WW2 Canadian Wireless Valve Testers

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Interesting about the British versus North American valve sockets. Right from the beginning of local military wireless production here ,around 1939, they decided to use the North American standard valve base configuration. Who made that decision I don't know .The 11 set (Aust ) and all of the other wartime built sets I've come across utilize the North American valve configuration.

I suspect that was a purely pragmatic decision. America is closer to Australia than England, there would be far less of a threat from enemy action (at least, initially), and England couldn't make enough wireless sets for its own use anyway.

There was almost cetainly existing commercial trade since the AWA manufactured version of the WS19 used the Australian (I assume) versions of the American valves rather than the UK/US market ones. (The usual "dominate your market by making your kit dependent on your own manufactured parts" trick.)

Chris.