Le Prof

Thanks for taking the time to let us know. Happy Christmas. (-: Prof

Hi All, I saw this recent recovery of a Soviet armoured patrol boat from the Volga, and thought it might be of interest here too. best Regards, Prof http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/12/11/soviet-armored-ww2-patrol-boat-bk-31-recovered-stalingrad/

prix a debattre si serieux "Price can be discussed if you are serious" Assuming that's the current registration, then it's a long way south too, Departement 81, Tarn, near Tolouse Cordialement, Prof

Hi, I've found this site to be a good source for 'classic' bicycle parts, including tyres: https://www.classic-cycle.de/ I've rebuilt a couple of Parabikes and have jut ordered white classic tyres for my 1917 Colubia Military Model. They also sell 28" Auto valve tubes and rim tapes.

Slightly disappointed with it. Saving Private Ryan (1998) or Monuments Men (2014) it was not. However, neither was it Pearl Harbor (2001) or Inglourious Basterds (2009), for which a special cinema in Hell are reserved. Best Regards, Prof

No MOT??? Wow, when did that happen (sorry, been in France for 15 years now). No tightening the jeep transmission brake band in the layby before driving in to the MOT, followed by trying to remember to loosen it again before it catches fire afterwards? The old traditions are all dying out...

Hi Andy, a check on DVLC shows that it's last MOT expired 25th June 2013, if that's any help? https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/?_ga=2.44854691.602733641.1504955336-912139265.1503860622 Best Regards, Prof

Steve, Tim and Bob, Thanks for your replies and encouragement. (-: Bikes in the US Army of the Great War were viewed differently to those of the Second World War. In 1917, we were just coming to the end of the great development period of the Bicycle, starting around the 1880's. It is somewhat forgotten that when the bike came along, it represented (for those that could afford it) the first real personal transport. Horses were expensive, required constant maintenance, and somewhere to keep them. Trains could cover long distances but were not door to door options. Cars and motorcycles didn't exist. The bike represented short to mid distance personal transport, and could be taken on the train for longer distances. This was also something of a social revolution meaning that you were no longer confined to 'courting' in your own village or the next over! Indeed, Tandems, or the Bicycle built for Two from the song 'Daisy, Daisy' were sometimes sold as 'Courting bicycles'. By 1917, the most common form of the bike, with the triangular frame etc. was well established, but in the US and elsewhere, the Bike revolution was finishing, as the idea of motor cycles and cars as personal transport became more attainable. The US army of 1917 still viewed bikes as useful communications, liaison, reconnaissance and personal transport, roles more commonly taken by the jeep in WW2. Personal issue of bicycles in a Battalion would be made to the Medical Officer, the leaders of the 1lb gun platoons, and Lieutenants in charge of Machine Gun Companies. The total of 26,407 bikes mentioned earlier as shipped overseas were mainly allocated to Divisions as follows according to the AEF ToE of January 14th 1918: Division Structure 4 Infantry Regiments = 168 Bikes Total 1 Engineering Regiment = 24 Bikes Total 1 Field Artillery Regiment = 26 Bikes Total 2 Machine Gun Battalions = 20 Bikes Total Total = 238 Bikes. In November 1918, the US had 42 Divisions in France, technically 9520 bikes. It is easy to see that apart from those unissued at this point, the rest would find plenty of use in Motor Pools, on Airfields etc. Enough history. This week I made another step forward (when they arrive from the US...) obtaining some correct pattern handlebars and I also managed to get a correct stem to match. These are in Chrome, and ideally this would have been Nickle, but the difference is academic to most. Ironically, these are WW2 military production handlebars that have had the original paint stripped off, and then been chromed. So they were intended to be military originally. It is possible that the similarity between WW1 and WW2 handlebars is a carryover from the early bikes to the later ones. These bars are the most common part currently available for WW2 US G519 bikes. Some hundreds were found in a warehouse lift shaft (!) in unissued condition a few years ago. It seems likely these were made by the manufacturer Torrington for a wartime bike contract that was never completed or cancelled. Because the number of handlebars now existing far outstrips the likely demand, some dealers have chromed them for other bikes, and this is one of those sets. WW2 Bicycle Handlebars, Photo Credit: Craig Johnson Chromed Handlebars bought for the project. Early 20th Century Stem bought for the project. Correct WW1 Handlebars. Photo Credit OldBike.eu As discussed above, part of the dilemma on this bike is whether to repaint it or not. In the past, there would have been no question, and it would have been repainted by now. The bike collecting world now values original paint, even in poor condition. It is, however, difficult enough to find the correct pieces without the problem of trying to find them with a matching level of Patina. The Military Vehicle collecting world often still feels that there should not be rust on a military vehicle, and repainting was a common exercise through its life, although I am seeing a change in that where the original paint or markings are in sufficiently good condition to preserve. My sitting on the wall solution over this is to retain as many parts (frame, fork etc.) in the original state as possible, but where a part has been replaced, make it obvious so there is no mistake as to what is original, and what is not. I do want to be able to ride the final bike. Best Regards, Adrian

Hi All, In the latest 'Windscreen' magazine (Issue 161, Page 30, 'Culling the Heard' by Tim Gosling and John Teasdale), they mention that by the signing of the Armistice in Nov 1918, the US Army had, amongst many other vehicles, 26,407 Army pattern bicycles in France. I am currently restoring one of the very few survivors, a 1917 Columbia "Military Model". Doughboy with US Army Bicycle The US Army for the Great War had specified a particular design for their bicycles, the most notable feature in comparison to European bikes being the parallel twin bars on the top of the frame. This feature was not unique to military bikes, but is a useful place to start when identifying them. These standardised bikes were built by three different makers, Westfield, Great Western and Davis. The numbers made are given below. In common with many US military contracts, not all of the bikes ordered were completed, since the contracts were cancelled with the end of the war. Make Ordered Nov 1st 1918 Completed Nov 1st 1918 Completed Dec 31st 1918 Shipped Overseas Westfield 36,002 19,164 22,502 N/K Great Western 15,750 - 3,750 N/K Davis Sewing Machine 15,750 1,992 3,252 N/K Totals 67,502 21,156 29,504 26,407 Order and Production figures, US Army Bicycles in the Great War Some of the unused parts were built up into bikes postwar for civilian sale. Including these civilian frames (since it is hard to know if some frames are civilian or Army Surplus) about 15 of these bikes are currently known from all three makers, the Westfield being the most common with maybe 10. I bought mine in France about six months ago (I also have a 1943 US Army Westfield Columbia recently completed). In the photo below it looks quite complete, but it is a mix of 1917 US Army, and 1904ish French bicycle parts, most of which are non functional. 1917 Westfield Columbia 'Military Model' as found Columbia "Military Model" headbadge The main original parts are the frame (with badge, luckily, since that is about the rarest part), forks, crank (broken) rear wheel (broken). Some parts will be easier to find than others. The main obvious missing part to this model is the chainwheel, which is of a particular pattern, and is very noticeable. I was lucky to find a good example, with matching replacement crank with the help of a member of a bicycle forum. Now that I have that major step forward completed, I have laid out the parts to see what is now missing: Parts Layout Saddle, saddle stem, handlebars, handlebar stem, pump, hub brake, chain. The wheels are for sinle tube tyres, which are avaialable as reproductions, but are expensive and usable for only short distances. Since I intend to use the bike, I will probably fit cosmetically similar new 28 inch wheels with standard tubes and tyres, but I have already obtained original 1909 pattern wheel hubs and brakes to be laced to the new rims so that the bike behaves as close to original as possible. The jury is still out on whether to paint it. It currently exhibits 100 years of patina or surface rust depending on your point of view. The current trend is to keep paintwork original, so I will start like that, with option of changing later. It doesn't feel very 'military' with rust..ahem..patina. Colour Comparison There is also the perennial question as to what is the right colour. Above is a comparison. The vertical tube is the best preserved part of the paint on the exposed frame, and is very mustard. The upper tube is the steer tube from the top of the forks of the same bicycle. This is hidden inside the head tube of the bike and sees no light exposure. It can be seen this is a lot darker green, yet painted at the same time as the frame. For comparison, the lower tube is a pair of unissued 1943 handlebars showing WW2 colour. I hope this was of some interest, I will add more as it happens. Best Regards, Adrian

As a non-native French speaker, there are times I cheat and do so too....Shhh, you ain't seen me. Right? :-D Great War Truck, thanks for the offer, PM inbound. Best Regards, Prof

Dear All, I've just bought a WW1 dataplate from a French truck. After literally seconds of ceaseless searching, :-D I found a very useful (if you can read French) page on how the French WW1 military registration system worked, complete with a list of serial numbers at the bottom of the page. http://plaque.free.fr/f_mil3.html This tells me that Numero Immatriculation 41015 was from a block of 5000 numbers, 40001-45000, allocated to Parc d'organisation de Dijon on 19th Jan 1915, to use on a batch of new trucks delivered by Berliet. The plate tells me that the truck was then serviced on 12th Jan 17 at VV (?) by Andre (?) I have three questions. Is this plate the main official military registration plate, or a supplementary one for recording repairs and services on? Given that the batch of 5000 Berliet is after Jan 1915, and before Jan 17, would this truck have been a Berliet CBA? Does anyone have an original photo of a Berliet with a registration number close to this, or in the block 40001-45000? Thanks, Best Regards, Prof

Hi, Zero-Five-Two, I was in 5RRF, a TA unit in Coventry at that time, and certainly wore them that way. In the TA (or possibly just 5RRF) it was difficult enough getting a first issue of kit. When mine arrived in its big plastic sack, it had already been picked over beforehand in the QM's, and all the latest equipment substituted for worn earlier versions. This was normal, no point in complaining. The idea of exchanging things that were not worn to pieces just for the sake of uniformity would have caused the QM to explode! A few years later, everyone was out of puttees, except for one female band member, who was very small. Apparently, it was proving difficult to find new boots in her tiny size, so she carried on doing so until she was chopped under the "Strategic Defence Review" 1998. It wasn't personal :-D , all of the Cov 5RRF got chopped, typically only a couple of months after moving to their new purpose built TA Center. Best Regards, Prof.

Hi, Liberty. Trouser twists, or just thick elastic bands, would be worn with the higher boots. Puttees were generally worn even with the higher boots, until the (vast) majority of people in the unit had the new boots. Then, it was up to the RSM to make a blanket decision on the subject. When the jerseys were worn, then the stable belt would be worn over the top of it. The rearward facing tounges in the buckles invariably snagged on the inside of the jumper sleeve whilst marching... Best Regards, Prof.

Gentlemen, thank you for taking the trouble to read, and time to reply. We may eventually go down the Replacement route (currently he's using a 'cheap' original one from Ebay), but he was trying to obtain the original, since he'd had this since his teens (so, some 30 years), and used it on every parade (which is a lot as a Bandsman!). Also, Replacements are marked as such (R or Replacement), so are always a little second best. Chris, I'll bear your reply in mind if we do talk with the Medal Office, it could come in handy. Best Regards, Adrian

Dear All, I have posted this on other Medals related websites over the last two years without success, so I am trying here as a different group of people to help. Thanks in advance for keeping an eye open. A fellow member of my Army Reserve Band had his car broken into in 2013 in the London area. Various electrical items were stolen, as well as his group of four medals. This was obviously an opportunistic theft, so they could have ended up anywhere. He is happy to have his details published. The medals were Court Mounted and were: GSM with NI bar named to: 24492842 BDSM C S Bailey 1 Kings Own Border Rgt. UN Cyprus 2002 Golden Jubilee medal 2012 Diamond Jubilee medal He's not bothered about the unnamed medals so much, but would like to recover the GSM if possible, since that is named, and it now has a couple more named medals to go with it. The theft was reported and he has a crime number for it. If anyone has come across this, I would appreciate you contacting me by PM, and we can sort out what needs to be done to recover it. He would pay market value for the GSM. Thanks for your help and vigilance, Best Regards, Prof

Hi David, and Welcome. (-: You might want to say where you are, I guess Seine-Maritime, France? It's nice to see such a very British vehicle being restored in France, do you have any photographs? To explain to others reading your e-mail, épave means wreck. I cannot help with parts, but I do wish you luck. Cordialement, Adrian

Hi Chris, and Welcome. Thanks for the pictures - I for one will also be interested in seeing the MV show pictures from the 1960's. As an aside to the MV's at Blackpool, I have a friend (Alan Smith) from that area whose father was in the LRDG during the war, driving the trackless desert. Postwar, and for the rest of his career, he drove the trams at Blackpool. Aside from the sand, very different. Best Regards, Prof

Hi, I'd never heard of COW, and coming from near Coventry, I looked it up. Wikipedia has a nice entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry_Ordnance_Works Including this picture, is this the same mounting? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry_Ordnance_Works#/media/File:Coventry_Ordnance_Works_gun_mountings_WWI_IWM_Q_30133.jpg This 'pull through' is quite unusual too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry_Ordnance_Works#/media/File:WomanCleaning15inchGunRiflingCOW.jpg Best Regards, Prof

Dear All, as part of the restoration of my 1943 G519 Westfield Columbia bicycle, I am now looking for some of the issue accessories that came with it. I am looking for: A "Persons Majestic" leather toolbag, like the one illustrated; (photo http://www.theliberator.be/militarybicycles.htm'>http://www.theliberator.be/militarybicycles.htm ) A "Morrow" cone-wrench, as illustrated; (photo http://www.theliberator.be/militarybicycles.htm ) A "Woodbridge Brass Company" Tire (Tyre!) pump: (photo http://www.bergerwerke.com/historyG519.html ) These parts are quite rare, so I imagine that prices will reflect that. Or, if the owner collects US or British militaria, we may be able to come to an exchange deal. Thanks for your help. Best Regards, Adrian

Hi Johann, The markings could well be original, and are an interesting unit. The bull's head is the UK 79th Armoured Divsion, disbanded in August 1945. This was commanded by Major-General Hobart, of 'Hobart's Funnies', the specialist armoured assault vehicles used on D-Day, and elsewhere. More detail here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/79th_Armoured_Division_%28United_Kingdom%29 The Diagonal Red over Green arm of service square was for an RASC transport group in the 79th. There may have been a number painted on the square which would have told you which of the four companies it was, but I can't see a sign of it. I hope that helps. Best Regards, Adrian

Hi All, The BBC has just published 4000 photographs of soldiers taken by a French husband and wife team that have been recently discovered. The photos were of allied soldiers billeted in their village during WW1, and were recently discovered in an attic there. The quality of the shots is excellent, and there are a fair few vehicles interspersed with the soldiers. They are appealing for help identifying the soldiers, but I guess they'd welcome information on the vehicles too. More details of the discovery, plus how to view the pictures is on the link below. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3LVxjjZghNQW2LJhx1SsX0t/the-lost-tommies Best Regards, Prof

Hi, yes, repros are available, at around £30 http://redballsupplies.co.uk/?product=us-army-m1-carbine-canvas-cover-repro Originals on Ebay, around £50, example below, but I'm sure they can be found for more and less. http://www.cafr.ebay.ca/itm/WWII-M1-CARBINE-RIFLE-CANVAS-CARRYING-CASE-1944-ORIGINAL-SHANE-MFG-Co-/131431883540 And, yes, if you are selling one, then please let me know. Thanks, Prof

Hi Alan, I can't help with the XWD, but maybe with the wartime history. I have the last mortal remains of an Ariel 500cc, including the original logbook, Engine CE3nnn, Frame XG9nnn, which I understand is 1939 also. The logbook was issued July 1943, and is stamped 'Ex Government' in red. The initial owner is 'Hants War Agricultural Executive Committee" In 1948 it passed to The Machinery Officer at Castle Hill House, Huntingdon, before its first civilian owner in 1951. You say yours was supplied outside the Ministry of Supply (not the War Department, which makes your XWD stamp even more surprising), and did not appear to have military paint. Mine appears to have joined the Land Army, so I guess yours could be that, or a similar organisation (AFS, etc.) I hope that helps, Best Regards, Adrian

Hi Tim, Lauren. I had a wander round the internet at lunch. Result 1: AB 413 is a lot nicer than AB 412 (-: Hardback, and bound in red cloth. Here is an example for a Canadian Carrier Universal No.2 Mk II T-344336. http://www.hinsie.nl/images/Army%20Book%20413.jpg From this site with other interesting documents: http://www.hinsie.nl/Documents.htm Result 2: Found you could obtain reprints of AB 412 (but not AB 413): http://www.robvanmeel.nl/?q=content/active-service-log-book-cardboard-cover-1241 Then found that there was an original 1943 one for sale from a french online bookshop for €3, so now that's winging it's way to me. (-: I'll take some pictures once it gets here. Best Regards, Adrian

Hi Tim, since there were no other replies, all I can add which may help is that I have a "Vehicle Maintenance Record, Enclosure to Army Book 412" marked "Use the Rubber Band to insert this enclosure next to the page headed "Particulars of Vehicle" in A.B.412". Print date is 6/41, containing 28 pages. The front page has details of Make/WD Number/Units, the first half of the book is an aide memoire in two sections for Drivers Daily Tasks, the first for "Vehicles other than Motor Cycles" and the second for Motor Cycle Maintenance Tasks". The second half is a calendar from May 3rd 1941 to April 15th 1943, showing which tasks should be carried out on which day. It wouldn't surprise me if AB 413 contained a similar insert for Tracked Vehicles. If you'd like more info, let me know. Best Regards, Adrian