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I know I like it, the wood is in great shape, the metal not so much. Asking $60 for it which seems high but I can afford it as I haven't bought anything for a few weeks.
But what is it? Who's is it? There are two small holes on one side that look like they could be used for a hanger of some sort.
It's roughly 10 inches high.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../SgyI4DG-1.jpg
Yes cool.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
But no I cant imagine what good a wood practice bomb would be. Seems to me more of a display piece.
I think $60 is high though I get the pent up urge to purchase (experiencing it myself). If I could buy it for $30 I would ,clean/ paint the fins and hang it as a conversation piece.
Carnival game display piece?
See, that's where the problem is. If it isn't real, I have no real need for it, or even less no real need that I don't have for it if it is real. I'd be a bit ticked if I paid $60 for a carnival piece. Found nothing in web search.
Here's a site that shows some close to this, early Ariel bombs. I wonder... PRACTICE BOMBS OF WWII
Nope but there is one of the marker devices at the same shop. Fins on that are bent up but the wood and markings are good. You can see where there was a flare of some type in the tail as it's all charred.
I keep forgetting I belong to a facebook page and those guys are freakishly good at identifying things. Just posted there also.
They gave me some ideas in the Facebook group for more searches and I came up with a possibility. A Japanese training aid. This is not one of their practice bombs but the color scheme matches and it looks like them. Same shape, same fins. Can't confirm size however. Actual practice bombs are metal. Would the Japanese use a 5 on something like this. I know they used numerals for serial numbers etc.
Does it show any sign of ever being dropped very far? ;)
I'd suspect it is a display "dummy" and was displayed hanging nose down.
Certainly a pre-WWII design overall.
Perhaps an "ordnance recognition" training aid?
What does it weigh? Full of lead inside?
Haven't bought anything for weeks eh? I know how it feels, my wife insists on doing the shopping.:lol:
It shows no sign of damage. Consensus on Facebook is that it is some sort of training aid rather than a practice bomb.
It does not appear to be displayed hanging down as there is nothing on the bottom to hang it from. No hole. There are two holes which would allow it to be hung horizontally. It sits on the fins very nicely and it is actually sitting on them in the photo. I turned the picture.
Does not appear to have any weights inside.
In size and shape (size being estimate) it looks almost the same as this Japanese training bomb: File:Imperial Japanese Navy Practice bomb at JGSDF Camp Katsura September 18, 2016.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
The fins look identical to this Japanese training bomb and the shape is consistent with it except for the front which has the firing mechanism: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...Wl8kvUfD2XoPTM
I need to be careful with this as it would be very interesting if it is a Japanese training aid and my judgement could be pushing me that way because it's what I want to see. It could still be a carnival prop for all I know.
From another page, I found a chart on Japanese bomb paint schemes. Dummy, practice and training bombs were painted with green or black tips, white fins and white bodies or with green tips, white fins and black bodies or all black bodies which is similar to this but not exact. That's what actually led me to finding these two photos but don't ask me how. I come up with some weird search requests sometimes. They work but logical progression isn't always there.
List of Japanese World War II navy bombs - Wikipedia
For what its worth.................WW1 Royal Flying Corps practice bomb from SE5's.;)
Is that what it actually is or are you just throwing that out there?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd
I consider $60 to be a bit expensive for something that might be a toy no matter how cool it looks. But I also collect toys so there's that.
Steve,
There are several at the IWM Duxford which opens back up today. If I can get a photo for you, they are identical mate if it helps so worth $60 of my money if that sort of thing is what you want.
Flour came in during practice runs later, used by airforces both sides of the pond in WW1.
The IWM ones I refer too, the picture isn't on the page. This is another version on the same theme. They came in every shape and size:
RARE Circa 1918 WW1 U s Army Practice Bomb Wood Solid Training Dummy Bomb | eBay | Ww1, Ww1 posters, Ebay
Looks like a fairground prop to me, it's got a distinctly 1930's Art Deco look to it.....
Nice piece though, Its just begging to be added to a man cave!
Edit, just seen Gil's post, I stand corrected....
OK, I will see if I can get it today. Thanks.
I got it for $54. On bringing it home and looking at it in natural light, it might be weighted. It looks like a very nicely done plug on the top, maybe 1/2 inch in diameter. Looks like a 5 was also painted there at one time but is mostly worn off. The body cleaned up nice, the fins have significant rust as you can see from the photo. I knocked the loose stuff off but I don't plan to refinish it. Just want to stop what's there now.
Close up pics later...when you can?
Well done mate. The five looks painted in a WW1 style, before stencils came about, be nice if there was some other markings on it. I doubt it as they often broke up dependant on how high they were dropped.
Did the seller give any provenance?
I would have gambled as well. As stated it has a well constructed and vintage look. IMO spiffed up a bit. $54 man cave cool even if it is a prop. Good work.
The seller was a back alcove in an antique combine. Never met the man. He didn't have any notation on it as to what it is which he often does with other things. I first saw this about 2 months ago but I bought a shell casing then a few weeks later the big mortar round I shared. Always liked the look of this but he never had a price on it. I did ask once and they made a phone call and said $60 which seemed high for the mood I was in that day. But it was there every time I went and I really like it. And then here I am two or three weeks without a purchase and it's still there.
On the way home with it, I stopped in another antique mall and found a Danish 1915 Krag bayonet without a price. Always seems to happen with me. They couldn't reach the owner so I went home. He called an hour later and offered it for $125 and I countered with $100 cash and he accepted. Been watching these sell on ebay for about a year in the $225-$250 range. I have that all cleaned up now also. Someone did a bubba partial cleaning on it that looked awful but it cleaned up well. This guy assured me it was German WWI. I didn't argue. He even went into great detail about looking up the manufacturer on the internet. I again didn't say anything, I've done the searches, It's Danish.
Other than the partial/possible 5 on the top, I can't make anything out. My mind is trying to tell me there are faint stamps on the top but I really don't think they are anything. It feels like something is moving when I shake it but I think one of the fins is a little loose.
I'll get some photos up probably tomorrow
Better photos:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../xhD20VL-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../gwZp4xK-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../zcIZJzE-1.jpg
This last photo seems to show a partial 5 on the top but it's mostly gone. It is also harder to make it out in the photo than it is in person as is the plug. The 5 is nearly upside down. The plug is dead center. The plug may also simply be the ring from the lathe attachment, it's really hard to tell.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../RWQuhVv-1.jpg
Even as a piece of folk art that would be worth $54. Too cool!
The two holes probably confirm it was underslung on a plane for quick release as a real bomb would be. The five would then be visible when slung under the plane. Nice piece. The five does make me think WW1.
So you think the numbers were for identifying a particular plane? Say plane A had a 1 and so on through the line so when they picked them up afterwards they could score the bombers.
Maybe, it doesn't weigh five pounds does it? The holes are for screw eyes? There should still be screw marks there. The nose shows wood grain straight across so I don't think that's a plug.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Jim,
It was exactly that basic during WW1. Screw eyes let loose by tugging a string for the respective number of bomb you wanted to drop in English aircraft the Americans did something completley different have a look at the picture below.;) They definately used wooden bombs in WW2 too, as a type of micky take and shows the sense of humour by RAF pilots on the Germans when they built airfields with planes parked up looking really authentic out of wood, so they dropped wooden bombs.................now that is getting rid of PTSD in a funny way at the time!!
Could I ask you to see if the fins unscrew from the bomb itself. If it does you will find a compartment inside it, which was for messages.
German warplane dropping bombs and engaging Allied airplane during World War I HD Stock Footage - YouTube
I was suggesting that back in post #4...no one was buying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd
Jim,
Must admit I missed that too......could saved me trying to get someone at IWM to send me some bumph..............during WW1/2 common as muck but the actual item is as rare as rocking hose ****, especially the message bombs!
I noticed the wood grain being the same when I looked at the photo. Probably not a plug. The fins are held by 3 screws each but the tail does not come off as a unit. I don't think this has a compartment. The holes are threaded. No way to weigh it. We don't have scales in the house. I'd estimate it's weight based on comparing it to a 5lb dumbbell at 2 1/2lbs maybe.
Steve,
I am hoping to get you a like minded photo of one they have at Duxford in the WW1 section , but due to staffing levels and opening yesterday to limited numbers it ain't easy my friend.
There are so many shapes for the wood ones, but weight was essential and also the aerodynamics of its flight to an accurate substitute for the real thing.
I am still putting my money on a U.S. made variant with the Brit string pull release system, and the reason for the two holes.
Read this which confirms a truth:
President Roosevelt received the following intelligence briefing from Donovan, head of OSS: “For months, Berlin has been camouflaging its streets, squares, parks and lakes to confuse Allied fliers ... To show contempt for this German effort at camouflage, a single RAF plane flew over ... and dropped one wooden bomb.”
Kind of like the mission of a Beaufighter to fly over the streets of Paris during the noontime German occupation parade...Operation Squabble. Have a read... Ten Minute Triumph Over Tyranny > Vintage Wings of CanadaQuote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd
They all did some memorable things in both wars that are sheer legends and helped to lift morale at a dark time. Wooden bombs on wooden fake planes, flying through the heart of occupied Paris Brilliant!!:thup:
Imagine if the noon parade had been happening and they had the chance to plough field greys with 20mm as planned...would have been spectacular.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd