Dark Green Plastic Bren Oil Bottle

[Flying10uk]

Jim, I've found another plastic oil bottle picture of similar colour to the one in post 17 and I have it saved on my computer but I'm having trouble getting it transferred to the Forum. Although it is made in 2 parts and has a join it is not a "stepped" join and this join appears to be flush. I will have another go at getting the picture transferred to this thread later.

[Peter Laidler]

To be honest Tankie, I don't even think that these differences in texture or colour are even of interest to collectors. What I mean is this........ If you had a Bren CES laid out, on show at some display, I would seriously defy anyone to say quite categorically that '......that oil can or bottle or pullthrough or whatsit doesn't go with that Bren.....' And if they did, I'd question their knowledge and experience in a perhaps '.....forthright manner' of two words.

F-10, et-al. If it looks like a duck,quacks like a duck, walks like a duck and swims like a duck, guess what it is? If it fits in the SP wallet, guess what it is?

Just my opinion of course based on absolutely nothing more than having seen a few.........thousand!

[browningautorifle]

it is not a "stepped" join and this join appears to be flush.

That might be it, it's been some time since I broke one...we'll see.

I'd question their knowledge and experience in a perhaps '.....forthright manner' of two words.

An absolute fact. To meet requirement, you needed to have an oil bottle that was simply familiar to the storsey...or you'd fill out loss and damage report. As long as it worked correctly, or represented what he had to account for.

[Flying10uk]

Here is the bottle without a stepped joint or much less of a step in the join.

[browningautorifle]

You might be right...it looks right. I don't remember a seam but it doesn't matter. Color and shape are right.

[Flying10uk]

An obvious question which I'm surprised that no-one has yet asked is why did Canada and possibly others make the decision to produce the oil bottle from plastic? A possible answer to this question could be "so that it could be mass produced, in the thousands, using the plastic injection moulding method". I had thought, incorrectly until about half an hour ago, that this would be the wrong answer because I had assumed that plastic injection moulding wasn't invented until at least the 1950s or 60s. Looking on-line, I was very surprised to find that simple forms of the process were discovered/invented as early as 1868 and a Patent of 1872, thought to be for making billiard balls. Here is a link to some interesting information: History of Plastic Injection Moulding Rotational Moulding

[browningautorifle]

produce the oil bottle from plastic

Because it was stone cheap...

[tankhunter]

To be honest Tankie, I don't even think that these differences in texture or colour are even of interest to collectors. What I mean is this........ If you had a Bren CES laid out, on show at some display, I would seriously defy anyone to say quite categorically that '......that oil can or bottle or pullthrough or whatsit doesn't go with that Bren.....' And if they did, I'd question their knowledge and experience in a perhaps '.....forthright manner' of two words.

F-10, et-al. If it looks like a duck,quacks like a duck, walks like a duck and swims like a duck, guess what it is? If it fits in the SP wallet, guess what it is?

Just my opinion of course based on absolutely nothing more than having seen a few.........thousand!

Pete, Your mindset is the same as me. Along with the 'I must get a so & so marked part to complete my gun. So it is 'Original' as it left the factory'!...It never fails to amaze Me, that there are indeed collectors out there. & I don't mean this as a disparaging remark as a put down to anyone.

But a Fact, that SOME enthusiasts have a 'Stamp Collector' approach to various items that they have a deep interest in. I sometimes cannot believe what I am told, & how deep & they seem to go. In their respective chosen field's of collecting!....

I overheard a former Radio collector who was 'well known' in that Sphere of Interest. Quite a few years back now. On how 'in 1944, the Black spring washer was replaced by a Zinc plated one. On the MK.I/II Blah De Blah Set'.....I mean REALLY! Unbelivable, but they are out there. Trust Me!

I actually know a collector who is also a dealer. Who collects Kalashnikov Oil Bottles! You would be shocked at how many types, shapes, Colours Etc. He has in his collection!!! But he is one of a few that really go the extra mile. To attempt to complete a collection of these. AND, He has a wants list!!!!!!

Pete, you also are aware. That I like you, am of a 'Don't Tollerate Fools gladly' approach. (Understatement for Me!) But when you actually encounter SOME individual's in various circles of the Militaria Circuit. The words Dispair, Disbeliefe, Horror, Anger, Where's that rope. I'm Gonna Hang myself in the Toilet, attitude. Knock People like us, cut from the same cloth. Sideways at times!!!.........Maybe, it is we are from a Different Age? Or we are getting Old!...

[Peter Laidler]

Plastic was employed in Canadian Bren accessories production from Nov 43. From notes held at Warminster.
'Plastic used for Canadian produced Containers Oil and plastic tips permitted on Canadian produced spare parts wallets and holdalls. Zephyr Looms and Textiles. November 1943'.

I don't think that this info made it to the gun crews who carried the stuff in action or arms storemen who refilled the SP wallets and holdalls, the QM's who indented for the stuff or Ordnance who stocked and supplied it. Or, lastly, the Armourers shops who maintained it all

There were a few pages of relaxations allowed in Canadian production. For example. 300 barrels destined for scrap due to flash eliminator slots misaligned. 200 just machined down (barrel shortened by .25") to machine away incorrect and remachine slots correctly. 100 had re-aligned flash eliminators fitted. Dec '42

WHILE we're here, another one from the copied files. Browning process replaced by phosphating and painting in production '.....will commence during April '43 during the change in gun production'. This could possible be during the change from Mk1m to Mk2 production which commenced then

[Flying10uk]

I asked in Post 1 if anyone was able to confirm if the oil bottle pictured is of Australian origin/manufacture and so far the question still hasn't been answered.

I come from an engineering and manufacturing background, not military, and so am likely to look at items from a slightly different angle than others with a military background. I am very interested in the design of items of military kit and how and why they may have been made in any particular way.


Another point worth making is that, has the British army not gone back to using plastic oil bottles in it's SA80 rifle cleaning kits?