WS 19 6/6 Crystal Calibrator Dog Bone Restoration

[James D Teel II]

As I had reported earlier, I'd purchased a 6/6 crystal calibrator dog bone off of eBay a few month earlier. After several false starts because of me purchasing things that turned out to be not compatible with the project, I'm happy to report I've finished the restoration this evening. I especially with to thank David Dunlop for his assistance in helping this beginner radio repairman.

To refresh everyone's memory, here's the dog bone with which I started.

[James D Teel II]

The first thing I did was to open it up and ascertain with what exactly I was dealing.

[James D Teel II]

I couldn't find an exact duplicate of the cloth covered wire with the correct tracers, so I had to make do. I was able to at least have the correct colors in the repro wires. Another difficulty was getting the correct size wire shielding. I went through three different supply houses before I found one that was at least close enough in size to where it didn't look too far off. I also had a problem sourcing the proper cinch plug. The modern cinch plugs that I found had too large of a retaining "knob" on the end of the locater prongs. That made the plug almost impossible to remove from the calibrator. I sacrificed the locating prongs for the proper finish. I also used a combination of cloth friction tape around the soldered ends on the inside along with a wrap of plastic electrical tape around the whole of the connectors inside the dog bone elbow.

[James D Teel II]

Once I soldered the wires to the proper pins and wrapped them in tape, I slid the shielding in place and soldered it to the hole in the elbow. I then attached the female cinch plug and soldered the ends in place.

I tested the continuity with my multi-meter and everything tested out okay. I'll hook it up to my WS19 PSU tomorrow and see if it will power up my calibrator.

I'll report back once I get that accomplished. We're due for another winter storm here in Oklahoma tonight and tomorrow, so I might be delayed.

Here's a final view next to a NOS 12/12 calibrator dog bone. I think it doesn't look too bad. Now I just need to find a 12/6 calibrator dog bone and I'll have the complete set as issued.

[David Dunlop]

Nice work, James.

David

[James D Teel II]

Thanks. I appreciate all the help you’ve given me off and on with my various projects.

[Jordan Baker]

Im sure this doesn't help for this time around, but the wiring with that tracer pattern is available. Rhode Island Wiring makes it in house.

https://www.riwire.com/

Go to supplies, then Wire Colours and wires by the foot.

They are great to deal with and very helpful over the phone. As they say on their website, its best to call and speak to a person instead of emailing back and forth.

[David Dunlop]

Good to know, Jordan. I may yet have need of them down the road.

David

[James D Teel II]

Nope. It doesn’t help now, but like David, I shall keep them in mind for the next project. Thanks, Jordan.