Wireless Set No. 52 Canadian - Project

[David Dunlop]

Three more photos today to give a better idea of the interior layout of this case.

The interior of the left section is remarkably free of most signs of use, probably because nothing really heavy, or with sharp edges, was ever stored here.

The main, central section definitely shows signs of the Remote Supply being placed in it over the years. It is a very heavy item, with most of the weight to the back of it. Even if you place the supply at the front of this section, its main weight sits behind the handle on the top of the case. When you lift the case up, it pivots slightly to the rear and you can feel the supply slowly slide up against the back wall of the case. When you next remove the supply from the case, some of the fittings on the back of the supply scrape the lower part of the rear panel of the case. You can see these vertical lines in the photo. Fully packed, this case is going to be a handful.

The KimPak installation for the righthand section follows a similar pattern to that for the Case, Spare Parts. A 9-inch wide strip would first have been fitted to the lid and the bottom of this section. Stapling of the KimPak was done in the same fashion as discussed with the Case, Spare Parts. A 7-inch wide strip of KimPak was then fitted around the walls of this section. This strip, as in the Case, Spare Parts, is set 3/4-inch below the upper lip of the case. However, because this case is not as tall as the Case, Spare Parts, it only reaches to 1/4-inch from the wooden bottom of the case, which means it rests nicely on top of the bottom KimPak pad. The wall pad runs from the left rear corner of the section, along the back wall, up the right side wall, across the front to the partition wall and back along the partition wall to the left rear corner where it rests on top of the rear pad.



David

[David Dunlop]

The handle, hinge straps and corner caps for this case are all identical to those used on the other two boxes/cases forming part of the 52-Set Kits. The thickness of the wooden lid is also the same.

The sole difference in hardware is the two latch assemblies, which although similar in appearance, are larger and of a much more robust design. The first two photos show the standard latch which is 1-3/8 inches wide by 2-5/8 inches long. The second two photos are of the latch used on the Cases, Operating, Remote Receiver. These latches are 1-3/4 inches wide and 3-inches high. Notice the wider clasp and the upper rivet set are installed further down the sides of the bottom assembly. The other significant difference is evident when the clasps are open. The lip of the clasp has a heavy duty tab that engages a corresponding slot in the back of the throat of the catch on the lid. Useful considerations on the part of the designers at Canadian Marconi to ensure this case stays closed when the Remote Supply Unit ZE-12 is inside and the case is being carried over uneven ground. The ZE-12 is a compact size at 8.5 inches high by 10 inches wide by 8 inches deep and yet weighs in at 26 pounds.

I am not sure yet if these two styles of latches, were made by the same company, but I will try and report on that later as more information is uncovered.


David

[David Dunlop]

At first glance, the CONTENTS Label on the inside lid of this case, apart from size, looked the same as the one that survived under the lid of my Tool Box, but when I had a closer look, there was one noticeable difference. The label in the Tool Box was plain paper. The one in this case is plain paper that has been given a spray coat of lacquer/schellac/varnish before being glued to the lid. It is still paper thin, but the outer surface is shiney and the entire label is very, flat, smooth and stiff. I am wondering now if this was an upgrade Canadian Marconi Company implemented following feedback about these labels being easily damaged when these boxes/cases were in use.

The other nice find in this case was a two page (Legal Sized paper) postwar version of the Contents Label using the new NATO Stock Numbers for all the contents of the case, so at least some of the parts for the 52-Set can be cross-referenced between the original VAOS Numbers and the NATO System.

Clearly, CMC had a standard format for their CONTENTS Labels used with the 52-Set, the interesting thing, however, is that neither of my Spare Parts cases had such a label fitted anywhere inside of them. The logical reason for that would be the presence of the KimPak padding on the inside of this case and the only free space that was all wood, meant any label fitted there would be very hard to read and subject to damage with items being placed in, and removed from the case. A small CONTENTS Label, similar to the other two, just sitting in the case, would have been very easy to lose, so perhaps CMC got around that problem by issuing a larger format list (8.5” x 11” perhaps), folded in half and placed in the case, probably on the valves side.

If anyone has run across an original surviving CONTENTS List for the 52-Set Spare Parts Case, please let me know.



David

[David Dunlop]

It pays to be able to move ones lighting around on a work space.

For the most part, the work to date on this case has been with the lighting coming from the back portion of it. I moved the lighting around to the right side and front the other day and this damage suddenly showed up on the inner front lip of the lid. It looks impressive but should be pretty easily repaired. The torn piece of Pine still attached can be glued and clamped back into position and wood filler used to build the area back up where the wood chipped completely out.

A careful sanding down and repaint after that and it should be good as new.


David

[David Dunlop]

I started work on the repair of the big wood chip in the lip of the case lid this afternoon.

Wood glue was placed between the section of wood still attached to the lid, and the lid itself. I then slid a small piece of paper up against the side of the lip, where the clamp was going to go, and then applied the clamp. I do this simply to keep the clamp surfaces clean. Any paper that happens to stick to the wood after, is easily sanded away, at that stage of the restoration.

Tomorrow afternoon, when the 24-hour cure is up for the glue, I will start applying wood filler to the area where the original Pine board is missing.



David

[David Dunlop]

The repair to the lid has now been sanded down to blend in with the rest of the wood and the interior edge of the lid and case have had all the lumps and runs of NATO Green and Tan/Yellow paint sanded down, ready for a cover coat of the original factory Flat Olive Drab pint.


David

[David Dunlop]

I started the second can of Flat Olive Drab paint I had mixed at RONA last year for this case this morning. Once again it is an excellent match to the surviving factory original paint inside this case. I was not totally sure about this since the second can of paint was mixed about three years subsequent to the first one and I was not certain any of the current tints would have been from the same batch lots as the originals. Clearly I did not have to worry. This can should see me through the complete repaint of this case and the wooden case for the Coils, Aerial Tuning, when its turn for restoration work comes up.

A couple of weeks to let this paint hard cure and then on to the next step for this case.



David

[David Dunlop]

The removal of the post war paint from the case hardware was started today. The first step for the top has been completed. Just five more sides to go.


David

[David Dunlop]

While removing the post war paint from the two latches on the front of the case this afternoon, I was able to uncover the name of the manufacturer of these latches, and because of the larger size of these latches compared to the ones used on the Remote Supply Cover, Tool Box and Spare Parts Case, it was easily readable under cross lighting.

The manufacturer was THE EXCELSIOR HARDWARE COMPANY in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. Their major claim to fame was luggage locks and latches. they started out in 10 May 1910 working with Steamer Trunks and luggage but their hardware also shows up on tool boxes and cash boxes over the years. They were formally dissolved 04 February 1994.


David

[David Dunlop]

These two photos show the case with all the paintwork scraped from the metal hardware, and then after all the metal hardware has been cleaned with a small wire wheel on my Dremel and the eight metal corner guards removed and carefully catalogued for replacement later.

Note the corners of this case have all been trimmed back in the same manner as the ones on the tool box and spare parts case, and the fact these corner guards were always installed at the factory prior to the painting being done.


David

[David Dunlop]

This case has a very slight twist to it, when sitting on a dead flat surface. I thought initially that it might have been a result of the four bottom round head slotted wood screws wearing at different rates over the years, because they actually form the feet this case and the other box and case for the set sit on. But that was not the problem, as they all check out just fine. Furthermore, if I leaned hard on the top of the case, it would almost sit flat, and it still rocks a bit with all the metal corner guards removed.

While getting ready to start sanding the paint down on the case and seeing what it would reveal, I noticed the lowermost finishing nails on the front of the case, used to secure the two interior wooden partitions, were sticking out from the pine board about half a head length each. The other, upper three nails for each partition at the front of the case were just fine and puttied over. These nails should not back up like that over time unless the case was twisting back and forth. No sign at all anywhere that this case had been subjected to a chronic damp environment for an extended period in its lifetime. It is very solid.

Out of curiosity, I hauled the Remote Supply Unit off the shelf, a bottom one thankfully, and placed it in its middle section of this case. The case now sat dead flat. So best I can tell, at some point in the life of this case, the wood either gained, or lost enough humidity to twist, but the 26 pounds of Remote Supply Unit is enough to level it all back out when stored back inside. It is the longest case of the bunch so that extra length, may have just been enough to let a twist set up in the wood. For a nearly 80 year old case, it is entitled, I think.


David

[David Dunlop]

Sanding back the layers of paint on this case has revealed the most complex set of stencil markings I have ever encountered on a piece of Canadian Army equipment from the World War Two era, either vehicular or signals equipment related.

The attached five photos highlight the major finds as I worked my way down through the paint with both power and hand sanders and damp cloths.

Starting from the factory to most current:

On the factory Flat Olive Drab paint is the 1/2-inch stencil in six lines starting one inch below the lip of the case and centre justified. Lead line is the CMC part number for the case and the second line is the CMC version of the ZA/CAN Number.

On NATO Green, a 1/2-inch stencil in six lines starting 1/2-inch below the lip of the case and left justified 2 inches inside of the left hand latch assembly. Here, the CMC ZA/CAN Number has been replaced with the actual VAOS Number for this case.

On NATO Green, a 3/4-inch stencil in six lines starting 1/2-inch below the lip of the case and left justified 2 inches inside of the left hand latch assembly. This stencil also uses the actual VAOS assigned number for the case.

On NATO Green, a 3/4-inch stencil in six lines starting 2 inches below the lip of the case and left justified 2 inches inside of the left hand latch assembly. Again, the actual VAOS Number was used.

On NATO Green, a 3/4-inch stencil in five lines starting 2 inches below the lip and left justified 2 inches inside of the left hand latch assembly. The actual VAOS Number was used but the CMC Part Number was deleted.

On the tan/yellow layer of paint, the final black stencil using the NATO Stock Number data as shown in the photo in Post# 1030.


In addition to all of this, a free floating 1/2-inch stencil of just the actual VAOS ZA/CAN Number was found on either side of the front of the case, centred below each latch assembly, 3.5 inches below the lip. I could not match these up with any other surviving stencil lines on the front of the case, but they were both on a NATO Green background paint, and appeared to have been a one time only application.

What is interesting is the use once again of 3/4-inch stencils. They were also found on one of the two Spare Parts Cases I restored earlier this year; the one that also had traces of tan/yellow applied to the front.


David

[David Dunlop]

After sanding down the paint and checking for the history of stencil markings on this case, the holes, chips and cracks were filled in and it is now curing for 24 hours prior to a final gentle sanding.


David

[David Dunlop]

Final sanding of all the fill work has been completed, straightening of any of the corner guards needing it done and all the corner guards reinstalled.

The case is now ready for priming of all the metal hardware.



David

[David Dunlop]

The metal hardware on the case has now been primed.

If the household chores go according to plan this coming weekend, I should be able to get the finish coat of Flat Olive Drab applied.


David

[David Dunlop]

I was able to get the first coat of Flat Olive Drab paint on the case this afternoon. With luck, I will be able to apply the second coat tomorrow, along with the touch up of the paint in the hard to get at parts of the metal hardware.


David

[David Dunlop]

A second finish coat of Flat Olive Drab has now been applied and a major hardware touchup completed. The case will now sit for two weeks for the paint to hard cure and I can then start work on applying the stencil to the front panel.

Easy enough to carefully handle the case at this point, but the paint definitely has a soft feel to it.


David