BA-27 4-1/2V Battery Repro for RM-29 Remote Control

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Re: BA-27 4-1/2V Battery Repro for RM-29 Remote Control

Post by GreyWulf » Tue Mar 15, 2022 6:02 pm

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Re: BA-27 4-1/2V Battery Repro for RM-29 Remote Control

Post by SGM (ret) » Tue Apr 05, 2022 6:53 pm

Ok, so first thing up, I still have a couple of the BA-27 replica battery holders. If anyone is interested, please contact me via PM here on the Gee.

I'm also working on a similar replica BA-2, 22-1/2V battery holder. This one is a commission job, and I'm just about ready to start making up the order. I can add a few more and make them all at once, so if this is a battery type that you are interested in having, let me know ASAP. As with the BA-27 replicas, these things are too tedious, too time consuming and too expensive to make unless there's a specific demand for them. Unlike the BA-27 replicas, I won't be making a bunch of these BA-2 "on speculation."

Unfortunately, I'll also have to charge US$35 each plus shipping for these BA-2 replica battery holders. The materials cost for each is pretty high, and they take several hours each to make (for instance, there are 15 pairs of battery terminals that have to be soldered together using bridging wires).

This battery holder is the Signal Corp contract version of the identical civilian 22-1/2 V "radio B circuit" battery (some radios used a pair of them in series for 45 volts). These replicas use 15 commercial AAA dry-cell batteries (the original was a battery pack using 15 AA-sized cells). It will provide about 50% of the original's mAh rating (depending on draw, about 40 hours vs. 80 hours). The internal battery holder is a custom 3D printed design as is the top. Until I run out, the external red and black terminal wires will be made of WWII vintage wire taken from an interphone wiring harness.

I can also make these with the civilian commercial Burgess box cover and top vice the Signal Corps contract cover, label and top. The Signal Corps batteries only have the white-black stripes and thin paper labels, no Burgess logos. The civilian battery tops don't have the molded in "Type BA-2," just the positive and negative symbols. If there was sufficient demand, I could also make the battery replicas with the Eveready labels instead of the Burgess labels.

The photos are of my final prototype design for the box, cover, label, top and internal battery holder. The production replicas will have heavier weight, glossy covers and slightly darker tops. In these photos, the top has not been glued into the box, but on the production replicas that will be done with two-part epoxy. I've included a picture of the draft civilian commercial cover design (mostly to show the bottom of the cover on the box closing flap).

The first photo shows a comparison of an original vintage battery on the left and the replica on the right.
Original and Prototype.jpg
This is the commercial civilian box cover showing the bottom of the cover on the box closing flap (identical on both types, civilian and Signal Corps).
DSC05404.jpg
This is the internal battery holder loaded with 15, AAA batteries and tested for voltage.
DSC05398.JPG
This one shows the internal battery holder and the replica box.
DSC05403.JPG
The top of the box showing the embossed / stamped information. This is a 3D printed part. The original battery top was filled with a molten, poured resin material which was then stamped with this information.
DSC05401.JPG
Here's an overall view of the prototype BA-2 replica showing the overall size and terminal wires. These are each about 5-1/2" long.
DSC05399.JPG

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Re: BA-27 4-1/2V Battery Repro for RM-29 Remote Control

Post by retro-roco » Tue Apr 05, 2022 7:09 pm

Definitely need a couple, just need to decide on style...
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Re: BA-27 4-1/2V Battery Repro for RM-29 Remote Control

Post by David B » Mon May 02, 2022 6:22 pm

are there two more ba-27s available or are they all spoken for now?

Thanks!!!
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Re: BA-27 4-1/2V Battery Repro for RM-29 Remote Control

Post by SGM (ret) » Tue May 03, 2022 4:51 pm

David B wrote:
Mon May 02, 2022 6:22 pm
are there two more ba-27s available or are they all spoken for now?

Thanks!!!
Hi David,

Shoot me a PM. I still have a couple of the BA-27s available.

Mike

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Re: BA-27 4-1/2V Battery Repro for RM-29 Remote Control

Post by torneb » Tue May 10, 2022 8:05 pm

These BA-2 batteries are perfect. They look, work and fit perfect in all my radios. Same with the BA-27!!!
Thanks very much.
The quality is the best I have seen.

Alan

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Replica BA-27, 4-1/2V and BA-2, 22-1/2 V Battery "Holders"

Post by SGM (ret) » Wed May 11, 2022 6:18 am

Thanks for the kind words, Alan!

Couldn't have done the BA-2's without your assistance with the research.

For anyone interested, these are the BA-2's that Alan mentions
First Batch 02.JPG
They are a 22-1/2 volt "radio B circuit" battery used by the Signal Corps in a number of radios. These particular batteries replicate a style of contract battery probably from the mid-20's. I also have the designs worked up to replicate three other versions that, according to my research were also used by the Signal Corps - two Eveready designs and another Burgess design.

Slide1.JPG
Slide2.JPG
Slide7.JPG
Slide8.JPG
Slide5.JPG
Slide6.JPG
If anyone is interested in getting any of these, shoot me a DM here on the Gee. These BA-2's are significantly more time consuming and take a lot more materials to make, so unfortunately, I have to charge $35 each + postage for them. The BA-2's use common triple-A batteries (supplied by the user) for power, and these can be replaced when they wear out.

The replica BA-27's use a commercially available internal triple C-cell battery box, but the BA-27's require a box that is fabricated from scratch using 3D printed parts and individual battery terminals. The external boxes also require a lot of work to make the labels and another 3D printed part (that has to be painted) to replicate the "red pitch" tops. Finally, there's the red and black cloth covered terminal wire that is not something you run down to the local hardware store to buy.

At any rate, if you need a functioning BA-27 or BA-2 for a vintage radio project, I can provide them.

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Re: BA-27 4-1/2V Battery Repro for RM-29 Remote Control

Post by Gonzo2 » Wed Jan 24, 2024 8:25 am

Hi Mike! Do you have or will you be making BA-27's? IF YOU HAVE TWO, Count me in!

David

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Re: BA-27 4-1/2V Battery Repro for RM-29 Remote Control

Post by SGM (ret) » Wed Jan 24, 2024 8:31 am

Gonzo2 wrote:
Wed Jan 24, 2024 8:25 am
Hi Mike! Do you have or will you be making BA-27's? IF YOU HAVE TWO, Count me in!

David
Hi David,

Just checking, but I got an email from another "David" yesterday with the same question. I have replied by email (if that was you).

Mike


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