Wireless Set No. 52 Canadian - Project

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

I have been a bit remiss in updating this year and this seemed like a good place to start.

Early on in this project, I was very fortunate to find a very nice example of the Satchels, Signal No. 1, as pictured and described in the Issue 1, 15 February 1945, printing of the Parts List for the 52-Set, and was quite pleased something was ticked off my search list. Then, a couple of learned gentlemen here on the forum, pointed out to me that t1o 0f these satchels were actually issued with the 52-Set and the hunt was back on.

Recently, I was able to track down a second satchel in NOS condition and it arrived last week to complete the required pair I needed. I was expecting a satchel identical to the first one I had found but discovered several subtle differences. The material used is identical to both: the later war lighter weight cotton fabric, as opposed to the earlier heavier canvas. The design of both cases is identical with the exception of the first satchel has the buckle end of the shoulder strap fitted to the right side of the satchel. on the new one, the buckle end of the shoulder strap is sewn on the left side of the satchel.

On the original satchel, the ID is, SATCHELS, SIGNAL No. 1 ZA 6292, stamped on the cover with a C Broad Arrow, reading from the back of the satchel. No makers name or date anywhere.

On the new satchel, the ID is, SATCHEL, SIGNALS, with JELCO 44 centred below, and this can be read facing the satchel. No VAOS Number anywhere. This struck me as a bit odd, but I recalled seeing a comment somewhere in the 52-Set literature about available Signals satchels and went looking this morning. I found it in the 15 February 1945 Issue 1 of the Parts List, where there was a special note beside the illustration for this satchel. It stated there were 2 other types of Satchels, Signal No. 1, differing slightly from each other but all were completely interchangeable. I remembered when I first read this note years ago that I had assumed the note was making reference to all the other available Satchels, Signal that were produced during the war, and indeed, they all would easily interchange. But rereading the note now, in light of the two satchels I now have to compare, of exactly the same model, I now think there were actually three slightly different versions of this model Satchels, Signal produced late in the war. I the 01 July 1948, Issue 2 of the 52-Set Parts List, the special note on the model variations was deleted.



David

There may be more than that! I have a hazy memory of multiple manufacturers, each with their own variation of markings, but I can't remember which ones I have in the collection. There was certainly Jelco, but also ZL&T (Zephyr Loom & Tool) and MSU (Montreal Suspender & Umbrella), plus various manufacturers in the USA (for Lend-Lease, probably all for WS19 & WS48 issue).

The actual "Satchel, Signals" was a range of at_least_ 12 distinct types for different purposes (I don't have all of them, and one is a mystery at present).

Satchel, Signals
____ - ZA.6292
No.1 - ZA.11947
No.1T - ZA.27294 (green or khaki)
No.2 - ZA.13347 (Shoulder strap stitched to bag at one end)
No.2 Mk.2 - ZA.21324 (Detachable shoulder strap, 'L' strap fittings)
No.2 Mk.2/1 - ZA.29367 (Tropicalized version of ZA.21324)
No.3 - ZA.14869 (Wireless Set No.46 backpack - without harness, etc.)
No.4 -
No.5 - ZA.22756 (For Detector, Mine [Polish] No.3)
No.6 - ZA.24242 (for Detector, Mine, No.4 or 4A)
No.7 - ZA.24805 (For Charging Set, Pedal Driven, 60 Watt - ancillaries)
No.8 - ZA.24907
No.9 -
No.10 - ZA.26516 (For Wireless Set No.38 Mk.3)
No.11 -
No.12 - ZA.29004 (For Detector, Mine, No.6A)

The original "Satchel, Signals" replaced the leather "Bags, Telephone Receiver" and "Cases, Message Book, Mk.IV" sometime prior to 1940. It soldiered on (Sorry!) until the 1970s, I think, going from khaki to "44 pattern light green", to "58 pattern dark green" and being renamed "Haversacks No.1", and there may have been a nylon/polyester version later on.

The US and Canadian versions were a much thinner/lighter material, rather then the British '37 pattern cotton canvas used for web equipment.

Best regards,
Chris. (Still wondering what No.8 was intended for, it's small, zippered, and has a DMC/VAOS section of Z5 which is "Bomb and Mine Disposal Equipment" AFAIK.) I'm still looking for info/examples of Nos. 4 (mine detector backpack with a large cable entry hole on the bottom), 9 & 11.