Pics of No.15 No.4 Mk1(T) chests

[tbonesmith]

I remember seeing a thread or article with working/shop drawings of No 4 T transit chests some where on this site, but can't find it now. Can anyone direct me to them?

[breakeyp]

Peter, about 10 years ago we ran into a batch of new production chests using original latches/hinges. These were purportedly made by a shop teacher or shop class in Toronto Canada. Of course they were not marked as such. More things to loose sleep over.

[breakeyp]

breakeyp, I wonder if the yellow paint designated that there was a 'scope numbered to the rifle in another box. My unfinished BSA-Shirley's transit case only has "(T LESS TELESCOPE)" stenciled on it's transit chest, not a touch of yellow paint.

Brad

I can't imagine why a scope would be stored elsewhere. I have seen boxes stencilled as you say, with and without the yellow paint. I have noted boxes with no scope numbers with the yellow paint scheme indicating lack of scope. As Peter and Skenny have discussed, production of rifles/boxed units exceeded the production of telescopic sights. Units were set up and stored less the sight. That is why the box exteriors are marked. Differences in marking style may just be different people at different times.

Many years ago when Interarms started bringing in the units, dealers were allowed to mix and match out of the boxes to make "nice looking" examples. This is often why mismatched units are encountered.

[bradtx]

breakeyp, The story that came with the rifle, which was originally imported into Toronto (written on the chest) is that the entire shipment had the 'scopes shipped seperately. Mine does have a mismatched scope that may've been intended for another rifle with a s/n very close to mine.

Thanks for answering and quelling my curiosity!

Brad

[DanL96a1]

Excellent pictures breakeyp and very interesting thread, I have a No.4 (T) with a transit case with the markings "(T LESS TELESCOPE)" stencilled, on the box in white paint but no yellow paint on it at all. I also have a L42A1 transit case with Yellow paint, and Red paint on the outside dose any one know what the Yellow and/or Red paint schemes mean or are?

[spinecracker]

Others and Bren chests were made by the big furniture makers of Elliots of Newbury in 'knock-down' form.

I like it when my home town is mentioned

Newbury is famous for other things such as being the location of the airfield that the 101st flew out of for D-Day and, I believe, Operation Market Garden.

[No4Mk1(T)]

OK I’m just a bit confused now (admittedly not to hard to make happen recently). When I posted asking about a five pointed red star and some yellow paint on the lid of one of my No15 chests :
Five pointed red star on my No4T chest - Military Surplus Collectors Forums
Wheaty came back with:

The yellow dot is a mark put on the case my ACME SURPLUS of Toronto. [edit] By the way ACME marked the cases in England to prevent another unscrupulous dealer from laying claim to them.....

Now I’m not sure what to think. At first I had assumed it meant the item was being sold or it was a cancellation mark of some type. As usual the Enfield mystery deepens….

[Warren]

The Canadian chests marked HCF were made across the road from my father in law's feed mill in Northern Ontario. The warehouse was still full of incomplete chests for the sniper, Browning 303 Mk. II AC. MG and other guns along with chests for ammo until the late 60's or early 70's. The company (HCF) decided to clean up the property unexpectedly and everything that would not burn in a fireplace or stove went to the local dump and /or scrap yard. The odd box still shows up in local garage sales as the "lunch bucket specials" were used for storing jacks, levels and hand saws....And now you have the story of Hill Clark Francis of New Liskeard Ontario...