How To: 15cwt Gin Palace map table

[rob love]

I was sorting out some triwalls filled with miscellaneous items today, some of which was Bill Gregg stuff. One of the items found is the map board which stows on the front left of the signals van (gin palace) 15 cwt. I talked with Robert Bergeron who verified he doesn't have one., so I offered to post details of it here on the forum for those who will want one in the future. This one will be stowed on the RCA museum van until I have a chance to re-skin the board. It is basically a piece of plywood sandwiched by sheet metal with a 3/4 inch piece of angle iron on the top, and two brackets bolted on the bottom. The top appears to have flathead machine screws and nuts holding the angle iron on, while the two bottom brackets are held in place by regular hex bolts.

The board sixe is 26x38 before the metal is put onto it.
I will attach some photos, and no doubt those who want to make one will have plenty of questions as to metal thickness etc which I will do my best to answer.
The design of plywood with sheet metal around it is likely the reason these boards are so hard to find. Eventually, the plywood turns into a sponge, ensuring the sheet metal will rust away.

I see one hole on the left side of the box where one of those hooks could fit into. However, this box has been re-skinned, so if there is a second hole, it is gone. We do have several more of the boxes down in the dustbowl which I can check next time I am down there.