1944 C-15A-Wire-5 Restoration

[Robert Bergeron]

Many thanks Chris and a very happy New Year to you also.

I think you are right on and the connexions are for DC to power the wireless sets installed outside..

I misspoke when i said it would be my last question for the year.

I have been using the spare parts box in the picture over the last year to store ... my spare parts for the No 19 in the wire 5 truck.

Last question of the year, promise : What is a No 33 set anyway and what was it used for ?

[Chris Suslowicz]

Happy New Year, Robert.

Wireless Set No.33 was a "High Power" set intended for medium range communications. The original numbering system (introduced around 1929) was:

No.1 - Brigade/Battalion, Artillery Brigade, short range
No.2 - Division/Brigade, short range
No.3 - Corps/Division, medium range
No.4 - GHQ/Corps, medium/long range
No.5 - Base/GHQ long range
No.6 - Army Chain (worldwide) - three built: Aldershot, Gibraltar & Hong Kong

This removed (most of) the confusion with earlier sets where modifications were denoted by "Marks" or "stars" and set types by letters (A, B, C) or power (input) rating (500 watt set).

In the late 1930s, a preceding digit was added to allow for new versions of the same type (role) of set, and new sets added:

No.7 - Interim AFV set
No.8 - Infantry Battalion Manpack set
No.9 - AFV set
No.14 - local control for AFVs (replacing flags and signal lamps)
No.16 - Jamming set.

Excluding the oddity of WS.13 (an experimental VHF manpack that got no further than trials), and the reallocation of some numbers during WW2, the
WS33 traces its history back to the original vehicle mounted WS.3 of 1934, the later WS.23 (1940), WS.33 (1941) - similar to the WS12 but higher power, WS.43 (Canadian) - a redesign of the WS.12HP, WS.53 - the British redesign of the WS.12HP (renumbered because of the Canadian WS.43).

Yes, it gets complicated!

Louis Meulstee's website has photographs of a lot of the sets, here: http://www.wftw.nl/wsets.html

I can thoroughly recommend his books to everyone interested in the subject as they represent a vast amount of research over many years, and are my own 'quick reference' source for information.

Chris.

[Jon Skagfeld]

Reaching back into my memory banks, I recall a 33 set which had an RCAF symbol on it

It was huge, heavy and at one time was mounted in our GMC "house" type 2 1/2T vehicle c.early '60s.

IIRC, it was also referred to as the Maple Leaf Set.

Could be wrong about that...memory fades.

[Bruce MacMillan]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

Last question of the year, promised : What the hell is a No 33 set anyway and what was it used for ?

Jon, your memory is quite correct. The C33 was the army version of a transmitter made by RCA. The RCA p/n was TE-176. The RCAF used it and their nomenclature was AT3. The C33 was replaced by the C43. As of July 1943 the C43 had not yet been approved for release to the field so the C33 was still being deployed.

The photo is of a pair of AT3 xmtrs at Alert Bay.

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks Chris , Jon and Bruce. Makes sense since i found the box near an old wartime RCAF Base called St -Jean / St John Qc. Another mystery solved !

[Robert Bergeron]

Friends,

Here are the results for the wireless table.

Thanks again to David Good for the measurements.

Now i am looking for the attachments / hardware to affix the No 19 set to the table with a quick disconnect feature so the whole board can be slipped out of the box easily..

Any source for that hardware anyone please ?

[David Dunlop]

The table feet should be triangular, with two holes in each plate, Robert.

David

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks David .

Here is a picture of pretty much the final setup for the wireless table.

Added a picture of General Crerar i have found in a nice store on Government St. in Victoria BC. last week.

Next task, the electrical / battery / charging control panel and making the generators supply 12 V current to the batteries.

[Robert Bergeron]

Question:

How are the two standard CMP seats held down on the special bracket that's bolted to the floor of the box ?

Are the seats still adjustable back and forth ?

Thanks for posting pictures if you have them.