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#1081
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There was (briefly) a "Watch W/T Non-Magnetic" which was actually _cheaper_ than the GSTP watches, having a chrome-plated iron case to screen the movement from the magnetic fields of generators and rotary converters in the wireless sets. They were later found to be unnecessary (and also less accurate, being cheap). Quote:
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The "Signals Office" used a GSTP watch but didn't adjust the time very often - they kept a record of the "error" relative to the 21:00 time broadcast from HQ and (presumably) adjusted the watch when the difference became too great. (Saves wear and tear on the watch, and they'd just add/subtract corrections in the paperwork, as required.) I have a few "B" watches, some GSTP ones, an Australian W/T watch in a brass case (that some idiot removed all the black paint from and _polished_), and a Watch W/T Non Magnetic (with Roman numerals on the dial). I've also got my father's watch (which I must get restored) that _was_ used with his WS19 (because the issue watch was unreliable), and that was a present from his uncle (who was a Major in the army and ended up in Katyn). There's an overview of military watches here:https://royalsignals.org.uk/photos/watch.htm Best regards, Chris (G8KGS) Junior Password Gnome |
#1082
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Yikes, Chris!
First of all, thanks for taking the time to post all that information. The ‘humble’ GSTP pocket watch is a far more complex topic than I ever imagined. When I was trying to find appropriate watches to mount on my wireless sets a few years ago, I did run across a number of such watches with names on their faces, but confusion set in quickly with many comments being found on this that these were maker names and other comments they were just the names of ‘bespoke’ military tailors where officers would go to get kitted out for custom uniforms. Out of that confusion I assumed makers were unlikely in wartime to advertise themselves, so all those names were more likely just tailors who did not think the officers would be dumb enough to get captured. Beyond that, most of my research information focused on a handful of North American watch makers, as the most likely candidates to have produced the Canadian Army pocket watches. Interestingly, the steel cases came up in the NA readings I found regarding none magnetic watches with comments they were not that good. Three or four very odd alloys were discussed that had been developed in the years prior to WW2 for making the watch main springs and other movement parts that seemed to be quite effective. These alloys had very odd names that made me wonder if they had not been discovered while excavations were underway in the Mile Forts along Hadrians Wall. Sorry to hear about the polished brass watch holder. I have also seen that done to wartime military compasses, sniper scopes and binoculars ‘to restore their true value’. David |
#1083
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I think Waltham and Elgin were the major American suppliers of watches (certainly to the British under Lend -Lease), and they were just their standard watch. My suspicion is that the Canadian WS19 Supply Unit No.2 had the watch holder moved to the front of it (instead of being on the set) was to solve the problem of tall winding stems.
The Australian watch (not a watch holder) should be finished in black "opticians enamel", I think, but mine has been "got at" by the Mad Brass Polisher[TM]. ![]() There's worse: I've seen optical instruments polished and CHROME-PLATED at some events! (Theodolites, heliographs, Instruments Flash-Spotting, and so on - they would never have been accepted for service with that finish.) On the subject of Westclox (Western Clock Co.) - they also made daylight signalling lamps as well as morse keys for the WS19. Best regards, Chris. |
#1084
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Another step closer to starting work on the Supply Unit.
These two cartridges of grease were picked up today, destined for the four bearings in the two rotary transformers. This grease follows the lineage of the original wartime grease used up until the 1970’s and discontinued by Imperial Oil shortly afterwards. The original Andoc-C was a Grade 4, high temperature grease for electric motors. Imperial/Mobil no longer makes a Grade 4 grease, but their Polyrex line is still intended for this equipment today. Polyrex EM 103 is a Grade 3 grease but very hard to find in cartridges at a reasonable price. This Polyrex EM is a Grade 2 version rated to be stable up to 499 degrees which should be more than adequate for running the 52-Set on short term transmissions at standard room temperatures for the rest of its life. The tricky bit will be flushing out all the old sodium based original grease from the bearings before repacking them with this newer lithium based product. I do not anticipate using very much of this grease, but the cost of two cartridges locally for pickup was well below the single cartridge price of this stuff I could find anywhere on the web. Leftovers will be transferred to the one pound tin and labeled, as part of the supplies for the 52-set shown in the Parts List. David |
#1085
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I think I have mentioned it before, this project would have been better started 50 years ago when 52-Set equipment was much more readily found. But then what is a project without challenges.
One of the items issued with the Remote Receiver and stocked in its Operating Case was a 100 foot coil of antenna wire; Wire, Electrical, R4, Mk 1. Next to impossible to find today under that specific identification. A little over a year ago, however, I stopped searching for the official military named product and started searching the internet using the actual description of the cold draw, stranded copper wire, provided in the Master Parts List for the 52-Set. Not only did I discover this product is still alive and well and in production, but 100 foot coils can still be purchased from a number of Amateur Radio suppliers in the United States, or directly from the primary manufacturer, Davis RF, also in the USA. Most pricing falls in the low to mid $20.00 USF range but pay attention to shipping costs. Some will hit four times the value of the goods, or more. I picked up my order in Pembina, North Dakota today and was delighted to find the coil was wound to within one quarter inch in diameter of the size of the coil illustrated in the Master Parts List. The weight of this coil comes in at 1.375 pounds and it was nice to finally have one of the items stored in the left side compartment of the Operating Case, actually in place. David |
#1086
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The "ready made" aerials seem to have been constructed without much attention to detail: I've got at least one where the first section (of something intended to replace the "set of six" wire aerials) is ten feet too long - making it unusable for the intended role. (One of the other sections is ten feet short, so it's a cutting error during manufacture, but it won't match any settings provided on the standard tuning charts - this may be why it survived WW2.) Best regards, Chris. |
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