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WTK: modern part number/ source for cable ends

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M1carvine4me View Drop Down
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    Posted: Jul 30 2020 at 11:56am
I am working on restoring a couple of scope power cables for the M-2 scope. would someone happen to know the part numbers or modern alternative to the cable ends? also what type of cable was used? will buy in bulk and make a few spares if necessary.
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arthur View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote arthur Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul 30 2020 at 1:06pm
Mendelsons had a lot of old electronic stuff I don't know if  it's still available but worth a try. Old Delco building.   Sorry if this is too late.  Ron

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sleeplessnashadow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug 01 2020 at 2:27am
The manuals for the M2 Sniperscope don't show details as well as TM 5-9340 in 1944, for the T120/M1 Sniperscope & Snooperscope.

The cable is referred to as a "cable assembly", Sperry part # 805995, Frankford Arsenal part # 7670904








None of the manuals give a breakdown of the parts that make up the "cable assembly".

Prior to the T120/M1 Sniperscope and Snooperscope, Sperry Gyroscope had manufactured the T120 scopes under a contract to Army Ordnance. If a part in TM 5-9340 has a Sperry part number then Sperry manufactured it for Ordnance. During the Ordnance contract with Sperry all night vision research and equipment was assigned to the Corps of Engineers. Prior, Ordnance, Engineers, Signal Corps, etc had been operating independent of one another.

When the Engineers contracted Electronic Labs (EL) to manufacture the M1 Sniperscope and Snooperscope, the T120 scopes made for Ordnance were provided to EL for the Snooperscope & Sniperscope. I am assuming this included the power cable since it had a Sperry part number and was somewhat integral to the scopes.

The M2 Sniperscopes, both early and late, used the same cable as the T120/M1. Basically the same power supply with only a few minor changes. Bell & Howell or whoever made the cable for the M2 Snipercopes would have used the specs and drawings already established.

We have been trying to locate the drawings for any and all of the IR equipment, without success. Including requests submitted to the current day keepers of all the drawings. They have not been able to locate them. Efforts are on standby during this pandemic as the National Archives and many other facilities are closed.

There have been a couple forum members repairing/reconstructing cables for the M3 Sniperscopes, but they're significantly different than the M2 cables.

Jim
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sleeplessnashadow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug 01 2020 at 4:17am
Couple things to add to the last post. For comparison and as an fyi.

One challenge with finding info specific to the cable for the M2 Sniperscope is the manuals show it as included with the scope body, as the two were pretty much integral as far as they were concerned. The manuals give more details on the recharging cable than the main cable (but not much), as the recharging cable was a stand alone item, not integral.

Another challenge are the part numbers. During and after WWII the part numbering system was in a constant battle and evolution of change. As indicated on the parts page of the website. Which you can see in the following.

This first image is from TM 5-9341 M2 Sniperscope 1945.




The next three images are from TM 5-9341A M1 & M2 Sniperscope 1951







Fortunately TM 5-9341A separates the cable assembly from the tube in the list of parts section. D5637-6-6 for both the early and late M2 Sniperscopes. Unfortunately, this part number was replaced by a Federal Stock Number that doesn't reference or relate to any of the earlier numbers, circa 1953-1957. Eventually expanding to become the NSN number in the early 70's.

None of which give us a breakdown of what was used to construct the M2 cable assembly. If we do eventually find the drawings they may not include anything more than the dimensions. Somewhere there existed a different set of drawings with instructions on the manufacture of each particular part, step by step. An example would be the Winchester manufacturer drawings for each stage of manufacture at the Cody Firearms Museum. Inland had their own set they published more than a half dozen copies of for use internally. Those we are aware of are in private collections. We'd like to see one set donated to Cody to preserve the history.

Dan found Sperry Gyroscope's archives. It's on hold during the pandemic. I'm sure Bell & Howell has an archives. One of the challenges of this project is the time required to do all the in-depth research.

Your best bet on a cable is to reconstruct one using an authentic one as a guide, along with the electrical specs the cable required. You may find some of the parts were specifically made for these IR contracts. Along with the challenge of no nationwide standard for threads until after WWII.

Hopefully someone with experience will jump in here.

Jim
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