Vaguely O/T but Enfield related

[newcastle]

Just got hold of a couple of old Bren gun cases to create HT transit chests from. They are pretty beaten up. Any advice on a) where to get the types of rotating clips which latch the things or how to recondition loose dovetails without takign the things totally apart.

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.

[Peter Laidler]

I'd take them to a pine furniture stripper and when they're cleaned right down, you'll be able to see what the extent of the wear/age is. Maybe one of our chippies (Carpenters to you wild colonials out there.........) can advise.

But I'd remove the hardware and internals first by getting rid of the chalk/resin based filler that fills the screw head holes, unscrew the screws, drill the holes out and plug with pine plugs glued in. You'll be left with plenty of good quality Imperial size wood screws when you've finished too!

[jimmybob9]

Numich was selling some old latches a few months ago. If not look up Land rover bonnet latches. They are the same type used on the chest and you may be abe to get some from a second hand dealer in the Uk. Last time i looked they were around 3 pound a pop.

[tbonesmith]

how to recondition loose dovetails without takign the things totally apart.

I can only think of injecting epoxy glue into any openings with a needle on a syringe. That'd firm them up, but I'd be reluctant to do that as it is the end for any true repair. Why not fully recondition them while converting them to HT configuration? By stripping, dismantling, thoroughly repairing and regluing the dovetails. If that's just too much work, the syringe thing I would imagine would be effective.

[Peter Laidler]

TBone is right. My dad pine stripped a couple during the 60's (you could buy the weak acid solution by the gallon then..... AND radium based luminous paint to paint our Dinky toy lorry headlights!) in order to use the pitch-pine (?) wood. He just unscrewed the whole box. It'd be simple if - unlike me - you had some carpentry skills, to re-glue the dovetails and pack the gaps left by the shrinkage with suitably cut thin veneers of wood glued in place. Old hot animal glue pleeeeeease!.

Thousands of these Bren chests were made by Elliots of Newbury who also made Horsa Gliders. The boxes were made partially assembled in what they called CKD form (Completely knocked down) and assembled somewhere else. That's the reason why you'll see that the inside paint colour is even painted under the dovetails

[newcastle]

any idea what could double for teh canvas like covering of the hinges which on these is shredded?

[Peter Laidler]

It's just old lengths of army truck canopy. Should be available all over the world

[Beerhunter]

Any advice on a) where to get the types of rotating clips which latch the things

A Land Rover Dealer. Series 2/3 Locker Latches.