Chris Suslowicz

Very impressive, but why would the engine be jacked up? (Surely it would make the trailer far more unstable when being towed? Or was ground clearance an issue when used off-road and they had to do that to resolve it?)

Chris. (G8KGS) 

32ft would be for holding the roof on a house, or a cross-brace for a bridge! :-)

Stencil would have said FUZ117 and apparently they were for 25pdr shells. (I just put M104 Ammunition into DuckDuckGo and it brought up several examples.) The catches are complete, the plate above them takes a wire that goes around the lid clip (under the 'hump') and has a crimped on lead seal applied at the factory after filling and final inspection as an anti-tampering/theft measure.

Chris.

19 minutes ago, ruxy said:

You probably need to ask Mike to explain the stubby  'blade' antenna , I think that may be difficult to source.

A43R (A43M is unlikely) or the Clansman replacement UK/PRC344?

I've certainly seen A43R blade antennas for sale in the recent past. 

Chris.

The insulator is the standard "rocket" that comes with the 27-ft mast kit. The bumperette mount is two steel plates with an offset socket and (I think) rubber shock absorber insert to protect the insulator, secured to the bumperette with through bolts. The "side arm" clamps to the tilt hoop at a suitable height and (I assume) has an insulating sleeve in the clamp for the mast to allow it to be used as a vertical antenna. (Other options would be the elevated VHF antenna or the BE-1C vertical dipole (all of which are only really usable in a static role because you need the guys for stability (HF) and electrical properties (VHF)). 

Chris. (G8KGS)

(The VHF aerials are pointless for radio amateur use as they only cover the 6m (51MHz) band, are lossy, and a fiddle to set up correctly. The BE-1C will cover 30-60MHz without lowering for re-tuning, but is still only usable on 51MHz.)

2 hours ago, Larkspur-man said:

Hi, 

I have a larkspur setup, including a C11/R210 - photos can be seen on my QRZ.com page, under my radio amateur call sign G3YVW. Note the C11 setup in the photo is my setup, that is they did vary slightly depending upon the vehicle/application. 
Also on my QRZ page are photos of a complete FV432 command post and FV433 Abbot radio comms setup, for those who may be interested! 

Brian

I'm missing the clamp for the ATU tray, there appear to be a couple of variants: this one (which covers most of the lower panel edge), and a short "chisel/scraper blade" block that's much narrower (about 50mm wide). Chris (G8KGS)

27-ft Telescopic Mast. NSN: 5985-99-102-8303

RACAL MA638 Lightweight(*) telescopic mast.

* - This is an outright lie. (Also, the rigging kit is heavier than the mast.)

I'm just wondering how deeply my masts are buried, they may require emptying the shed.

I don't have the vehicle mounting kit unfortunately.

Chris.

On 10/8/2023 at 4:45 PM, simon king said:

Hello Chris

that was the configuration that I used when I restored the WS19/sledge/table at the beginning of this project. It was impossible to slip the metal tab into the slot in the end of the variometer end cap as this had been previously messed about with. From what I recall, the antenna base socket passes through the Tufnol insulator and is secured with a shallow nut
 

Result below, when I tried the A set antenna in the ground role. It seems that the lead to the golf bag antenna in the ground role and to the roof mounted antenna in the vehicle role must also fit into that same base socket.

That variometer doesn't look right: the access hole for tightening the aerial feeder clamping screw should definitely NOT be on top where water could drip into it. I suspect the backplate has been fitted incorrectly, but will have to check where the locating peg is normally - should be simple enough to remove the endplate, rotate it to the required position, and re-fit the screws as there's nothing connected to it electrically.

On 9/20/2023 at 6:29 PM, guy66 said:

 

That was an RAF generator/charging set, from the Air Ministry Stores Code: 42 Generating Sets and Searchlights.

Chris.

13 minutes ago, Chris Suslowicz said:

That (Onan) one is for central charging of batteries, and not for a wireless truck.

(I may be completely wrong, of course!)

 

Wireless for the Warrior Volume 2 mentions the ONAN 1260 Watt charging set No.2 as being used in the 3-ton Command Vehicles, but I don't think it would use the charging switchboard shown in that eBay listing, and the generator is probably too large for a 15 cwt vehicle.

(Though it does look like it would fit that rack you've borrowed - which has vibration mountings on the baseplate and looks as though the generator assembly is designed to be easily removable (wing nuts on the clamps for the frame) for use away from the vehicle - so the multiple charging switchboard may well be an optional feature. I can't read the voltage on the rating plate, and it may be designed (or modified) for 24 volt use.)

I'd expect the standard 300 Watt BSA or Chore Horse in the cupboard, and for it to be taken outside when charging batteries - or at least have the exhaust pipe run away from the vehicle for safety reasons.  

Now I've confused everyone (including myself) I'll go away and hide again. Apologies.

Chris.

20 minutes ago, REME 245 said:

The generator pictured is designed for radar use producing strange voltage.   This is your other choice.   These were imported to the UK throughout the war for army use. Get a size on these.    WW2 Onan 1260 Watt Field Generator. NOS And Charging Unit | eBay

That (Onan) one is for central charging of batteries, and not for a wireless truck. To avoid giving positions away near the front, freshly charged batteries would be delivered (along with mail, rations and ammunition, etc.) and the used batteries taken back to a central location for recharging, probably on a daily basis. The recharging was done by specialist troops as the charge current and battery temperature had to be regularly monitored to avoid overcharging and damage to the batteries.

The wireless truck would have a generator providing either AC mains (240 volts, 50c/s) for sets like the WS12, 33, 53 and R107, or 12 volts DC for the WS19 and WS52, etc.

Wireless for the Warrior Volume 2 mentions the ONAN 1260 Watt charging set No.2 as being used in the 3-ton Command Vehicles, but I don't think it would use the charging switchboard shown in that eBay listing, and the generator is probably too large for a 15 cwt vehicle. I'd expect the standard 300 Watt BSA or Chore Horse in the cupboard, and for it to be taken outside when charging batteries - or at least have the exhaust pipe run away from the vehicle for safety reasons.  

1 minute ago, Chris Suslowicz said:

Er, no. That's nonsense. The variometer is fitted with Aerial Feeder No.4 and an inch-long 'bush' by the look of things. That feeder is intended for a 'through the turret roof (or vehicle side in an armoured car)' (there's a No.5 for thicker armour with a longer threaded tube), and would be fitted with Aerial Base No.8, Mounting No.1, and a pigtail lead.

For this setup, the variometer is screwed (with a packing piece) to a mounting fixed to the supply unit and is positioned over the control unit. The aerial feeder (No.2) has a small screw terminal and a copper strip connector to the rigid Tufnol aerial base that is part of the mounting. (The feeder is very flimsy and the later (2A) version was protected by a bakelite "castle" around a central screw and probably used a wire lead (I can't remember the details, but certainly a screw terminal riveted to a piece of paxolin circuit board was a seriously bad idea). )  

The oblong frames behind the set are probably intended for the previous set, a W.S.No.11 and would have held a pair of 250V primary battery boxes for the receiver. (Roughly the same as the W.S.18 Static Battery Box.) See Ron Pier's restoration for the WS11 version. (Also, the WS11 didn't have a carrier, I think, so the individual cases would have been bolted to the table.)

Chris. 

2 hours ago, simon king said:

Thanks Chris,

I saw this picture of the variometer attached to the bottom of that inverted pyramid, which spurred that comment,  admittedly in a restoration though. That configuration would only work if there was no intention to use the 19 set on the sledge as a ground station.  The “factory” photo of the rear seems to show a pigtail to secure an aerial lead in that location.

There are also a number of other fittings for which we do not know the purpose. The table is clearly designed to take a number of different sizes of sledge as there are a number of metal protector strips screwed to the table and there are two oblong frames screwed to the top of the table at the back and a further one on the floor next to the operator
 

If I could not find pukka battery leads, I would reproduce them, but originals would be welcome

Er, no. That's nonsense. The variometer is fitted with Aerial Feeder No.4 and an inch-long 'bush' by the look of things. That feeder is intended for a 'through the turret roof (or vehicle side in an armoured car)' (there's a No.5 for thicker armour with a longer threaded tube), and would be fitted with Aerial Base No.8, Mounting No.1, and a pigtail lead.

For this setup, the variometer is screwed (with a packing piece) to a mounting fixed to the supply unit and is positioned over the control unit. The aerial feeder (No.2) has a small screw terminal and a copper strip connector to the rigid Tufnol aerial base that is part of the mounting. (The feeder is very flimsy and the later (2A) version was protected by a bakelite "castle" around a central screw and probably used a wire lead (I can't remember the details, but certainly a screw terminal riveted to a piece of paxolin circuit board was a seriously bad idea). )  

On 8/1/2023 at 6:24 PM, guy66 said:

The insulator 

No, that's Aerial Lead-In No.12 which goes inside the 'black-out box' on the front wall of the vehicle body. Lead-In No.16 is the assembly that goes on the vehicle roof or the external bracket on the front wall of the body at roof level. I have an unissued complete one in the collection, together with the extension rod and the "Plates, Adaptor, No.5" to mount it on the bracket. In terms of "available spares", there's possibly a damaged No.16 - I took it apart to try and remove a corroded-in aluminium stub from the socket for the aerial rod and managed to bruise the thread on the socket, I definitely have two of the "Plates, Adapter No.5" though, and the extension rod is a simple matter of cutting some threads on a steel rod and painting it green (plus a threaded coupler). The adapters for 'F' rods were in use fora long time, and the "sloping twin 16-ft V" should be fairly easy to obtain. (Wireless For The Warrior shows a single sloping rod adapter with the Canadian Laport adapter used to make the 'V'. I don't think the rods would stay in place on the move, the later "all in one" adapter had a screw clamp that operated on both rods..

Best regards,

Chris.

On 8/15/2023 at 9:18 AM, simon king said:

Thanks Chris

I am always in the market for a tuning wheel, for the restoration of a second set.

The inverted pyramid is actually a mount for a variometer in some different WS installations. As you say perfectly positioned to take chunks of flesh out of the scalp as I know to my cost on a number of occasions.

The roof plates are pre -drilled to take a number of different aerial mounts, according to the WS fit. As a result the standard B set post mount and the A set acorn, the latter with a “doughnut” mounting plate will be fitted to the roof. These are fitted over leather patches in the canvas roof, with rolled blinds to close off the holes if the mounts are removed. I’m still lacking the doughnut mount for the A set acorn but it is of no import as I have had some thick rings laser cut. They will not be seen on the roof..

The four batteries are the standard wooden boxed 100 - 125 Ah batteries. I have reproductions for the time being, but these will be replaced in due course by originals or better reproductions.  More pressing issues at the moment though…

Hmmm... I'm still not convinced by the "Variometer Mount" theory - it looks more like the anchor frame for Aerial Base No.2 used with W.S. No.11 which was made of Ebonite (hard vulcanized rubber) and essentially rigid. The other possibility is a hand guard if a high power set was fitted and Aerial Lead-in No.16 (a large ceramic insulator with Aerial Base No.3 mounted on top, and an extension piece to get the feeder cable lower than the roof) was used. I need to photograph some bits of my radio collection. The second aerial mount maybe from a postwar 2-set installation, with WS19 on the left and C42 on the right... or they may have switched to a standard Base No.10 - it depends on the vehicle's history and intended usage. I can probably find you a spare "doughnut" (Aerial Base No.8, mounting No.3) - these exist in rubber, plywood (Canadian), or pressed steel, seam welded from two half "dishes" (post-WW2, I think), Plates, Connector, No.2, and an Aerial Feeder No.9 (which is fairly easy to copy - just a length of P.11 cable with a brass plug on one end and a ring terminal on the other.

Other bits: you were asking somewhere about charging switchboard cables - I have a box full of those, and probably some duplicates (also battery link cables) that are unissued (Connectors, Single, No.23 (A-D), all suitably labelled up.  (At least I have now unearthed the box they are in as part of a tidy-up!) I'll let you know what's available. (They will not be expensive, a friend was clearing them out and didn't want them to got to the scrap-man, some years ago.) 

On 9/29/2022 at 10:59 AM, simon king said:

The two tilt frames are now ready for paint. The front one just needed a bit of judicious jumping up and down on it to straighten but the back one needed more work. Sprung welds and extraneous holes in the frames have been repaired and a new central stanchion at the front has been added.

More significantly, the lengthened front and rear tilt frames used on the MWR had been chopped off. To restore these, tube of the correct diameter was obtained and spigots were turned to fit in the tube ends. These could be secured by the cross bolts used to secure the frames into the body-side sockets. The join is hidden by the socket, so the frame appears as a single piece.

 

 

Hi Simon, those two aerial mountings fixed to the tilt frames: what is the hole pattern arrangement and spacing, please? The left hand one looks like it takes the large roof insulator on a paxolin plate (and I think I have the plate and fibre gasket that fits it), and the right hand one might be a standard 6-hole mounting for base No.8, 10, or the larkspur VHF (28) or 31 (HF) if the vehicle had a 2-set installation in the 1950s. The welded on 'pyramid' under the left hand plate may be a guard to prevent the operator from accidentally coming into contact with the aerial feed - though it looks like a safety hazard in its own right!

...and if you still need a 'B' set tuning wheel, I've got one. :-)>

Best regards,

Chris.  

p.s. If you measure the battery mounting frames I can probably work out which batteries they are supposed to contain - the WW2 wooden cased accumulators and postwar pressed steel cases are the same size because they had to fit those trays during that changeover. (That's why the aerial bases (and rods) have the same sizes and hole patterns from early WW2 up to Clansman (and maybe the present day).) 

On 10/3/2021 at 7:56 PM, 07BE16 said:

Can someone explain how the ATU is fixed into the wing mounted box?

My box has sleeved mounting studs that align with the mounting holes on the ATU casting but are a smaller diameter. Is there a stepped rubber mount that goes over the studs?

Thanks

Richard

There are rubber cones that fit over the studs and square 'gaskets' that act as spacers. I think you need four of each per unit. The same fixing method applied to the Clansman TUAAM, so they are probably still available on the surplus market.

Chris.

2 hours ago, pamak said:

 

Thank you for the reply Chris.

 

So, from what i understand, they collected all the Remote Control Units from the radio trucks and put them in the remote Control Vehicle in the Signal Office. Do you know if this Remote Control Vehicle had a special design or was it just another office lorry which  sheltered all the gathered remote control units?

 

Thanks,

I think it's more a case of the RCV being a specialist office vehicle, with multiple desks inside, and a "penthouse" tent either side. The actual "Radio Village" vehicles would contain relatively high power sets for communications to adjacent units (WS53/R107), plus normal combat net radio (WS22, WS19 & WS19HP) for local forces. Line communication would be used wherever possible to avoid disclosing the HQ position, and there is a TEV full of teleprinters for cipher traffic to other major offices. The remote control units would possibly be issued to the RCV rather than the comms vehicles. It's not really my area of interest, though I foresee a visit to Kew in my future to get a copy of that document, and a need to resume scouring the internet for manuals I don't have in the Signal Training series. :-)>

It is probably worth joining the WS19 group for access to the manuals we do have... I'd recommend the Royal Signals Pocket Book "Wireless Diagrams" for the network diagrams and allocation of sets to units, and possibly Signal Training Volume V "Signal Office Organization and Procedure" or the later "Signal Centre Organization" publications.

https://royalsignals.org.uk/signals.htm#UK

...and I have some more scanning to do - maybe when I retire next year.

Best regards

Chris. (Junior Password Gnome)

On 11/23/2022 at 2:59 PM, pamak said:

 

Thank you for the answer.  The thing that caught my attention is that the diagram shows that there are 14 (6+8) sets. I cannot think of any Royal signals wireless truck that has so many radio sets. This is why I suspect that the truck had only the much smaller remote control devices and the actual radios (with additional operators) were set (probably dispersed)  at a different location away from the signal office. I do agree with you that the staff in the command post would have some additional remote control devices to communicate, but I suspect that this would be primarily for radio-telephony of messages in clear. Messages originated at the command post which required skills like Morse code or messages that required security would have to go to the signal center, coded (notice the cipher lorry in the signal office) and then transmitted by the radio personnel in the RCV truck.  

The "Radio Village" would have multiple vehicles, each with one or two radios fitted and would be dispersed well away from the headquarters for safety from direction finding. The "Royal Signals Pocket Book" section "Wireless Diagrams" shows the large number of communication links required at this kind of level. (Note that the Terminal Equipment Vehicle carries a 100-line telephone exchange - probably three 40 & 60 line F&F Switchboards linked together.) The actual "Remote Control" units for the radio trucks were not much larger than the "Telephone Set 'F'" used at headquarters and provided R/T and Morse facilities over telephone lines in addition to being usable as a telephone by themselves. 

Chris. 

There was also a WS31 AFV version, and the Canadians used the PRC510 (Improved PRC10) as an infantry communication "C Set" in AFVs.

Hi Robin,

They're basically the evolving "Aerial Rods 'F'" introduced before/during WW2, and will actually all fit Clansman bases.

The earliest (British) ones are 48" long, slightly tapered and with cylindrical ends:

ZA.0894 Aerial (Antenna) Rod 'F' No.1 - this is the bottom rod, fitting Aerial Base No.8, 10 & 11, etc

ZA0895 is No.2 (the centre rod) the bottom is necked down to enter the top of the No.1 and the No.2, allowing 3 and 4 sections to be used.

ZA0896 is No.3 (the top rod) this tapers to a closed end. (The WS38 "battle aerial" is a variation of this using spring steel rod welded into a plug and sometimes known as No.3B, I think.)

Up to four rods can be joined together, though the 16-foot (1+2+2+3) antenna is only really safe for static use.   

The next version was a Canadian improvement, with a rolled-in thread added to the top of the rods and the base of rods 2 & 3 to prevent them shaking apart and being lost from moving vehicles. These are 1.5" longer (49.5" or 1.2 metres overall).

Post-WW2 saw the tropicalised version:

ZA.44684 No.1 Mk.1/1

ZA.44683 No.2 Mk.1/1

ZA.44682 No.3 Mk.1/1

which were given NATO Stock Numbers (and a Domestic Management Code of Z42):

Z42/5820-99-949-1166 Antenna Rods, F. Mk.2 - Bottom (equal to ZA.44684)

Z42/5820-99-949-0985 Antenna Rods, F. Mk.2 - Middle (equal to ZA.44683)

Z42/5820-99-949-0986 Antenna Rods, F. Mk.2 - Top (equal to ZA.44682)

Enter Clansman, and the rods were shortened to a standard 1 metre length.

The 1986 Racal Antenna Catalogue still lists the earlier version, of course, and they will interchange with the metric ones.

Section.                 Steel                             Racal #.     Fibreglass/GRP.        Racal #

No.1 (Bottom).      5985-99-630-8455    (MA681).    5985-99-649-8138.   (RA746)

No.2 (Middle).      5985-99-630-8456    (MA682).    5985-99-649-8139.   (RA747)

No.3 (Top).            5985-99-630-8457    (MA683).    5985-99-649-8140.   (RA748)

(Hopefully this doesn't get reformatted once I hit "Send"!

Best regards,

Chris.

Half a century is well beyond any Government specification for a headset cable, since the headsets were introduced in the 1970s (I think). It certainly outperforms the commercial Jabra rubbish on my work laptop - in worse condition than any of my Clansman headsets after a mere 5 years.

PTS Norfolk were selling "Refurb Kits" for various headsets - mainly the Infantry Lightweight in the early days of Clansman disposal, and they were almost the same cost as an unissued headset. Sadly they are all gone now. You might be able to disconnect the cable at the headset end and slide heat-shrink sleeving over it, but the result would probably be much too stiff for comfortable use.   

Yes, and it sits on Insulator W/T 'H' with an extension bar to get the central feed below the mounting bracket, then there's a cable to the pyrex insulator in the blackout box for feedthrough to the vehicle. The straps are to bypass the (not very good at high power) Pendulastic insulator, and leave the ceramic mushroom to do that bit and the rubber to absorb jolts and swaying.

I probably have some spare parts of this assembly, or bits in the collection that can be used as a pattern.

Best regards,

Chris.

Wireless for the Warrior Volume 1, page W.S.19 - 74 shows the layout. I may have a sample of everything except the vehicle mounting bracket. The connector 20D should be listed in the Parts Identification List in enough detail to fabricate one. 

On 11/10/2022 at 5:09 PM, guy66 said:

Good to here that you have a solution for your problem, if you need more information always welcome to contact me.

I have some wireless stuff that I want to install in my Morris C4 wireless lorry . I am also looking what the Areal base looks like for a HP set 19 , the pictures in the Wireless for warriors book are not so great .

Guy   

If it's the one I think it is (that takes 'D' rods from the 34-ft steel vertical aerial - the 'golf bag'), then it's an "Aerial lead in No.16" which is built up from "Insulator W/T 'H'", Aerial Base No.3, four tinned copper braid straps, and an adapter plate.

I've got some of the bits somewhere, is your vehicle fitted with a "House Type" wireless body, and is the aerial base mounted through the roof or on the centre line of the body behind the cab, because the mount requirements are different.

Chris. 

That was always a problem with the WS19 Mk.3 - the 12-way power connector reduced the clearance for the watch stem to the point that a lot of them simply wouldn't fit in the holder.

Chris.