow fronted" strap is the Mk.2 version, which goes with a pair of "L" pack straps. In this arrangement, the wide end of the pack strap is looped around the case support ring and secured with a "D" buckle, and a brass hook is fitted to the 1" end of the strap using a loose buckle and this attaches to the holes in the belt fixings on the case.

Chris.