Richard Farrant Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 I assume you are thinking of the thing on the top? That is a 'flap' which I think operates a gripping mechanism for wires. The mystery item that fits in the case itself is not a Morse key either. as you implied earlier. it has a link with field telephony, maybe the box contains a bell to alert for calls or general alarm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Gas detection? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 Gas detection? I can see what you mean Bernard, but electro/electronic means of gas detection was some years away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 Well that looks like a pole mount, so I'm guessing it goes up high. Is it some kind of signalling/warning light? Perforated vent for cooling? 3 contacts is making me wonder... Arc lamp / gas plasma? Yes, up a pole but not too high. Yes, signalling/warning, but not a light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 maybe the box contains a bell Yes well done Richard we can always rely on you, it is indeed a bell In fact it houses Bell, electric, magneto, R The mounting bracket would be mounted not too high as the Case, bell, bracket could be pulled out by its handle & a field telephone plugged in its place. Although the predominant use for the bracket was to house the bell & its box. As a final detail any ideas what this particular system was intended to be used for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Does it by any chance come from this manual, Clive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 Does it by any chance come from this manual, Clive? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: As it happens no it doesn't...........................but that looks a jolly useful publication. Would like to get a copy of that :whistle: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmite!! Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 (edited) I can see what you mean Bernard, but electro/electronic means of gas detection was some years away. Detecting telephone signals, which was possible during WW1.. maybe it gave an alarm to notify that a call was being made so that they could evesdrop?? probably wrong but worth a go.. When a telephone was used to signal from a WWI trench an earth connection was usually made and through the earth connection a signal flowed into the ground. The majority of the signal took the easiest path between sender and receiver but lots of current also passed by more roundabout routes. Because trenches rarely followed straight lines anyway a good proportion of the earth current was detectable at nearby German trenches and if connections were made to ground at two widely separate points enough of the current was available to drive a sensitive detector. The amplifier used four triode valves and was able to amplify tiny intercepted earth currents sufficiently for an eavesdropper to listen in on enemy communications. Edited June 7, 2012 by Marmite!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 Detecting telephone signals, which was possible during WW1..It was indeed especially if a single wire was used with the return via earth. maybe it gave an alarm to notify that a call was being made so that they could evesdrop?? probably wrong but worth a go.. Plausible but this was not the specific function of this equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Though bells could be used to signal the start of an artillery barrage, and subsequently the time to lift a walking barrage, but that wouldn't really come in till about 1916/17. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 :thumbsup: Well you made us work for that one Clive! Can't wait to see this pesky bell and how it's connected... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Does it by any chance come from this manual, Clive? [ATTACH=CONFIG]62696[/ATTACH] Excellent....:rofl: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 Though bells could be used to signal the start of an artillery barrage, I was thinking that would be fairly self-evident, but I now realise you must mean the start of delivering the barrage. No its not for that actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 :thumbsup: Well you made us work for that one Clive! Yes enjoyed the thought processes going on there. Intriguing how elaborate the ideas were yet it was just a simple device. Can't wait to see this pesky bell and how it's connected... Ah yes the star of the show. Sadly, in this publication, there is no description of the pesky bell itself. As for connections it just says "terminals are provided inside the box for connecting the bell to the brass lining of the contact grooves." Still a bit to run yet, nobody has yet come up with its specific role. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Is it used to pass orders to gun position? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rangie Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 To signal the CO needs a cup of Baldrick's finest cappuchino? Alec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougiebarder Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Was it to tell the troops to stop fighting and come in for lunch?:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon_M Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Hmm, railway use, for traffic signalling? It could be carried about and just plugged in at any convenient location on a track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 It's purpose is pretty obvious. While the bell is plugged in, it rings, it is unplugged, the phone is then plugged in and someone says 'Hello' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 Is it used to pass orders to gun position?Sort of getting warm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 To signal the CO needs a cup of Baldrick's finest cappuchino? Alec I can't keep up with all these suggestions. Nope not a coffee alarm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 Was it to tell the troops to stop fighting and come in for lunch?:-DNope not a lunch bell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rover8FFR Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 To signal when Gas or Toxins clear in the trenches or enclosures????? A Curved Ball answer from this side of the room :-X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 (edited) Hmm, railway use, for traffic signalling? It could be carried about and just plugged in at any convenient location on a track.I like that suggestion on the evidence so far it sounds plausible but it is not the answer. Edited June 7, 2012 by fv1609 missing "is not" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlin Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 A circuit tester for phone lines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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