Paul and Marc donated to us, when joining us in Bierhütte, a portable German wartime test set assemble
Page initiated 14 September 2024
Status: 17 September 2024
Not particularly rare, but this one is in an excellent fashion.
My late, good friend, Hans Horn (DL1GP) originating from Flensburg, told me once in the late 1970s, that he used such test set type during his many tests and repairs of Würzburg radars systems (maintenance),
as his military duty was around Hamburg especially during the night hours, of course, especially during the frequent bombing raids.
Hans told me the following story:
When he was ordered to move to Hamburg vicinity - that his commanding officer called on him and informed him about his future work, warning him for the heaviness of his future job.
In my perception unbelievable:
He was then sent on a duty trip ("Dienstreise") to Sicily, in Southern Italy (early 1943).
(nowadays ca. 2500 km by car, but in those days - where only trains following the Western Italian coastline were maintained; quite an endeavour.)
Hans told me also - that the purpose of his journey was not directly obtaining a crucial part or component, but his 'Kommandant' also emphasised: - that he should enjoy his time of travelling (AOB: and eating) all down to the Isle of Sicily, and reverse.
His commanding officer knew what burden had to be carried by Hans Horn during the many future expected Allied Raids on Hamburg; and due to his particular technical experience, as he could hardly be replaced.
Hans Horn lived the entire day in a special repair vehicle (Citroen or Renault?). These vehicles were widely used by the Germans, and the one Hans Horn lived in was especially designed as to facilitate Würzburg radar repairs.
And, so it went-on, up to the bitter end in May 1945!
AOB: Only my personal guess: Hans Horn originated from Flensburg, thus he was a Northern German (being a bit more relaxed); maybe originated his "Kommandant" also from Northern Germany (Waterkant). As there exists quite a different attitude between Northern and Southern Germans (even today, maybe less pregnant), but they are a bit different kind of people.
In a brain wave: I remembered that Hans was likely joining our Hell meeting in our QTH (still our living room)
Just today 17 January Frank Doerenberg very kindly sent me a copy of that famous Hell meeting photo taken in my QTH of 1980, where I still live
From left to the right: Late Helmut Liebich DL1OY (†), myself PA0AOB, PA0CSC Cas Caspers (†), PA0CX/DJ0SA Hans Evers, PA0KLS Klaas Robers, PA0VYL Cor Moerman, PA0SE Dick Rollema (†), F5VQ now Ni6q Robert or Brian Tompson, late DL1GP Hans Horn (†) just on the far right-hand side
The Radar Test gear
The leather box on itself seems rather sound
Pointing at the bakelite meter lid
The meter on the left-hand side may be described as a "universal meter"
Currents 12A ... 2 mA (=100 mV)
Voltages 600 ... 6 V
The second meter was to be employed in cases LF signals (up to 10,000 Hz) being concerned
300 V ... 6 V up to 10 kHz
And on the far right-hand site
I guess, a hotwire driven scale mechanism
The advantage is: that its meter response is quite independent of the frequency spectrum under test.
2 A and 6 Amp scale ranges.
I remember, that Hans told by that operating this gear in combination his Würzburgs, he was always keen to use an wooden plank for stability and insulation as well as being safed for sometimes 8 kV HT; as they measured directly at such dangerous high levels.
Looks quite impressive, and sound, and it certain was in the early 1940s
Underneath the bakelite lid there is inserted the scale just reproduced
Nicht berühren = do not touch
Nicht berühren = do not touch
Seemingly production batch nr 244
These are no direct indications of frequent access
Again, no signs of access and carrying the same batch number 244
By Arthur O. Bauer
