Friend dropped in.....

[Flying10uk]

If it was originally some sort of "grab box" inside a vehicle then, clearly, it wouldn't be bolted down.

I have seen metal "grab boxes" for bren mags in a WW2 Canadian vehicle. (I am NOT inferring that the box pictured in post 1 is for bren mags before someone tries to say that I am.)

I would have expected the hinge to be "piano type/style" hinge running across the full width of the box but this may have been replaced.

[browningautorifle]

I would have expected the hinge to be "piano type/style" hinge running across the full width of the box but this may have been replaced.

That's what I would have thought would be there when I suggested it. As for not bolted down, anything in my armored vehicle that didn't get bolted down or strapped down ended up beat to destruction as it would be thrown around.

[CINDERS]

So here it is with a M-36 & M26A2 in situ if you look the wear pattern on the base matches where a grenade would have sat with the middle divider in place I took the M-36 launch plate off as I dont think they were issued with each grenade, so I reckon it's a repurposed unit cobble up by some one.

Note ~ The M-36 is deloused & drilled the M26A2 is a solid practice one.

[Flying10uk]

How about "this one" seen on eBay UK, chaps? I'm not quite sure why anyone thinks the silver paint may make it Parachute Regiment?

I would have thought that this example is a surplus spare valve case repurposed for another use.

WWII British Army Parachute Reg Wireless Set No 22 - Z.A 14041 Spare Valves Set for sale | eBay

[browningautorifle]

Sort of what Peter L. eluded to.

[Peter Laidler]

Without a steel rule to judge the size, that's what the CASE, spare valve set' looked like. Also about the same height as the Thompson magazines. All very well, until the length increased due to change from 20 to 30 rounds. Then everything turned to rat sh....., er....., manure. Pouches to short, magazine boxes too short and the Thompson chests obsolescent from then onwards!.

BAR is dead right about AFV kit. If it ain't bolted down or stowed away safely and securely it is thrown about to destruction. The tankies used to laugh at the thought of tanks being able to load and fire the main armament on the move. Only in your dreams - or on a decent battle run - in the summer!

[Flying10uk]

As I recall the metal grab boxes, for bren mags, they sat in some sort of holder, down the centre of the vehicle so that they could be got at quickly if needed. I don't think that they were bolted down but were quite possibly strapped into the holder to retain them. Unfortunately I didn't think to photograph it for future reference.

[browningautorifle]

quite possibly strapped into the holder to retain them.

There were lots of brackets inside an AFV and they all had an exact purpose. That's why some things didn't fit too well, they weren't what was supposed to fit. You should have seen the 1976 issue Chev mortar trucks, by the time they arrived we'd changed ammo natures so NONE of the new crates fit. Anyway, everything had to be strapped down or it migrated to underfoot.

[Flying10uk]

Anyway, everything had to be strapped down or it migrated to underfoot.

I do realise that Jim.

The point that I was trying to make is that not everything is bolted down, i.e. with bolts requiring spanners to remove, especially if it needs to be removed in a hurry.

Incidentally I do have an unmolested spare vale case, in my collection, which looks similar to the one which I posted pictures of in post 14. When I got it I did check it against the known dimensions of the Thompson 20 rnd mag box and they were a little different. It is possible that a different spare valve case was used for the Thompson mag box or a the size of the Thompson mag box varies.

[browningautorifle]

not everything is bolted down

Nope...