Feld-Hell acccessories

[Introduction]
[Spare-parts box]
[Power cord]
[Audio patch cord]
[Lumbar cushion]

Latest page update: 3 October 2021 (added Fig. 6

Previous page update: 23 February 2019

INTRODUCTION

The accessories of the Hell Feldfernschreiber are stored on the inside of the lid of the carrying case:

spare-parts box
2 m long power cord, for connecting the machine to a source of 12 volt DC
1.2 m long audio patch cord, to connect the electronics box to a radio receiver
1-page operating manual

Note: not all Hellschreiber lids have the two small brackets for attaching a small spare-parts box with a leather strap.

Fig. 1: inside of the lid of a Feld-Hell carrying case - complete with power cord and accessories box

(patch cord for connecting to radio receiver not shown)

SPARE-PARTS BOX - "ERSATZTEILKÄSTCHEN"

The the small cardboard spare-parts box is attached to the inside of the lid with a leather strap. It contains the following spare items:

1 small bottle of "HB violett" printer ink, and a re-inking brush (kept in a small aluminium tube)
2 felt ink rollers (each in a small metal box)
2 carbon brushes (5.0x6.4 mm) for the motor
2 carbon brushes (6.3x6.3 mm) for the generator
1 carbon brush (4.0x4.0 mm) for the character-drum
1 indicator light bulb (12 volt, 2 watt, standard "Ba9s" bayonet base ("Swanfassung"))
3 fuses (6 amp, 5x20 mm), "Wickmann" brand.

Fig. 2: Top of Feld-Hell accessories box

(original unedited photo: courtesy John Alexander Wilson; used with permission)

Fig. 3: Top of another Feld-Hell accessories box - without the ink bottle and the two felt ink rollers

(source unedited photo: eBay 2014)

Fig. 4: Top of an Feld-Hell accessories box - re-labeled for the Italian "market"

Fig. 5: Accessories box and its contents

(bottle and box label in Italian, but cardboard strip with fuses, light bulb, and carbon brushes in German)

Fig. 6: Standard accessories box with Spanish content label - from the Spanish Civil War (July 1936 - March 1939)

(original unedited photos: courtesy Eddy Saris, used with permission)

Fig. 7: Small metal box with a spare felt ink roller

(original unedited photo: courtesy John Alexander Wilson; used with permission)

The 1941 Feld-Hell manual recommends using ink ("Schreibfarbe") that is a "colloidal solution of pigment in oil". This minimizes drying out of the felt roller, collecting deposits of ink on the spindle, and causing the spindle to rust. The same manual prescribes the use of special ink "HB 45 violett".

Fig. 8: Original ink bottles and re-inking brush with its storage tube

Fig. 9: cardboard strip with spare carbon brushes, fuses, and light bulb

POWER CORD

The electronics box of the Feld-Hell is connected to a 12 volt power source with a 2 m long power cord. This can be a 12 volt car battery, or a 12 volt power supply.

Fig. 10: the power cord - with spade lugs for hooking up to a battery or power supply

The polarity is marked on the connector shell, and the + and – connector sockets have different diameters so as to avoid inserting the connector with reverse polarity.

Fig. 11: the Feld-Hell power connector

AUDIO PATCH CORD

For operation via radio, the "Empfänger" ( = receiver) connector of the Feld-Hell's electronics box is hooked up to the headphones output of a radio receiver. This is done with with an audio patch cord.

Fig. 12: audio patch cable for hooking up to the loudspeaker / headset output of a radio receiver

(note the white polarity dot near one of the prongs on each plug)

LUMBAR CUSHION

Hauling a 27⁺ kg (≈60 lbs) piece of equipment on your back with two leather belts is no joy! To help ease the pain, the "Tornister" carrying case of the Feld-Hell has two tracks for inserting a cushion:

Fig. 1: inside of the lid of a Feld-Hell carrying case - complete with power cord and accessories box

(patch cord for connecting to radio receiver not shown)

Fig. 2: Top of Feld-Hell accessories box

(original unedited photo: courtesy John Alexander Wilson; used with permission)

Fig. 3: Top of another Feld-Hell accessories box - without the ink bottle and the two felt ink rollers

(source unedited photo: eBay 2014)

Fig. 4: Top of an Feld-Hell accessories box - re-labeled for the Italian "market"

Fig. 5: Accessories box and its contents

(bottle and box label in Italian, but cardboard strip with fuses, light bulb, and carbon brushes in German)

Fig. 6: Standard accessories box with Spanish content label - from the Spanish Civil War (July 1936 - March 1939)

(original unedited photos: courtesy Eddy Saris, used with permission)

Fig. 7: Small metal box with a spare felt ink roller

(original unedited photo: courtesy John Alexander Wilson; used with permission)

Fig. 8: Original ink bottles and re-inking brush with its storage tube

Fig. 9: cardboard strip with spare carbon brushes, fuses, and light bulb

Fig. 10: the power cord - with spade lugs for hooking up to a battery or power supply

Fig. 11: the Feld-Hell power connector

Fig. 12: audio patch cable for hooking up to the loudspeaker / headset output of a radio receiver

(note the white polarity dot near one of the prongs on each plug)

Fig. 13: lumbar cushion ("Rückenpolster", "Rückenkissen") for the back pack carrying-case ("Tornister")

Fig. 14: soldier with a "Tornister" (here: a radio, not a Hellschreiber) strapped to his back

Fig. 15: two more "Tornister" radios with a cushion

Fig. 16: two "Tornister" radios with cushion and two leather belts