Making a trip to the National Archives in the UK

[thrawnformbi]

Hello gents - I've spent the past month or so looking through the available records relating to British leatherworking during both World Wars. I'm a full time leatherworker myself that has trained in France and England and over the years I have developed a deep appreciation for the build quality and design approach of European leatherworking from the early 1900's to the late 50's. There's nothing quite like looking over an R.F.A. marked three draw telescope from 1917 and seeing stitch quality on the leather wrap that rivals the highest end luxury goods available on todays market. The few examples I own actually surpass anything I've seen produced in the high end luxury bag industry that I've worked in for the past decade.

In all honesty, there are very few leatherworkers around today that would be capable of producing work equal to the level of quality found in the majority of British-made wartime goods. Think optical and instrument cases, round tube construction with end caps, etc. Three dimensional case making is a dying art and there are only a dozen or so craftsman in Europe that are doing it well and about half that over here in the states. There are plenty of leatherworkers around that can make gorgeous hand stitched leather goods - but ask them to produce a No. 32 scope cap, and all of a sudden the perfectly slanted saddle stitch becomes an inconsistent line of wobbly linen. The 45 degree angle in which the awl needs to pierce through the end cap and into the side panel is a skillset that requires years of rote muscle memory and most leatherworkers find no need to devote time to such a construction techniques. The moneys in wallets and belts - not backgammon cups.

Apologies if this has been a bit inside baseball and I promise I'm getting to the point.

I'll be in London in the next few weeks to meet with tanneries in Devon and I figured I'd take a detour to the National Archives in Richmond to see if there's any documents relating to war time leatherworking. I'm primarily looking for technical drawings and patterns of the No. 32 scope cap and other case and strap styles delivered to Optical Stores. While meeting with my tannery reps, I'll also be doing some research to see who was providing the hides for these MOD contracts in order to replicate my reproductions as accurately as possible. I know that a majority of British tanners used lend-lease provided American steer hide in their pits but I'm unsure of the specifics beyond that.

If anyone has any scans of documents relating to any of the above I'd be grateful. Also, if anyone has any experience dealing with the National Archives themselves I'd appreciate any tips for while I'm there.

Lastly, if anyone has documents for their own research that they'd like me to pull and photograph while I'm there I'd be more than happy to help in any way.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Warren]

Is this Theo from Edmonton ..originally ??
If so, contact me off line.
cheers,

[thrawnformbi]

Yes sir! I will reach out today

[Gil Boyd]

Go visit Swayne Adeney who were once Papworth Industries who made all the wartime leather stiched cases. They have a shop in London and also in Great Chesterford just on the Cambridgeshire and Essex border where I believe their stiching and manufacturing is based.

[Flying10uk]

It wouldn't hurt to contact the National Archives before your visit and say what you're looking for as it may save some time on the day.

If you are a middle aged chap like me and the information that you require is on "reels of microfiche" like it was when I visited the National Archives a number of years ago you may find that you need a "little time" to understand how to use the equipment. Personally I found it a "rather traumatic experience" trying to figure out how to use the "viewer" and "sort out the reel of film".

[Gil Boyd]

and.......................its hard on the eyes too, and with the flick of a scratch, years have flown by you, so be prepared for a lot of fleeting words and imagery passing your eyeballs at speed. As Flying10uk says go prepared for what you seek, but be also prepared for dissapointment, as record keepers of the past, were adhoc to say the least, there were those who were good, but many didn't have the time to be that efficient, caused by a number of factors..............but mainly caused by war!!

[Mk VII]

The contract ledgers SUPP 4/45, 4/46, 4/47, 4/101, 4/310, 4/311 were all ones that I looked at.



SUPP 4/45 titled ‘SMALL ARMS’


SUPP 4/46 titled ‘ORDNANCE 3’

All artillery, some 3” mortar stuff



SUPP 4/47

All early, 1935 on, no TSMG stuff. Early No.1 Mk.III contracts for Iraq.


SUPP 4/101

Rifle & pistol components + complete arms


SUP 4/310 titled ‘MORTARS, 2”, 3” 4.2”, LEWIS, HOTCHKISS, VICKERS, MOTLEY AA MOUNTINGS, FLAME THROWERS, PORTABLE, LAMPS, POSTS, AIMING, COMPONENTS & MISCELLANEOUS. 1939-44’





SUPP 4/311 15/8/39 – 28/9/45

Sten contracts
Sht L.E. contracts
No.4 + other .303s
Miscellaneous repairs to rifles & pistols
U.S. revolvers bored out .380 service cartridge

SUPP 4/133

Asbestos, abrasives and emery cloth. No firearms.

SUPP 4/327

Screwdrivers, spanners & wrenches, breech mechanism

SUPP 4/328

Lists of approved contractors for various hand tools, including armourer’s tools, but no firearms.


SUPP 4/312

Lots of Bren, Lewis, Besa components.


SUPP 4/313 23/7/41 – 20/8/45

Mostly Sten, some Lanchester. No TSMG.


SUPP 4/314

Lewis, Vickers, Lanchester components. No TSMG. Index in back lists contracts by contractor, A-Z, with item name.

[WillSarchet]

If you happen across any dimensioned drawings for Enfield parts, particularly MLM/MLE and LMC/LEC parts, I'd certainly be interested in those. Please don't go out of your way for them though.

[Mk VII]

Bear in mind that they will not do your research for you. At most they will explain how the system for getting access works.
You will need two forms of ID, one of which will be your passport, since you have it anyway. The other will be a recent utility bill or bank statement, if you still get paper ones (prints of online ones don't count)
There are some additional restrictions on getting access to the building due to the virus (which may change at any time).

[Surpmil]

If you plan to make a venture out of producing this sort of stuff in future you might want to look up the gent who has/had Moore Leather as he made many such pieces and very well from what I've heard.

Some unknown matters(s) have apparently prevented him continuing in the business, so I just mention that as he might wish to pass on what he has/knows to someone else and that is something you might wish to pursue?