Wireless of the Week - week 30

[Chris Suslowicz]

The WS 19 Mk.1 definitely existed, and was fairly rapidly replaced by the Mk.2 partly because the frequency range (single band) was insufficient.

I have a copy of the Working Instructions which has various layouts for vehicle installations Valentine, Humber AC, etc. displayed on a table & wall and the associated parts lists for each installation.

Post-WW2 they were sold off as surplus, but I suspect didn't meet with much favour due to the restricted frequency range (2.5 - 6.25 Mc/s?) when Mk.3 sets were available for similar prices and would just about cover the 160, 80 and 40 meter bands with careful tweaking.

Oh, and the aerial current transformer was in the set rather than the variometer, making them non-interchangeable. (You could use a later variometer with a Mk.1 by turning down the calibration pot in the variometer, but a Mk.1 variometer wouldn't give aerial current readings with later marks of set.)

Chris.