John Cubin Posted 14 August , 2009 Share Posted 14 August , 2009 Having seen the thread "What's My Fuse" on "Other" and the referred to "passioncompassion.com", I cleaned some of the muck off my fuze and found that I had an American made Bethlehem Steel Corporation No 85 Lot 1230 made in 1916. I'd appreciate any help in understanding the other markings on the fuze - In picture 2, there is the letter 's' in a box between BSC and No 85. What does it stand for? In picture 4, the numbers 50 and 51 (it is 51) flank the arrowhead inside the capital C. Any suggestions, please? Also in picture 4, the timing rings appear to be set for percussion. If on an HE shell, would the fuze not have been much more damaged and is it likely that it had been on a gas shell? Which leads to my last query. I believe the red paint signifies a fuze from a shrapnel shell, which doesn't tie in with the timing setting. Anyone resolve this puzzle for me? John. Edit: To avoid any confusion and as explained in Post #8, the numbers flanking the capital C are both 50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
206thCEF Posted 14 August , 2009 Share Posted 14 August , 2009 Hi John, I don't know much about fuses but this one is a No.85 (see #2 pic), made by Bethlehem Steel Company (BSC). The Broad Arrow is the British acceptance mark for everything government/military. In pic #3 you have the lot number and date of manufacture (1916). In pic #4 the C /I\ is the Canadian acceptance mark for everything government/military. I found a little more information: Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museumtom Posted 15 August , 2009 Share Posted 15 August , 2009 85 Number on British fuzes. Time and Percussion Fuze. American M1902 supplied WW1. Introduced 1916. Obsolete 1921. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cubin Posted 15 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 15 August , 2009 Hello Joe. Thanks for your reply. I didn't know of the Canadian mark. Doh! Should have been able to work that out. Is your post truncated? (Not being personal!) Hello Tom. Thanks for the info. They must have developed something really good to make this piece of kit obsolete by '21. Cheers John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 17 August , 2009 Share Posted 17 August , 2009 Whether Shrapnel or HE, it has not landed on its head, as the raised top section could even imply it is still live! Though I doubt that with this example.... My own desk-top No. 85 fuse has two number 5s (in circles) either side of the similar Canadian WD marking, albeit a Scovil made 1917 model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cubin Posted 18 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 August , 2009 Hello Ian. Many thanks for your reply. If you Google 'Scoville fuze', there's a very useful article with pics. Cheers, John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris mccarthy Posted 19 August , 2009 Share Posted 19 August , 2009 I think the red paint signifies that the fuze was filled with explosive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cubin Posted 19 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 19 August , 2009 Thank you, R. I had thought that the colour was to ensure that the fuze was attached to the correct type of shell? That's me guessing again. Ian, et al, your mention of the two numbers 5 each side of the Canadian 'C' made me have another look at mine. With the aid of a watchmaker's glass, I've been able to see that on my example the numbers are in fact both '50' and not 50 and 51 as I originally thought. Attached pic shows the bad strike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 19 August , 2009 Share Posted 19 August , 2009 please find a print of a No 85 Fuze. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cubin Posted 19 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 19 August , 2009 Hello John. That's a very useful print. Thanks for putting it up. John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now