Military Radio Spares Kit - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

newlite4 · 13th Oct 2021, 10:10 am

Cycled out to Melksham Arcade yesterday afternoon and bought this for £6. It is a spare lamp and fuse kit, possibly for Larkspur or maybe later Clansman. We could not remove the lid in the shop so I was keen to buy just to see the contents. Opening up the box revealed no contents apart from two very substantial rubber inserts which contributed to the heavy weight of the box which added to the mystery. I decided to refill the box as best as I could with period lamps and fuses, there should be some small tools as well to facilitate removal and insertion of the spares, I will try to source these.
Neil

G6Tanuki · 13th Oct 2021, 5:42 pm

According to this: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30118194

it was part of the support kit for the Larkspur C11/R210 installation.

Stockden · 15th Oct 2021, 4:21 pm

I recall coming across these boxes at various times in my service career but my memory of exactly where and when has sadly faded. While it may well have been with C11/R210 I think it was more likely to have been with VRC353Z and/or VRC321 in multi-set installations. Having said that, it could equally have been with C50/R236, Bruin, CSSH, Wavell, Ptarmigan or IARRCIS or any of the myriad other things that I came across.

My suspicion is that these boxes were common items and associated with an installation (such as "Station Radio VRC353 in Truck 3/4 Ton FFR") rather than a particular equipment. After all, even with a 3-set installation, you probably only need one set of fuses. Oh and you'd need spares for any harness or ancillaries that were part of the installation too. The wording on the box ("Electronic Equipment" rather than "Station Radio") also suggests to me that they may have been used across a broad range of installations and not just Comms.

Hugh

Radio Wrangler · 15th Oct 2021, 4:51 pm

Just looking at the photo gives a waft of that ex-military radio rubber smell.

David

G6Tanuki · 15th Oct 2021, 6:44 pm

There's indeed something nostalgic about the aroma of opening-up a 'hermetically sealed' military radio or vacuum-packed "full standard packaging' parts.

I guess the stores-guys at .mod.uk stores places like COD Donnington would get high on the smell...

newlite4 · 15th Oct 2021, 8:29 pm

Yes, I can confirm that the smell of the freshly opened box was indeed very rubbery. It sits rather nicely alongside the R209 being of a similar era. There must be a fair number of these out there, with or without contents.
Neil

13th Oct 2021, 10:10 am	#1
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Military Radio Spares Kit Cycled out to Melksham Arcade yesterday afternoon and bought this for £6. It is a spare lamp and fuse kit, possibly for Larkspur or maybe later Clansman. We could not remove the lid in the shop so I was keen to buy just to see the contents. Opening up the box revealed no contents apart from two very substantial rubber inserts which contributed to the heavy weight of the box which added to the mystery. I decided to refill the box as best as I could with period lamps and fuses, there should be some small tools as well to facilitate removal and insertion of the spares, I will try to source these. Neil Attached Thumbnails __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

13th Oct 2021, 5:42 pm	#2
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,996	Re: Military Radio Spares Kit According to this: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30118194 it was part of the support kit for the Larkspur C11/R210 installation. __________________ I'm the Operator of my Pocket Calculator. -Kraftwerk.

15th Oct 2021, 4:21 pm	#3
Stockden Heptode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 648	Re: Military Radio Spares Kit I recall coming across these boxes at various times in my service career but my memory of exactly where and when has sadly faded. While it may well have been with C11/R210 I think it was more likely to have been with VRC353Z and/or VRC321 in multi-set installations. Having said that, it could equally have been with C50/R236, Bruin, CSSH, Wavell, Ptarmigan or IARRCIS or any of the myriad other things that I came across. My suspicion is that these boxes were common items and associated with an installation (such as "Station Radio VRC353 in Truck 3/4 Ton FFR") rather than a particular equipment. After all, even with a 3-set installation, you probably only need one set of fuses. Oh and you'd need spares for any harness or ancillaries that were part of the installation too. The wording on the box ("Electronic Equipment" rather than "Station Radio") also suggests to me that they may have been used across a broad range of installations and not just Comms. Hugh Last edited by Stockden; 15th Oct 2021 at 4:40 pm. Reason: Afterthoughts

15th Oct 2021, 4:51 pm	#4
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,864	Re: Military Radio Spares Kit Just looking at the photo gives a waft of that ex-military radio rubber smell. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

15th Oct 2021, 6:44 pm	#5
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,996	Re: Military Radio Spares Kit There's indeed something nostalgic about the aroma of opening-up a 'hermetically sealed' military radio or vacuum-packed "full standard packaging' parts. I guess the stores-guys at .mod.uk stores places like COD Donnington would get high on the smell... __________________ I'm the Operator of my Pocket Calculator. -Kraftwerk.

15th Oct 2021, 8:29 pm	#6
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Re: Military Radio Spares Kit Yes, I can confirm that the smell of the freshly opened box was indeed very rubbery. It sits rather nicely alongside the R209 being of a similar era. There must be a fair number of these out there, with or without contents. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.