OK, so what happened to all the brass ?

[brett361975]

An odd question this, and please moderators if it is not WW1 related please delete.

I was sorting through some boxes today and came across a small brass ornament that lived on my Grandma's fire place for as long as I can remember.

Her father served with the Grenadier Guards during the war, but thats another story. As far as we are aware none of the family went to France after the war.

My question is this, were there cottage industries that sprung up during the war ? I know of the postcards soldiers could send home but what else was available to send / take home if anything ?

Going back to my brass ornament, its a small windmill the YPRES clearly stamped on the top, its made of solid brass but has some sort of pin inside (see photo's below) could this have been a souvenir for soldiers to take home?

can anyone shed any light on it?

Regards

Brett

[centurion]

My Grandmother had something like this but, as far as I can remember, no Ypres on the top. I think there was a small 'clapper' on the end of the pin so the thing made a not very effective bell. My Grandfather was at the Somme and 3rd Ypres battles. However I doubt that some was selling souvenirs. Possibly the low countries version of a brass Eiffel tower (she had one of those too). I suspect that one of my great uncles did a bit of traveling before WW2 and he may have brought them back.

[brett361975]

thanks Centurion,

So what did happen to all the brass at the end of the war? did the French have it all ? did the British have a share? there must have been tons and tons of the stuff?

[Gunner Bailey]

I would say that this is not a piece of WW1 trench art but possibly a between the wars souvenir of the town. That fact that the body has been made in a mould is not the way trench art was made. There is a strong possibility that it could have been made with WW1 brass though. Trench art almost always has a visible link to the original material, shells, bullets etc.

An interesting small book on the subject is 'Trench Art' by Nicholas J Saunders (£4.99)

Gunner Bailey

[Greg]

A lot of brass in the sense of cartridge cases, shell cases etc was salvaged during and after the war. It was valuable and saved importing more. I think the Chinese laborers were heavily engaged in this but more knowledgeable Pals will correct me if not.

Greg

[PhilB]

Shell cases must have been the main source of reclaimed brass. A used case looks virtually undamaged but it must have spread during firing. Is it possible to reclaim them for refilling and reuse or must they be melted down?

[Gunner Bailey]

QUOTE (Phil_B @ Aug 22 2008, 11:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Shell cases must have been the main source of reclaimed brass. A used case looks virtually undamaged but it must have spread during firing. Is it possible to reclaim them for refilling and reuse or must they be melted down?

Phil

This was covered on a thread a short while ago and Johnreed (I think) gave a comprehansive answer as to how many times shell cases could be reused before they had to be melted down again. I have some 18pdr cases that have been refilled at least twice.

Gunner Bailey