Some new things, lets play a guessing game

[mrclark303]

Trench (workshop) art, 1970's style.

[nzl1a1collector]

Ok, Ok.... I've figured it out..... but only because I looked closely at this chunk of Brass 4" dia x 2 3/4" long

I was just about to post these photos to ask what was it used for, I had tried it on the piston and it seemed to fit it ok.... but for what?

I went to measure it to keep Pete happy and under some Verdigris I found engraved "8.5 lb Gauge Testing Piston Spring Compression L1A1"

[nzl1a1collector]

Here's what it looks like when the parts are back together

[mrclark303]

Interesting Kev, thanks for posting.
I must admit I am surprised they would bother testing piston springs, I thought they would just be a line replacement part and replaced on an occasional basis?

[nzl1a1collector]

Towards the end of service Trentham was rebuilding 100 rifles a week. Unlike maybe the American's New Zealand couldn't afford to simply just throw away usable parts. If it was serviceable it was reused. So this gauge was made in house to provide an easy test to check that the spring complied with the required compression under an 8.5 lb load. This way they could quickly and easily check 100 springs at a time, those that failed went to the bin, the other were reused and supplemented with replacements from stores.

[Peter Laidler]

We simply didn't work like that Clarkie (thread 34) and KtK is dead right in thread 35. The In-inspector would do an in-inspection and the rifle and worksheet would come in to you. But it was your responsibility to check everything. Spring weights and loadings etc etc. I can't ever think of an example where parts would be replaced on a casual basis. Only when they were unserviceable - or in the case of parts that could be refurbished, such as handguards, butts, butt plates etc etc where they were simply past fixing. Then, 25 rifles might come in but leave with 25 sets of reworked woodwork and later during a bit of a slack period the old would be sifted and reworked/patched etc etc ready for the next lot

Of springs, we had two sorts of testing. The spring loading weights as shown, These were load tested because they were subject to extremely high temperatures. Then there were the length tests, usually used on, say, return springs. At the big workshops we usually had a wood tray, marked with the various spring lengths. If the spring was below or shorter than the marked length, it was scrapped. We also used to roll them across the surface plate to test for bends. You could be a bit pedantic about bent springs. A slight bend that didn't interfere with the operation of the gun could be ignored (? but never on a trade test of course.....) but occasionally, with experience you knew when to reverse bend the bend out or............ anyway!

[mrclark303]

Many thanks Peter and Kev, another very interesting insight into all things L1A1.

I just wrongly assumed through my layman's eyes, that items like this (springs) would be available by the box and replacing piston and perhaps hammer springs with new parts during workshop inspection would keep a rifle as reliable as possible.

I guess as I was in the motor trade for 20 years, its just my mindset...

[nzl1a1collector]

Don't beat yourself up about it. Your right it all comes down to perception. In a lot of private companies you would simply replace what is worn, why not the customer is paying for it and most cases expecting it. The Customer of the Army is the Government and they hate to spend money on things that they really don't want to spend money on, regardless of what it may seem like at times when you hear about what they waist spending on.

Collectors are a great one for perception, verses real world actuality. Such as the questions I get like whats the correct sling, part, accessory for the L1A1 rifle. The Army didn't care if something was 100 years old or made by X, Y, or Z company, or is a Mk. 2, Mk. C, Mk. 10 part, so long as it was serviceable it was used until it didn't work, then and only then would it be scraped, sold off, or buried. Now the only time that changed was when the bean counters got involved and equipment that had been sitting around for years was considered to be costing money as it sits there doing nothing, so off to disposals it goes to get rid of it. You see, in today's world if you need something it can be sent from the far flung reaches of the world by ordering it through the system. I saw a pallet of new Web belts come up for auction, nothing wrong with them, they wereen't obsolete or out of spec. They were just sitting around too long so they got rid of them. Well of course they could of got it wrong and sent the wrong NSN item to disposal?

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Document spindle in the "Production" office"?

[Peter Laidler]

Yep, you're right. Stores held on the shelves at Ordnance are just an expensive way of storing fresh air and when the Ord Depots were privatised, space cost a LOT of money...., that's how they MADE money, by renting it out. It was argued that instead of stocking up on stuff, it was easier and simpler to just order from the manufacturers on a 'just-in-time' basis. Alas......., just-in-time doesn't cater for the just-in-case' scenario that we used to encounter. Think SUSAT sights.