Morse training buzzer - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Lloyd 1985 · 23rd Jan 2022, 10:31 pm

Here’s something I picked up at the weekend from one of my favourite antique centres for pocket money, described as a WWII morse code training buzzer, or as it’s labelled on the wooden panel, ‘Buzzer Sig Training’.

As found it clearly had the morse key on the wrong way round! Also there was a lamp holder of some sort (a Bulgin one) tacked on. After a bit of searching online I see they originally had a metal bracket at the top which held 2 batteries to power it, sadly this is missing, but I could always replicate it.

To start with, I got rid of the lamp holder, and removed everything from the wooden base, and gave it all a good clean, not so much that it’d look shiny and new, just used but cleanish..

The buzzer itself is damaged, the 2 springy contacts have snapped off, so to get it to do something I’ve attached a couple of solder tags temporarily, so it now makes a noise at least! The key is in good order, just missing a couple of screws, which I’ll hopefully have knocking about.

It’s been reassembled (the correct way round!) and works! I’ve never tried morse code before, but I did manage SOS… I’d like to find some old cloth covered wire to complete it, I found a short length of black rubber cloth covered wire which is still flexible and I think suits it, shame I haven’t got any more!

I’ve not been able to find any info on the batteries these used, all the photos online are too low res to be able to make out what’s written on the cases, does anyone have a good scan of one? Or even know what type it was so I can do a bit more searching?

Regards
Lloyd

AC/HL · 23rd Jan 2022, 10:53 pm

I have one of those. I'm childminding tomorrow, but when I get a moment I'll dig it out if I'm not beaten to it. From memory, the key only has the used terminal screws fitted.

Herald1360 · 23rd Jan 2022, 11:58 pm

Battery(ies) could well be the same as field telephone ones- "BATTERY DRY 11/2V No. 12.

These have handy screw terminals for attaching wires.

https://images.app.goo.gl/h53RshrL97mBg9Kv5

A 1289 "flat" 4.5V battery would probably do and it would be easy to make a wooden holder to take it.

Dave Moll · 24th Jan 2022, 8:42 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herald1360

Battery(ies) could well be the same as field telephone ones- "BATTERY DRY 11/2V No. 12.

These have handy screw terminals for attaching wires.

If you obtain original ones (which will almost certainly be flat in the sense of lacking charge), the cell can be replaced using one of the four cells in a 996 lantern battery - with a bit of heavy-duty soldering of the terminals. This is how I run some of my field telephones.

edit: here's one of my no.12s:

Lloyd 1985 · 24th Jan 2022, 10:07 am

Cheers guys! I’ll keep an eye out for some originals to either restuff or just put them there to make it look complete, or try and make up some new cases and fit the internals of lantern batteries.

The missing screws on the key were one that tensions the spring, and the one that stops the pin holding the key from falling out, I’ve replaced one already, the 4BA that tensions the spring, I think the other is 6BA.

Regards
Lloyd

AC/HL · 24th Jan 2022, 11:36 am

Mine has metal feet in the corners, and the wiring is PVC, not braided. Those WT8 keys were very common in the surplus shops of yore, so there should still be a few about.

Lloyd 1985 · 24th Jan 2022, 6:02 pm

Ah! I thought it should have some feet, there are holes left from where they were before. Thanks for those photos

Regards
Lloyd

rambo1152 · 26th Jan 2022, 10:13 pm

Those "feet" don't look very practical!

They are actually normally found on the inside of drawers and cabinets hiding the handle fixings.

23rd Jan 2022, 10:31 pm	#1
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,408	Morse training buzzer Here’s something I picked up at the weekend from one of my favourite antique centres for pocket money, described as a WWII morse code training buzzer, or as it’s labelled on the wooden panel, ‘Buzzer Sig Training’. As found it clearly had the morse key on the wrong way round! Also there was a lamp holder of some sort (a Bulgin one) tacked on. After a bit of searching online I see they originally had a metal bracket at the top which held 2 batteries to power it, sadly this is missing, but I could always replicate it. To start with, I got rid of the lamp holder, and removed everything from the wooden base, and gave it all a good clean, not so much that it’d look shiny and new, just used but cleanish.. The buzzer itself is damaged, the 2 springy contacts have snapped off, so to get it to do something I’ve attached a couple of solder tags temporarily, so it now makes a noise at least! The key is in good order, just missing a couple of screws, which I’ll hopefully have knocking about. It’s been reassembled (the correct way round!) and works! I’ve never tried morse code before, but I did manage SOS… I’d like to find some old cloth covered wire to complete it, I found a short length of black rubber cloth covered wire which is still flexible and I think suits it, shame I haven’t got any more! I’ve not been able to find any info on the batteries these used, all the photos online are too low res to be able to make out what’s written on the cases, does anyone have a good scan of one? Or even know what type it was so I can do a bit more searching? Regards Lloyd Attached Thumbnails

23rd Jan 2022, 10:53 pm	#2
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,423	Re: Morse training buzzer I have one of those. I'm childminding tomorrow, but when I get a moment I'll dig it out if I'm not beaten to it. From memory, the key only has the used terminal screws fitted. __________________ Bill, BVWS member

23rd Jan 2022, 11:58 pm	#3
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,098	Re: Morse training buzzer Battery(ies) could well be the same as field telephone ones- "BATTERY DRY 11/2V No. 12. These have handy screw terminals for attaching wires. https://images.app.goo.gl/h53RshrL97mBg9Kv5 A 1289 "flat" 4.5V battery would probably do and it would be easy to make a wooden holder to take it. __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

24th Jan 2022, 10:07 am	#5
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,408	Re: Morse training buzzer Cheers guys! I’ll keep an eye out for some originals to either restuff or just put them there to make it look complete, or try and make up some new cases and fit the internals of lantern batteries. The missing screws on the key were one that tensions the spring, and the one that stops the pin holding the key from falling out, I’ve replaced one already, the 4BA that tensions the spring, I think the other is 6BA. Regards Lloyd

24th Jan 2022, 11:36 am	#6
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,423	Re: Morse training buzzer Mine has metal feet in the corners, and the wiring is PVC, not braided. Those WT8 keys were very common in the surplus shops of yore, so there should still be a few about. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Bill, BVWS member

24th Jan 2022, 6:02 pm	#7
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,408	Re: Morse training buzzer Ah! I thought it should have some feet, there are holes left from where they were before. Thanks for those photos Regards Lloyd

26th Jan 2022, 10:13 pm	#8
rambo1152 Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 3,246	Re: Morse training buzzer Those "feet" don't look very practical! They are actually normally found on the inside of drawers and cabinets hiding the handle fixings. Attached Thumbnails __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT