11 Set stuff

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Euan McDonald

Mike, the other one I have looks more like a ground mount.

The one on the vehicle is Aerial Base No.10 Mk.2, which is quite late-on and continues in use until the Larkspur sets and the conversion to VHF.

The ground mount one is Aerial Base No.11, and fits on a metal spike.

The WS19 originally used Aerial Base No.8 for HF and Aerial Base No.9 for VHF.

Base No.8 had a "concave" profile to the ribber insulator and a truly appalling method of retaining the aerial rods: the brass socket was slotted like a collet and had a wire spring wound around it with the ends formed into looks so you could squeeze the loops to release the grip on the aerial rod. It was not a success, as flexing of the spring caused it to break after a while, and you got a _lot_ of flexing on a moving vehicle. It was replaced by Base No.10, though US manufactured sets were still being shipped with the No.8 when WW2 ended.

Base No.9 was for the 'B' set and took Aerial Rod 'G'. It required a dedicated mounting, and there were three basic types of a square base with upright pillar.

Base No9A was the Truck and Ground Station version, fitted to a spring clamp for easy attachment to a wooden post, vehicle hoop, etc.

Base No.9B does not exist - there's a variation of the 'B' set base with a flat bottom, rubber gasket, and clamp ring. This was post-WW2 Pye, used with civilian mobile radio and to use up surplus component stocks.

Base No.10 replaced base No.8 and has a convex rubber insulator and a mechanical clamp with a butterfly nut to securely hold the aerial rod.

Base No.10 Mk.2 was an improved version, the clamp was a single piece rather than two riveted together, and the convex rubber base went concave at the point it was bonded to the metal in order to improve the strength of the bond (The Mk.1 was prone to separate).
In addition, the clamp screw was threaded at both ends to allow an aerial feeder to be attached to the clamp - this allowed the set to be connected to the top of the insulator rather than being fed from underneath.

Base No.11 was the ground mount used with the WS22, R109, WS18 and WS19 in certain setups, etc.

Chris.

[cletrac (RIP)]

Here's the withdrawal from Greece.
Near the end of the video they're destroying some vehicles. The one guy has what looks something like a piece of radio equipment that he's using for a hammer. Maybe that's what happened to all the 11 sets!!!???
Here's a pic of a control unit A with a 1943 build date on it.

[Bob McNeill]

The radio museum at Kurrajong NSW has some film taken at the AWA factory on Parramatta RD during the 39-45 period if it,s of some use. Mum worked there for several years but kept mum about it right up till about 12 months before her death, 23 years ago.

[cletrac (RIP)]

I got this Remote Unit A off Oz ebay. The build year is 1943 and the serial # is 17876. It was still in the original wrapping so was never issued and was likely one of the last ones made.
The general consensus was that Australian 11 sets were made into 1942 but this seems to stretch that by another year. 2 Unit A's were used per 11 set so there were enough of them for about 9000 radios. The Unit A's were used in ground stations and radio trucks but not in AFV's so we could probably add 5000 or so more radios in the 2 1/2 years of production. This would make for around 14000 Oz 11 sets. This seems rather high.
The remote unit is ZA7533 which is the British number so the Australians never redesigned them or most of the accessories.
This is being shipped by sea mail and expected delivery time is 4 to 6 months. They must be putting it in a rowboat!!

[Chris Suslowicz]

The remote units would be a lot faster to manufacture than the sets and the contracts were probably completed (or not cancelled in time) when the WS11 was declared obsolete and production ceased. Also, some remote units would be needed for training purposes, replacements, et cetera.

The great thing about your unopened unit is that you have all the ancillaries - which are very hard to find. (And people still insist that the shoulder strap with pouch is for a Very pistol, despite cast-iron evidence to the contrary.)

Chris.

[Mike K]

It is unusual to find a unissued remote unit like that one is .

If you read the instruction plate under the lid, these remote units are actually to be used with wireless sets No. 1 and 11 .

The No. 1 set was a pre war 1930's British set , a handful of these sets were shipped out here pre war . At least one survives in NZ . There is a surviving pre war militia signal veteran, living in Adelaide , well into his 90's . He used the No. 1 sets .

This pic is of a No. 1 set in use in Tasmania of all places

The grainy pic depicts Woodside barracks, Adelaide and a No. 1 set in use with militia troops

The last pic is taken from the No. 1 set manual ..looks like a 11 set remote doesn't it

[cletrac (RIP)]

The remote unit A was also used with the NZ ZC1 as indicated in the picture.
I also picked up a counterpoise for the 11 set.