R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Radio Rob · 24th Jan 2021, 11:37 pm

Hi All My first post on the forum so I hope I get this right.

While looking around the web for photos to help with my R1155A I came across a colour picture on Wikipedia(Imperial War Museum Photo) showing the Radio operators position. The photo shows an R1155 with a small marconi knob to the left of the serial number plate under the main tuning knob. The Letters N (orM) and S painted above.

The question is what might it be for.

Could it be a heater switch for the D/F valves Navigator or Standard.

Really interesting picture.

Any Ideas

dave walsh · 25th Jan 2021, 2:05 am

Welcome to the Forum. I'm sorry I can't help you with that Rob but it's a great photo! Thanks for posting. There's nothing near the serial plate on my [unrestored] set so maybe it's a specialised addition? I'm sure there will be lots of expert ideas to follow. You are in the right place

Dave W

Graham G3ZVT · 25th Jan 2021, 2:41 am

I've seen that picture in many places but only in B&W, so it must have been hand coloured, if not Photoshopped.

I hadn't noticed the extra knob though, quite intriguing. it appears to have two positions N & S so something to do with the DF I guess.

It appears to have had a lot of use, judging by the marks on the panel.

G4YVM David · 29th Jan 2021, 5:32 pm

That is interesting because it's a rare mod state. Have a look at other images and it's not there. It's not something I have ever seen in real life and I've seen, and owned, a few R1155's! As has been said it certainly seems to have had a lot of use in this particular installation. I'll ask about...

G4YVM David · 30th Jan 2021, 4:34 pm

I've spoken to Ben Nock and he has never seen it either.

ms660 · 30th Jan 2021, 4:42 pm

I wonder if it's anything to do with a training setup?

Lawrence.

turretslug · 30th Jan 2021, 5:14 pm

As the war progressed, more and more powerful radar pulses were being generated in the locale of bomber formations for ground-mapping and rear-warning- could some R1155s have grown a noise-suppressing circuit in the way that some CR100s did? Random stab-in-the-dark- could 'N' and 'S' be normal and suppressed?

HamishBoxer · 30th Jan 2021, 5:52 pm

Sounds a possibility as I guess it wont mean North /South. I have 3 R1155,s but none have the extra knob.

Must information somewhere out there.This has got me searching to no avail as yet.

NottsIan · 30th Jan 2021, 11:55 pm

Do we know the provenance of the photo? Was it taken during WWII or could it be a more recent mock-up.

Graham G3ZVT · 31st Jan 2021, 10:36 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by NottsIan

Do we know the provenance of the photo?

As it happens, yes.
It appears on the R1155 Wikipedia page.

Description
English: IWM caption : Flying Officer R W Stewart, a wireless operator on board an Avro Lancaster B Mark I of No. 57 Squadron RAF based at Scampton, Lincolnshire, speaking to the pilot from his position in front of the Marconi T1154/R1155 transmitter/receiver set.
Date circa 1943

M0FYA Andy · 31st Jan 2021, 11:16 am

I'm sure this photograph was thoroughly discussed on here a couple of years ago, with no conclusion.

Can anybody find the thread, I can't?

Andy

Ed_Dinning · 2nd Feb 2021, 12:19 pm

Hi Folks, it also appears in the spring 2016 edition of Radio Bygones, P21

Ed

Radio Rob · 2nd Feb 2021, 5:34 pm

Thanks for the replies. I like a mystery. The original source of this photo was the Imperial War museum. I guess it is unlikely that anyone who used this set is still around. It would be nice to solve.

24th Jan 2021, 11:37 pm	#1
Radio Rob Diode Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 3	R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob Hi All My first post on the forum so I hope I get this right. While looking around the web for photos to help with my R1155A I came across a colour picture on Wikipedia(Imperial War Museum Photo) showing the Radio operators position. The photo shows an R1155 with a small marconi knob to the left of the serial number plate under the main tuning knob. The Letters N (orM) and S painted above. The question is what might it be for. Could it be a heater switch for the D/F valves Navigator or Standard. Really interesting picture. Any Ideas Attached Thumbnails

25th Jan 2021, 2:05 am	#2
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob Welcome to the Forum. I'm sorry I can't help you with that Rob but it's a great photo! Thanks for posting. There's nothing near the serial plate on my [unrestored] set so maybe it's a specialised addition? I'm sure there will be lots of expert ideas to follow. You are in the right place Dave W

25th Jan 2021, 2:41 am	#3
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 18,715	Re: R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob I've seen that picture in many places but only in B&W, so it must have been hand coloured, if not Photoshopped. I hadn't noticed the extra knob though, quite intriguing. it appears to have two positions N & S so something to do with the DF I guess. It appears to have had a lot of use, judging by the marks on the panel. Attached Thumbnails __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT

29th Jan 2021, 5:32 pm	#4
G4YVM David Heptode Join Date: May 2014 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 998	Re: R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob That is interesting because it's a rare mod state. Have a look at other images and it's not there. It's not something I have ever seen in real life and I've seen, and owned, a few R1155's! As has been said it certainly seems to have had a lot of use in this particular installation. I'll ask about... __________________ David, G4YVM.

30th Jan 2021, 4:34 pm	#5
G4YVM David Heptode Join Date: May 2014 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 998	Re: R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob I've spoken to Ben Nock and he has never seen it either. __________________ David, G4YVM.

30th Jan 2021, 4:42 pm	#6
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob I wonder if it's anything to do with a training setup? Lawrence.

30th Jan 2021, 5:14 pm	#7
turretslug Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 4,395	Re: R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob As the war progressed, more and more powerful radar pulses were being generated in the locale of bomber formations for ground-mapping and rear-warning- could some R1155s have grown a noise-suppressing circuit in the way that some CR100s did? Random stab-in-the-dark- could 'N' and 'S' be normal and suppressed?

30th Jan 2021, 5:52 pm	#8
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob Sounds a possibility as I guess it wont mean North /South. I have 3 R1155,s but none have the extra knob. Must information somewhere out there.This has got me searching to no avail as yet. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S Last edited by HamishBoxer; 30th Jan 2021 at 5:59 pm.

30th Jan 2021, 11:55 pm	#9
NottsIan Tetrode Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 88	Re: R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob Do we know the provenance of the photo? Was it taken during WWII or could it be a more recent mock-up.

31st Jan 2021, 11:16 am	#11
M0FYA Andy Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 2,511	Re: R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob I'm sure this photograph was thoroughly discussed on here a couple of years ago, with no conclusion. Can anybody find the thread, I can't? Andy

2nd Feb 2021, 12:19 pm	#12
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,194	Re: R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob Hi Folks, it also appears in the spring 2016 edition of Radio Bygones, P21 Ed

2nd Feb 2021, 5:34 pm	#13
Radio Rob Diode Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 3	Re: R1155 Additional N/S Knob to Left of Tuning Knob Thanks for the replies. I like a mystery. The original source of this photo was the Imperial War museum. I guess it is unlikely that anyone who used this set is still around. It would be nice to solve.