19 Set Control Unit Batteries

[David Dunlop]

Well I couldn’t stand it Chris. I emailed the company to see what I can find out about commercial availability of that battery.

I will post what I find out.

David

[Grant Bowker]

Since I don't plan to make a working radio setup, reasonable visual facsimile batteries would fill my needs. In fact, they might better represent period equipment than a modern functional battery.
My thought is a block of wood wrapped in suitable printed card stock with terminals out the top. This is based on what I can see in the photo of the initial post. One advantage to the visual replica is that it can't ever go flat and leak as "dry" cells have been known to do.

I was about to post asking if anyone has photos of original batteries to share to help with the markings on the side (top is shown in the photo and there's some guidance for the side in the PDF Chris provided), then I remembered a basic rule - search before asking to avoid looking stupid/lazy (or at least any more silly than necessary). Found photos (from an ebay listing out of London UK https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Crompton-Par...item2f3da67425 ), but not much more. More photos will be gladly accepted.....

[Grant Bowker]

one more photo found

[David Dunlop]

It may turn out these batteries are still in production via a ‘closed’ MOD contract to provide them as needed, which begs the question as to what equipment would still be in service today, requiring such batteries?

David

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

It may turn out these batteries are still in production via a ‘closed’ MOD contract to provide them as needed, which begs the question as to what equipment would still be in service today, requiring such batteries?

David

They look hand-made, which means that the cost will be astronomical.

It will be for some very low-volume application, possibly for use in the very old field telephones (e.g Telephone Sets F & J) that may still be used on firing ranges.

I suspect there's just a 'D' cell inside and that they cost the MoD over £20 per unit, possibly over £50.

Chris.

[David Dunlop]

Well that was fast, but pretty much as expected.

These batteries are made only on an an ‘as ordered’ basis from the MOD. No orders, no batteries. A non-MOD order would be considered, but the batch run would have to be high in number to do so.

Pricing was skillfully avoided, but I did learn they provide individual batteries only. They are never done up in pairs with the small jumper cable. The end user would need to source those.

David

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

They are never done up in pairs with the small jumper cable. The end user would need to source those.

My remote control unit came with a small bundle of jumpers tied by string to the wiring from RCU to batteries. In my naive state I didn't realize this wasn't standard. Sometimes better lucky than clever.