calibre792x57.y Posted 26 October , 2017 Share Posted 26 October , 2017 Thanks for the photo GB: I 've never stripped my specimen down so this is the first time I've seen what they look like externally. - SW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 26 October , 2017 Share Posted 26 October , 2017 They are a bit crude compared to the aluminium or brass centre-pieces but they only had to do a job and were designed to last about 3 months not 100 years. The det holder on the left is brass, the other two are copper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14276265 Posted 26 October , 2017 Share Posted 26 October , 2017 When pristine, these die cast lead alloy and brass/copper centre pieces - patented and made by the Glacier Anti-Friction Co. Ltd, London - were the match of any aluminium ones. The ones shown herewith are from No.5 grenades; the patent was applied for late 1915. 265 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 26 October , 2017 Share Posted 26 October , 2017 You don't see many in the No 5. The 3rd from left is a work of art. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new3.2 Posted 30 October , 2017 Share Posted 30 October , 2017 A question- If you go back to #829 and the fuse end photo of the #24 Mk 1there are the initials G.T.L. Are these manufacture's marks or inspectors or? I have a rougher example that must be the female part; it has a center threaded central hole and two spanner holes. The initials stand for what? Thanks new3.2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 30 October , 2017 Share Posted 30 October , 2017 The initials have always been attributed to Gestetner Limited. So they are makers marks. However Gestetner do not appear in the main directory of manufacturers so convention may be wrong on this. However the directory is not complete and did not seemingly take into account some mergers and acquisitions. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new3.2 Posted 31 October , 2017 Share Posted 31 October , 2017 Thank you John, sounds good. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 22 October , 2018 Share Posted 22 October , 2018 This thread has been quiet for a while. We had an interesting debate about training grenades, white paint etc which I won't go over again. However I have recently been able to acquire an original 1915 No 5 training grenade which still as most of its white paint though the word practice has worn off. The White painted training grenades were notified in the List of Changes on the 3rd September 1915 and my example is dated October 1915, so one of the first. This would have been filled with sand not explosives and was for throwing practice. Later versions like the Gibbons from 1917 were easily re-cocked. As you can see from the photo the paint has darkened but was clearly white originally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new3.2 Posted 24 October , 2018 Share Posted 24 October , 2018 Thank you GB, most interesting. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 17 January , 2019 Share Posted 17 January , 2019 (edited) Hi, A new find. I don't know if the baseplug is original. The body has a "P" stamped on one shoulder, the other shoulder mark is rubbed. The baseplug is marked Calthorpe Motor Co. (1912) Ltd. Edited 17 January , 2019 by GWF1967 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 17 January , 2019 Share Posted 17 January , 2019 (edited) Looks like a nice grenade. Calthorpe Motor Co Ltd got their first contract for 60,000 No 5 grenades at the end of June 1915 and started first deliveries in mid August. So this could be from their first contract. I think a 9/15 grenade would probably have had the first type lever where the pin went thought the lever and the shoulders. So this flat lever my be a later change. Dates for the introduction of later levers is never clear but I'd date that lever to late 1915 or early 1916. The grenade looks to have the original pin and ring but the base plug is rather battered. Edited 17 January , 2019 by Gunner Bailey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 17 January , 2019 Share Posted 17 January , 2019 19 minutes ago, Gunner Bailey said: Looks like a nice grenade. Calthorpe Motor Co Ltd got their first contract for 60,000 No 5 grenades at the end of June 1915 and started first deliveries in mid August. So this could be from their first contract. I think a 9/15 grenade would probably have had the first type lever where the pin went thought the lever and the shoulders. So this flat lever my be a later change. Dates for the introduction of later levers is never clear but I'd date that lever to late 1915 or early 1916. The grenade looks to have the original pin and ring but the base plug is rather battered. Many thanks for the information GB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 17 January , 2019 Share Posted 17 January , 2019 (edited) Last year I was fortunate to obtain a genuine 'Dunkirk' Mills grenade produced in the autumn of 1915 when the British Army was desperate for more Mills grenades. These French made grenades infringed the Belgian 'Roland' grenade patent and production was stopped at about 180,000 following a legal case brought by the Belgian Company to whom Roland had sold his patent,. An order went out for all unused stocks to be destroyed. They are unique in that the embody both the Mills body type features in one grenade. The have the central groove below the filler screw of a 'transverse casting' but also have the side seams of the 'Longditudinal casting'. The centre pieces are cast brass and are a work of art. The base plugs are undated and unmarked but the body sometimes bears the stamp of the maker. The striker has a central spike as the grenade used a 'anvil' with a centre fire cartridge rather than the rim fire cartridge used in the British made Mills. Edited 17 January , 2019 by Gunner Bailey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ServiceRumDiluted Posted 17 January , 2019 Share Posted 17 January , 2019 (edited) 31 minutes ago, Gunner Bailey said: These French made grenades infringed the Belgian 'Roland' grenade patent and production was stopped at about 180,000 following a legal case brought by the Belgian Company to whom Roland had sold his patent,. An order went out for all unused stocks to be destroyed. There is a colossal irony in there, I can imagine the beaurocracy... "Destroy these hand grenades immediately, what are they doing here?" "They are due to be thrown at Germans within the month and explode" "We can't do that, its against the law" "How shall we destroy them then?" "Very carefully... " Edited 17 January , 2019 by ServiceRumDiluted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14276265 Posted 18 January , 2019 Share Posted 18 January , 2019 (edited) On 17/01/2019 at 16:16, Gunner Bailey said: An order went out for all unused stocks to be destroyed. Really? Two grenades were certainly confiscated from one of the contractors (Monsieur Gauchet) for legal reasons. 265 Edited 18 January , 2019 by 14276265 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 18 January , 2019 Share Posted 18 January , 2019 16 minutes ago, 14276265 said: Really? Perhaps I put it too strongly. Certainly the order said 'They were to be withdrawn'. That was March 1916 so I expect many had been destroyed already in combat or training. How many were left at that stage, I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 11 February , 2019 Share Posted 11 February , 2019 (edited) On 17 January 2019 at 08:31, GWF1967 said: Hi, A new find. I don't know if the baseplug is original. The body has a "P" stamped on one shoulder, the other shoulder mark is rubbed. The baseplug is marked Calthorpe Motor Co. (1912) Ltd. I bumped into the chap who sold me this No.5, he gave me this base plug which he's sure was in the grenade when he first purchased it in the 70's; it's a better fit than the Calthorpe plug. It's marked 7 (1)6 B? Made by E.A. Randall & Co. The hole was supposedly drilled to allow a prank to be played on someone. Edited 11 February , 2019 by GWF1967 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battle of loos Posted 12 February , 2019 Share Posted 12 February , 2019 good Morning, Here is a series of Mill's grenade plugs found on the Loos battlefield : michel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 14 February , 2019 Share Posted 14 February , 2019 Can you do a close up photo of the Bryant's baseplug please? On 11/02/2019 at 23:31, GWF1967 said: I bumped into the chap who sold me this No.5, he gave me this base plug which he's sure was in the grenade when he first purchased it in the 70's; it's a better fit than the Calthorpe plug. It's marked 7 (1)6 B? Made by E.A. Randall & Co. The hole was supposedly drilled to allow a prank to be played on someone. Baseplugs with holes like that were normally from grenades mounted on a block for display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 12 November , 2019 Share Posted 12 November , 2019 Hello, I was wondering if anybody on this forum could give me any info on my two British 2.5" Grenade cups. The first cup doesn't have any finish left and is stamped (I think) JMP and SA over |4|. No markings on the top piece. The second cup is in better condition but has a different top than the first, only one side is machined out for the No 1 Mk III's bayonet lug to fit. The top portion is stamped S&B over NPFL. On the cup it has a stamp of SA over ?? and JMP. I don't think these came from India as neither have the RFI stamps. Any info would be greatly appreciated, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calibre792x57.y Posted 14 November , 2019 Share Posted 14 November , 2019 (edited) Interesting: certainly a British manufacturer. Mine is stamped H.W. Ward &Co. Ltd, Birmingham, and 'M&CL'. and 'S&B followed by a 'D' in a diamond stamp. They seemed to be made by a conglomerate of eight or more manufacturers and first appeared in mid-1917, before they are listed in the L.o.Cs. - SW Edited 14 November , 2019 by calibre792x57.y Further info on markings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 28 July , 2020 Share Posted 28 July , 2020 Hi, A new find, can anyone tell me if this is a fantasy base plug please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 28 July , 2020 Share Posted 28 July , 2020 Looks OK to me. Here's one from my collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 28 July , 2020 Share Posted 28 July , 2020 58 minutes ago, Gunner Bailey said: Looks OK to me. Here's one from my collection. Smashing. Many thanks G.B. I couldn’t find an example, or mention of “Motor Equipment Birmingham” online, except one piece that seemed to suggest they became “Lucas” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 28 July , 2020 Share Posted 28 July , 2020 (edited) West Heath Works, Northfield in SW Birmingham. Edited 28 July , 2020 by Gunner Bailey 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