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Hi @BobNotTed Always possible, I guess. But I think it'd be a bit of a concidence if that were the case. Does it have the 'Broad Arrow' marking on it too? Best Regards, Adrian

Hi Clive @fv1609 Thanks for the thought. I think the OP has two different chairs. The inset photo with a WD underneath is certainly a 'Queen's Crown'. The SCWS 1943 one is an unusual crown, I agree. I expected to see a 'King's Crown', which is not really similar to that. Having just looked at a 'Scottish Crown', yes, I see your point. That would make it quite unusual, I think? I certainly can't remember another bit of equipment with it on. Best Regards, Adrian

Hi @BobNotTed Sorry, only just seen your message. SCWS is the maker, the Scottish Cooperative Wholesale Society. More details here: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Scottish_Co-operative_Wholesale_Society_(SCWS) The second one is a 'Queen's Crown', WD stands for War Department. More details here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Department_(United_Kingdom) As you can see, this became the Ministry of Defence (Less warlike!) in 1962, so the chair was probably made between 1952 and 1964. Best Regards, Adrian

Hi Tomo, I'm not sure if it helps, but there is a wreck of one of these lanterns going through Ebay France on a regular basis. It seems cheap at €15 obo, but that's plus shipping at €12, and the seller will only ship to France, and requires a bank transfer in payment. Living in France, I can arrange to pay for it, receive it then ship it out to you, but I think it's starting to get a bit expensive by that point? Let me know what you think. Best Regards, Adrian https://www.ebay.fr/itm/lanterne-britanique-WW2-Miller-British-WD-manque-verre-du-hublot-avant/193429465848?hash=item2d094b6af8:g:DGYAAOSwFuJdwFR9

Hi, I've always loved these waggons. It was at Steam Fairs (Husband's Bosworth) in the 1970's that I first saw these and traction engines etc. alongside my first military vehicles in preservation, so it all has a lot to answer for (-: Wilkins is a Mr. William Owen Wilkins, and this is his only Patented device, so I don't think that the “Wilkins Patent Unloading Gear” refers to anything else. I have attached the Patent below. Wilkins GB108393A.pdf The Patent was still very new ( Applied for Sept 1916, Granted August 1917), so perhaps the waggon was ordered with the intention of fitting this great new innovation, and it was subsequently discovered it was not robust enough for field use, so a tipping body was substituted instead? (Or, indeed, someone figured out a tipping body would be a lot cheaper!) Best Regards, Adrian

Hi, I don't know exactly, but I would guess a Royal Engineers Dispatch Riders Old Comrades association badge for the Great War. There's another here: https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/Stock-Images/Rights-Managed/MEV-10727100 Best Regards, Adrian

Hi Luis, And Happy New Year too. It's difficult to tell from the picture, you have a lot of equipment on it! But generally it will either be for an early bike 'Service Brown' (BS 499), or, from 1944, 'British Olive Drab' (BS 298). Best Regards, Adrian

Hi Mike, Thanks for the photos of the Adlake lamps. I could find dozens of different types of them, but nothing showing the tops like that. Of the near 30000 of these bikes made, I have traced fewer than ten survivors, which makes research a little difficult at times. Some have no serial numbers stamped under the pedal crank, some, like the one above belonging to Bozman have a USA serial number handstamped, and some have a Columbia J series number denoting 1918. Of the USA series numbers, I have not yet seen one above 10,000, so I am wondering if these were for one of the three contracts. In case it's of interest, here's some further detail about mine. I'm still collecting parts, since the photos were taken, I obtained the correct pedals and luggge carrier, with the help of friends in the US. Best Regards, Adrian

Hi, Tommo, A long time ago, I had this experience at Upper Heford USAF base. We were visiting, but the bus we were travelling on broke down, so we were late. Explaining this to our American host, our RAF boss said "Sorry we're late, the bus went US". There was blank incomprehension from our American. He later explained how he was trying to figure "how we got the coach stateside" . Best Regards, Adrian

Hi All, I have some questions relating to the marking of US transport equipment during WW1. One of the noticable features of the Liberty Truck is the U.S.A. on the radiator tank. I understand that other smaller parts were also occasionally marked U.S.A., such as this horn:, and, I understand the Adlake lights (I could not find an example of this). Both above images from https://libertytruck.org/ Does anyone know when it became necessary for manufacturers to mark parts in this way? I'm guessing 1918? Since GI equipment was normally marked U.S. only, why mark them U.S.A., and not U.S.? These questions relate to the restoration and research I'm doing on my 1917 US Army Columbia bicycle. These bicycles were originally fitted with 'Neverout' Keresine lamps: Whilst searching for the correct lamp, I found that the markings on the lamps had gone through an evolution. Columbia bicycle production started in October 1917, and seems to have gone through three contracts, the first two for 10000 bicycles each, and the last one incomplete by war end. Initial production was very rapid (the QM gave 3 days to quote for the contract, and 30 days to start deliveries), so at the start a lot of parts were off the shelf. Early Neverout lamps are the standard brass model, painted green. In November 1917 there was some discussion about the production of a standardised 'Liberty' bicycle, with several manufacturers (sound familiar?). During this discussion, the marking of the bike as U.S.A. equipment was raised, which implies that it was not the case before that point. It seems it became necessary to mark equipment U.S.A. at some point since I have a second lamp handstamped at the factory in an accessible area. Finally, the stamping tools for the lamp were adapted to stamp USA on the front of the lamp. Type with no USA stamp Type with USA handstamped at the factory (incidenatlly, this type with the added bail is not for a bicycle, does anyone know what other vehicles used Neverout lamps?) Type with U.S.A. stamped during manufacture. This move to marking the equipment U.S.A. can also be seen on the bicycle badges. Late ones have a supplementary U.S.A. stamp on the bicycle badge, early ones do not. Early bicycle headbadge Later badge, the same stamping, but with an extra U.S.A. stamped above the end of the word Columbia. I hope that someone can help with my questions. and that even if you can't, this was of some interest, Thanks, Best Regards, Adrian

Hi All, A bounce, since I would still like to obtain this bracket, or lamp and bracket if possible. Thanks for the help. Best Regards, Adrian

Hi, just british, or other countries too? Since, (Coincidentally) an unopened (expiry Oct 2022) French Menu 14 turned up on my desk (in France) this morning. Best Regards, Adrian

Nice pun (-:

This warehouse, perhaps?

Hi Howard, P. Brotherhood is probably Peter Brotherhood, by 1918 Peter Brotherhood Ltd. He appears to have been applying for patents from 1874 onwards, was certainly iterested in all aspects of steam engines, governors, compressed air, superchargers, torpedoes, aero engines and internal combustion engines, to name a few subjects. I could not find a patent with a 17/8/18 date, but hopefullly, here is a list of his patents you can look through. https://worldwide.espacenet.com/searchResults?submitted=true&locale=en_EP&DB=EPODOC&ST=advanced&TI=&AB=&PN=&AP=&PR=&PD=&PA=peter+Brotherhood&IN=&CPC=&IC= The company apparently still exists, working in the same fields. https://www.peterbrotherhood.com/ Best Regards, Adrian

Hola Thank-you for your reply. It is a rare object, but the price is outside my range. I wish you the best for your sale. Perhaps try putting it in the 'For Sale' section further down the forum, more people will see it there. Best Regards, Adrian

Hola Bonito. ¿Tienes un precio? La pintura de luftwaffe es, supongo, no original.

Hi All, I'm still working on this bike, most parts are to hand, but the missing butterfly nut and screw are a bit of a problem. Would anyone happen to have one lying around? Always interested in other parts too. I have a UK or French address to post to, as preferred. Thanks, Best Regards Adrian

Hi, Côte-d'Or? A couple of hours north from me. Best Regards, Adrian

Yes, this is Scarborough, Peasholme Park. The planes were on wires, and I remember seeing the battle in the 1970's. Of course, it's odd to think that some of those 'Dad's' in the audience in 1962 may have seen this for real!

Memories of this:

The 'Crap' hats tended to be for basic training, being 'awarded' your regimental beret and getting rid of those hats was a big thing. The hoods for the combat jackets were frowned on because they limited your field of vision. Best Regards, Adrian

I agree, you often see them dyed for fashion sales. The badges tend to be different synthetic materials, and don't take up the dye to the same extent. Best Regards, Adrian

Hi, fbc is the german WW2 Alphabetic Ordnance code for Ilo-Werke H. Christiansen, Pinneberg bei Hamburg, a maker of two stroke engines and electric motors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILO-Motorenwerke Wierdly, the only company I know of named in Esperanto! (ILO comes from the Esperanto word for "tool".) Best Regards, Adrian

Hi Peter, Sometimes it's like that, highs and lows. Courage, the World is Watching (and impressed!) (-: Best Regards, Adrian