Wireless of the Week - week 31

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Mike K

Many of these sets were converted to 24V operation during the 1950s, basically for use with the Larkspur wireless sets, I believe the field coils were swapped out. I've seen a number of them in the 24V configuration, usually painted in post-war 'deep bronze green'.

It's much simpler than that: the generator is a 4-pole one, with two sets of field coils in parallel, so all they did was reconnect them in series and "Hey Presto!" it's a 30-volt charging set instead of a 15-volt one. (The rating plate on the flywheel cover gets changed to point out the new specification, but I don't think they bothered to change the ammeter.)

I have one still in its crate but haven't hauled it out to check the voltage - it's one of the British (BSA) 300 Watt charging sets.

Post-WW2 the "full" spares kit was slimmed down to just the necessary tools and a replacement spark plug (as far as I'm aware), as it was simpler to just swap out the whole unit and let the attached REME mechanics deal with it or send it back to workshops for a full rebuild or scrapping.

(Lots of things got slimmed down for peacetime: wireless spares were half (or less) the original issue, the 36-ft Aerial masts (two per Wireless Truck) no longer had 7 tubes instead of 6, etc.)

Best regards,
Chris.