This was one of my star purchases at Shoreham. On the lid it has Air Battn 1. Air Plane section R.F.C.
A lttle research seems to indicate that its a piece of the early attempt to comunicate with aircraft using wireless. I think this is part of the ground equipment. Initially aircraft were only able to transmitt and not recieve as recievers were to big and heavy to be carried. I am still trying to work out its exact function but my guess is that it was connected to a reciever and used to pas It has two morse tappers one each sides messages to the units requiring the intelligence gathered by the aircraft ? any information gratefully recieved. It has two morse tappers one on each side of the box. The maker is marconi.
By: knifeedgeturn - 9th April 2013 at 12:30
It doesn’t apppear to contain any “electronic” components, and looks to be a large switch box.
By: SimonSpitfire - 9th April 2013 at 08:54
Wireless Operators RFC
Grahame,
Thought this may be of some interest to you.
By: |RLWP - 8th April 2013 at 22:22
What does it say under the handle?
It’s a different field, however this reminds me of the switch box used to switch out a railway signal box. Perhaps it cut out an observation post in a line of observers
Richard
By: Rosevidney1 - 8th April 2013 at 22:17
I don’t want to be a wet blanket but that doesn’t look like a radio receiver, more like a field telephone exchange or centre. :confused:
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th April 2013 at 21:55
A very nice piece, Graham.
Very pleased that you got value for money from your stall and the cost of your journey to Shoreham. Excellent!
By: |RLWP - 8th April 2013 at 16:15
In Saggitarius Rising, there is a description of some of those early wireless operations. IIRC, ground crew would communicate back to aeroplanes by using some sort of large flag. I wonder if that’s what is down the left hand column of your instrument?
Richard
By: Graham Adlam - 8th April 2013 at 14:13
Thankyou I forgot to upload probably the most important picture now added it lists a whole range of aircraft with symbols and actions.
By: nightdriver - 8th April 2013 at 12:26
It could have been used in conjunction with RE8 aeroplanes as these aeroplanes which were fitted with wireless to transmit coordinates to the artillery batteries.
I came across this painting on the RAF Museum flickr page sometime ago showing some of the wireless equipment being used
http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalairforcemuseum/8166755131/sizes/l/in/set-72157631961281394/
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April 8, 2013 at 10:33 am