The First World War proved invaluable in terms of the first real phase of wireless sets in war but it was not until 1929 when the first real technological advances were made to develop a new series of wireless sets that would, in years to come, prove to be invaluable for the transmission of information and, more importantly, the changing face of mobile warfare is where the wireless sets were to truely come into their own.

This period would also see the use of the brand new numeric classification system.  A system that would remain in place until the end of the Second World War!

In August 1939, Pye was asked to quote for the manufacture of an Army man-pack radio transmitter/receiver for the Infantry, which had been designed by the Government Signals Experimental Establishment Department (SEE).

After some consideration, Pye declined to quote for the manufacture of the set as initially designed; however within 6 weeks Pye offered the prototypes of two alternative design configurations to the Ministry of Supply.  Eventually, after successful field trials in France, orders were placed for one of these alternative designs and the equipment was designated Wireless Set No.18.  This set was designed by a small team, which included Donald Hughes and William Pannell.

A small quantity of the original SEE designed sets were manufactured by Murphy Radio and called wireless Set No.8 however; Royal Corps of Signals figures show that by the end of hostilities, 76,000 of the improved Wireless Set No.18 design had been made by Pye and other manufacturers (Invicta Radio - another Stanley family company, Murphy Radio, Bush Radio and Ekco).

Large scale manufacture of wireless sets had begun and was to, without doubt, change the face of combat communications as we know it today .....

There were a variety of training devices used by signallers to improve and hone their skills both in the art of morse and voice.  The following is just one of those methods of training

Morse training set manufactured by Marconi believed to be around 1943 in date.  My thanks to Rev. M. Stanbrook for his kind permission to photograph the set and training book and to use them on this website.

By using the key pressel; a signaller could hone and master his knowledge of transmission by morse code.  Initial aim, for a beginner, was five to nine words per minute.  An experienced operator could achieve in the region of 30 words per minute.

The set itself would emit a buzzing sound each time the pressel was depressed and could also be connected to other training sets enabling the operator to master not only the number of words per minute but also the time delay between letters and words; both transmitted and received.