Setting up at the event takes about two hours. A good chunk of that time involves wiring up the field telephones and switchboard. It is important to have a working display in which event visitors can actually talk on real field telephones from WW2.
First thing to be done is setting up the canopy. Next, set up the table, switchboard, Amtszusatz, and operator’s FF33 under the canopy.
Connect the 30-pin plug to the socket in the switchboard. The other end of the cable is later connected to the Abspannleiste.
Build the Abspannbock. This is where the field telephone wires are terminated and fed to the switchboard.
Connect the other end of the 30-conductor cable from the switchboard to the center of the Abspannleiste hanging from the Abspannbock.
Set two of the FF33 field telephones up on the folding table. These phones are for the event visitors to talk to one another. Wire the two phones up and terminate the wires on the Abspannbock/Absannleiste.
Set the Tischfernsprecher 38 up on a table in the command headquarters. Wire the phone up and terminate the wires on the Abspannbock/Absannleiste. When visitors go into the command headquarters, I ring the Tischfernsprecher 38 from the switchboard. This adds interest to the headquarters.
When complete, the setup looks like the photo below…
Don’t forget to assemble the Baukarren and set it in the front of the display. This lures interested visitors into the display. Once in the display, they can find out what the Baukarren was used for, how field telephone wires were constructed, and how the switchboard and phones work.
In review, the wiring should be as shown in the following diagram…
For more information about WW2 German field telephone equipment, check out my book: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/rotwang-manteuffel/world-war-2-german-field-telephone-equipment-a-basic-guide-for-reenactors-and-historians/paperback/product-976w9q.html?page=1&pageSize=4
WW2 German Field Telephone Equipment 