Wireless of the Week - week 22

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

The term ‘Tannoy’ is a brand name for a British speaker manufacturer, however it has become synonymous with the loudspeaker system used to communicate with the guns in artillery formations during WW2.

The famous ‘Tannoy’ was used throughout the war by all Commonwealth forces and extensively mentioned in books written about the era. The Canadian version is the Telephones, Loudspeaking, No.2 (Canadian). This particular set was made by Northern Electric Company Limited in 1944.

Telephones, Loudspeaking, No.2 was used by Artillery battery commanders to communicate with the guns in a battery, either together or individually. Communication back to the battery command was accomplished through the speaker located at the guns. It was, in essence, a five way field phone switchboard combination.

The equipment consisted of a Telephone, Loudspeaker, No.2 Control Unit (in this example a Mk.1) and two pairs of Telephone, Loudspeaker, No.2 Loudspeakers. The Control Unit came in a wooden box 10-1/4” wide by 1-1/2” deep by 8-1/2” tall and weighing 22 lbs. It had a control panel with four numbered lamps, one for each gun in the battery, sockets for the microphone and headset, a power cable to an external battery and posts for the line connections. The headset and microphone were stored in the lid when not in use. As usual, there was a metal plate printed with working instructions inside the lid.

The Loudspeakers were also in wooden boxes and came in pairs that clipped together into a single unit for transporting. When opened, they had the speaker and four posts for line connections; the lower two for connecting to a 19 set system. On the top was a button which allowed the gun crew to communicate back to the Control Unit by speaking directly…and loudly…into the speaker. It is not unusual to see these speaker units used in place of headset earphones for wireless sets such as the No.11 and No.19.

[Mike Kelly]

I found this one years ago,TRUVOX brand, I had many of the speakers but gave them away

The WW2 Niphan plugs are visible, the British ones . I have the original carbon mic here somewhere.

[David Dunlop]

Bruce.

I was reviewing this thread again and a couple of things struck me in Post #1.

Firstly...don't Gunners speak rather loudly anyway?

Second. The photo of the loudspeaker with all it's original markings caught my attention, as one of mine is identical.

I have heard many people over the years say quite emphatically these loudspeakers were never used as an audio output for the No. 19 Wireless Set, they were strictly part of an artillery battery communications system. But the original markings on these loudspeakers clearly shows two distinct options for land line connection. The upper terminals would appear to be intended for the artillery tannoy system, and the lower terminals for connection to a 19-Set.

But how is the 19-Set connection accomplished? There are no direct land line terminals on the 19-Set. There must be some sort of interface component required to tie the two pieces together. I thought perhaps the near side Wireless Remote Control Unit might be the answer, but no mention is made at all in the manual for this remote control, for that type of usage.

I think there is a Control Unit in the Wireless Set No. 19 kit options that was designed with land line terminals, but cannot recall the reference number for it, or if the loudspeaker was its intended purpose. One would think instructions would have been printed somewhere covering this form of loudspeaker usage.

An interesting mystery. Thanks for posting.

David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Of course Gunners speak loud...they have to over all that racket!! Once they leave the army, they speak loud because they are deaf I figure.

Any time I've seen ham operators use these speakers for their 19 sets it's by adapting a snatch plug attached to a control unit. I bet the army did much the same, whether sanctioned by an official set of instructions or not.

If this is so, it would use the two wires for the headset speaker and attach them to the lower '19 Set' terminal posts. If there was any though whatever of 'sending' on the 19 set from the speaker of course this wouldn't work without something in the middle like an RCU or field phone. While possible, I expect these things were more likely used for their intended purpose as a commander to battery communication.

One explanation for the upper and lower posts could be that the upper allowed communication to and from the battery commander located nearby. The lower 19 set ones could be attached to a second line system linked to a wireless set for listening to information from a remote FOO.

I wish I had the manual.

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Bruce.

I was reviewing this thread again and a couple of things struck me in Post #1.

Firstly...don't Gunners speak rather loudly anyway?

Second. The photo of the loudspeaker with all it's original markings caught my attention, as one of mine is identical.

I have heard many people over the years say quite emphatically these loudspeakers were never used as an audio output for the No. 19 Wireless Set, they were strictly part of an artillery battery communications system. But the original markings on these loudspeakers clearly shows two distinct options for land line connection. The upper terminals would appear to be intended for the artillery tannoy system, and the lower terminals for connection to a 19-Set.

But how is the 19-Set connection accomplished? There are no direct land line terminals on the 19-Set. There must be some sort of interface component required to tie the two pieces together. I thought perhaps the near side Wireless Remote Control Unit might be the answer, but no mention is made at all in the manual for this remote control, for that type of usage.

I think there is a Control Unit in the Wireless Set No. 19 kit options that was designed with land line terminals, but cannot recall the reference number for it, or if the loudspeaker was its intended purpose. One would think instructions would have been printed somewhere covering this form of loudspeaker usage.

An interesting mystery. Thanks for posting.

David

[David Dunlop]

While I think of it, Bruce, do you have any idea what the correct khaki, web strap is supposed to be used with the Loudspeakers? I have seen plain straight straps, Satchel Signals straps with the shoulder reinforcement and the Fullerphone/Telephone style with the Ground Spike fittings. Haven't a clue which is correct.


David

[Jesse Browning]

The sexton has a 190 control box tapped for wires that run through the vehicle conduit to the speaker at the front of the crew compartment.