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5 Attachment(s)
Other Bits and Bob's
Jim (browningautorifle) stated that it would be good to see other gear that one collects along the way so here we have a couple of items that I picked up about 4 years apart.
The "Motty's" was a recent and those Aussie shooters may know of this person a rather good shot and able to get excellent accuracy from his Lee Enfields by judicious adjustments. I am thinking it is a 50's era and 3/4's full a bonus. But the real beauty is the label is about 96% complete which is a big thing if collecting stuff like this. It is part of our history and needs to be preserved.
You may notice the ANZAC range on the label, this was to be closed but through the Target shooter mag for the target shooters a collection was made to help stop the closure of this iconic range as I do not get the target mag any more perhaps our eastern sea board members may let us all know if the range is still operating.
The other is a full tin of A J Parker "Anti Corrosive" the label on this one is 100% and very clean, as I own a Parker Hale rifle I thought this would fit in well. The tin I have no idea of its era some of you may wish to advise your thoughts on a date of manufacture may be 70's ! Thanks in advance, all input is appreciated by myself.
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Harry Motton was a multiple Kings Winner, he originally had a Bicycle Repair shop at Charters Towers, west of Townsville in the 1900's.
A member of the Australian team, he cleaned up in Bisley in 1907.
A proponent of adjustable sights, he took his first prototype to England that year and with the support of Westley Richards, pushed the NRA of GT. Britain to modify and allow their use, this came about in 1909.
At the end of 1907, Motty moved south to Sydney, where he was granted a shop lease on Anzac Rifle Range, then located at Liverpool.
He set up a lucrative Armourers business and subsequently became the Armourer for the NSWRA.
Besides being a prolific sight maker, his business expanded into the supply of BSA sights and barrels, soon adapted to modifications and fitting of Lithgow barrels and was one of the first to shorten the LLE barrel down to the length we see today.
Although the NRAA eventually went with the Taylor Brothers modified barrels, Motty had his own line of barrels made by the fledgling South Australian Rifle Company, which eventually morphed into SPORTCO.
Harry was well known and respected amongst the sporting fraternity, having also been a jockey, cricketer and all round sportsman.
Stanley Edwards, another top gun of the time, married Harry's Daughter, and Stan and Motty commenced the business Edwards and Motton, producing yet more rifle sights and shooting gear.
.................so Cinders, you get the idea, Harry Motton was one of the all time greats in the shooting movement, ahead of Jack Mues and William Dunn of CENTRAL fame.
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Thanks for the input Muffett I should have looked deeper into it he was well before Pavey, Bibby etc though I think Bibby was more of a trick shooter so it's great to hear the lineage of our shooting fraternity and the contributions they made on the world stage.
Can I ask Muffet what era do you think this bottle hails from do you think it could be pre 50's TIA
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Bit hard to say Cinders, my early Motty and Edwards and Motton catalogues from the late 20's and 30's show the oil in a can.
I'd hazard a guess and say 50's vintage, although it could be earlier.
Anzac was closed and moved to the old Long Bay Rifle Range in the early 60's, Harry was long gone by then.
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They did have that collection a while ago for the ANZAC range where you brought a brick from a wall there but I never heard if they closed the range down (the new one post '60's)
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2 Attachment(s)
Old can
[ATTACH]Attachment 82581[/ATTACH] Heres a neat old can. We used this to clean Ampact guns, (they shoot on industrial electrical connectors) this one stayed unopened.
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I think this is the economy can of the well known issue rifle bore cleaner that had a small can for the cartridge belts. I always took it to be anyway.
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No Cinders, Anzac at Malabar is still active, it's the headquarters of the NSWRA.
Currently undergoing Asbestos cleanup, which is a bit of a pain in the butt.
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Cheers Muffett for that, yes the old "Azzy" clean up, Hooded Sp*rm suits, gloves, masks, goggles all taped up, black & yellow bags a decom trailer and water misting for the friable particles, yep great fun bloke do not envy you if your involved in that charade.