Help identifying relic weapon/tripod parts please

Hi all

I am rarely defeated on the 'identify this rusty relic' front, but these two have me temporarily beaten. Consequently, I am seeking your assistance in identifying the two items.

The first appears to be a mount of some kind. It has a heavy duty clamp and an arm which swings out at 90 degrees to the clamp. It was found in an area that only ever gives weapon or tripod parts so I am confident it is a war relic, but just don't know what! Do you recognise it?

Attachment 64854

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This second item I thought was off something like a Vickers tripod, but again, I can't track the little devil down. Do you recognise it?

Attachment 64859

Many thanks, in advance, for your help.

RRPG

The clamp part of the thinggy is clearly 'clamped' by a nut and bolt that goes through both arms and presumably through the part that it's clamped to. From the relative size of the rule (bloody metric......!) I estimate that the clamp fits over a SMLE nose cap and the retaining bolt clamps it through the nose cap screw. What the swinging wing thing is for is anyones guess. But that's started the ball rolling

Second thinggy. Wot about 3" mortar striker? Is the rounded striker part spring loaded, operated by a cord through the broken end of the plunger at the right hand end?

Yes Peter. The clamp part is indeed missing the bolt, as one side of the hole in the clamp is threaded, the other isn't. I did consider if it was to mount an SMLE to a Boys, but the brackets aren't the same.

I see what you mean about it being a striker, but the rounded nose is far too big to be that. It's about 1cm (.3 inch (ish)), across. Just beneath the rounded end is a screw thread. So, my initial thought was a tripod part, (we find lots at this site), but it doesn't match anything I've seen.

Thanks for the input!

RRPG

What about mounting the No1 rifle to a 2 pounder anti-tank gun then?

Is that a little lever to close off an opening or to lock the arm open - photo 3,4 and 5?

Identified the little bugger and it is quite a find!

Lewis MG cartridge catcher :) (well.....the metal frame the canvas bag is attached to at least :) )

Attachment 65714

'THE SHELL DEFLECTOR (Plate 7) is an attachment for controlling the ejection of the empty cartridge cases. It is very readily and quickly attached and when in position can be instantly swung back out of the way so that the inside of the gun may be examined or any part of the mechanism reached. Plate 10 shows the deflector attached and ready to catch each cartridge ejected. One view shows the deflector swung back out of the way. The component parts of the shell deflector complete are as follows:

97. Deflector.
98. Deflector Arm.
99. Deflector Arm Joint Pin.
102. Deflector Bracket.
103. Deflector Clamp Screw.
107. Deflector Clamp Screw Stop Nut.
106. Deflector Clamp Screw Washer.
100. Deflector Clip.
101. Deflector Clip Joint Pin.
104. Deflector Latch.
105. Deflector Latch Screw.
108. Shell Catcher Bag.'

:)

Just identified another relic as well. I am on a roll.......... :)

Found lots of these metal mounts. The four brass rivets in the base made me think they were attached to canvas or leather and, with the ID of the above part, I looked at other cartridge catchers. I got a match!

These are from a BESA case catcher, as mounted on the MG in British tanks such as the Churchill. Just goes to show that it is always worth hanging on to those rusty hunks of stuff until you can get them identified! The part I have shown is at the top right, but I've also realised I have a few of the front bracket as well, (with the thumb presses).

A good day for IDing stuff!

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Out of sheer curiosity I pulled the schematic out on the early Vickers thinking it was that, buggered if I can find anything that looks like that, unless of course it is some obscure part of the tripod. Love a challenge though!!

The Lewis bag frame is not to disimular to this one albeit its the MK111 I believe

Most of the tank crews dispensed with any sort of case catcher, especially the bagged sort, after about 3 minutes or 3 seconds on a good day. They would fill up or cause a jamb in the shute in short order. A total waste of time and effort especially as the red-hot cases were dropping through at 10x / second and to clear the bag or shute with your hands was fraught with burns. The BEST was a sheet of cardboard to act as a deflector to deflect the cases into a 24hr ration pack box that was man enough to handle all the brass from the big 50 and the 30's in the tanks and the Ferrets. That's the reason why we didn't pursue it with the L8's and L37's

Just need to elaborate...... By 24hr ration pack box I mean the large box that 10x 24hr ration packs fit into!

As did we in the APCs. We used sandbags for a time just hooked onto the hooks, if that got full, we'd just let them go. Sometimes in the Grizzlies, they'd end up with links in the battery box and then a short or fire...quite alarming actually...

Very interesting info gents. Many thanks :)

Watching FURY Brad Pitt in his Sherman let the empty cases fall on the deck from his 30 Cal, surely the cases would jam under the gears:eek:

Youi're dead right Gil. stuff that used to gather under the chequer plate deck was a menace and could jamb stuff up. There was a void under the decking where the services were ducted. Obviuosly there were zillions of gaps through which stuff could fall, such as the obvious brass, tools, SMG magazines, girlie magazines too, lengths of belt and links. All of which would/could cause problems. The MAIN problem was that lifting the internal fighting compartment decks was a REME task as it was bolted down with countersunk bolts into the rotating turret chassis. It was a bit of a baxxxxd. They were always covered in dirty oil too. How they were meant to keep the oil and crap out heaven knows......... Think fire?

All tanks were constructed differently but I'm sure they all suffered the same problems

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Think fire?

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Like I previously suggested, fire breaking out between the commander and gunner and un noticed until the troops tap you on the leg and tell you is very exciting. Specially when all buttoned up for action...(In an APC)

Jim,
Those red hot empty cases must have been a real tonic in the depths of winter for keeping the tootsies warm:lol::lol:

I hate to even think back to those times...of winter ops.

Jim,
What you didn't have a three bar electric heater in there????..............now you have destroyed a myth, as we used to tab past soaking wet and demoralised in winter on exercises, as the wafting smell of tea on the go came from within these metal coffins!!:madsmile:

Oh, there was a heater, but it burned diesel and sat up on the side of the body. The battery box and cooking vessel were right down below the chute of the left hand gun...(the smaller gun)...