fv1609

There was a Humber FV1600 forum on yahoo groups that fell into disuse. I have migrated this across to groups.io There 68 members at the moment but new members are welcome to discuss & get advice on any Humber in the FV1600 series whether they own a Humber or not, it is not exclusively for Pigs. Many groups in various hobbies have made this change as the format is more user friendly & side steps the privacy concerns that some have with the earlier forum set up. Members can post pictures (that are relevant!) & create their own album https://groups.io/g/HUMBER-FV1600

There are some references to springs in the pages I've posted that may have similarities of function to yours. Thanks Adrian, as I said I know nothing about armaments

This is from the EMER ARMARMENT series B 520-529 So I don't know what you make of L2 & L3 in this instance? I think here L (meaning Land service) is the later incarnation of Mk.

There are large collections of EMERs on all subjects held by the REME Museum. I'm not into guns so sorry I may have got the wrong weapon, what is the exact military nomenclature of the gun?

Found another battery.

Bit of coverage in the Technical Description. There is also some advice in Unit Repairs, I'll do those when the battery on my camera has charged up again.

I wondered if there were any clues about the performance of the springs in EMER ARMAMENT B 528 although this is the Technical Handbook - Inspection Standard, it is only a Unit Inspection Standard & I can find nothing there to help you I'm afraid. I don't have it, but more details of performance may be found in EMER ARMAMENT A 521/33 Examination of Ordnance, Examination Data for Specific Equipments. EMER Armament B 522 Technical Handbook - Technical Description may have something or even in: B 523 Unit Repairs B 254 Part 1 Field Repairs B 254 Part 2 Base Repairs I have B 522-254, I'll try & find them & have a look. I know nothing about armaments so could you explain where the springs are located & what they do, this will help me narrow down the areas I should be looking for.

I found the technical content of MV Magazine good, I even used to read Graham Lycet's Jeep column! Because it focused on mechanical issues that had some commonality for tastes in all vehicles. I only had the privilege of having one article published on yes you've guessed it, EMERs but it focussed on the little known & little understood EMECs & EMIs. I don't find any MV mag nowadays that matches up to the technical level of MV M This MO only cropped up because of the remote control thread that was running reminded me of this Humber project was worth covering.

Yes the mirror arm was a good clue. As you will have observed this is a FV1609A which is the real & officially designated Humber, 1 Ton, Armoured, Mk 1 not to be confused with FV1611 etc that through ignorance assumed the label of "Mk 1". Often ignored is that many of these later Pigs have a cab contract plate that is correctly stamped Mk 2, which confuses some owners who realise their Pig was not up-armoured into what the Army incorrectly called a "Mk 2". Although this FV1609A has a hard top it is not the hard top of a FV1611, as this has a single pistol port at the sides. This single port each side is an indication of demountable armoured roof that was under consideration to role out with the FV1609A at the same time as introducing the FV1611 series. It was not found practicable & was discontinued. Apart from the RUC hard top conversions in 1960, the only other type of hard top around was one built not by FVRDE but the RAC Equipment Wing in 1957 as a replacement for the Halftrack as an ACV. It was found to be adequate but not ideal & the project was dropped in anticipation of the availability of the Saracen ACV. Anyway the RAC Humber hardtop had double side hatches that were quite large, so it is not this one. The trailer I assume is for generator to supply the additional electrical needs, as 25A from the dynamo isn't a lot of good. There are marker lights on the front wings & front & rear on the roof to warn pedestrians at Chertsey that the thing was on the move. I think the front width gauges are to help the operator as the wing edges would not be visible through the "Sportsview" camera. I suspect the steering column was controlled by a rack & pinion. I remember Dale Prior had a Champ with this on its steering column. The view of experts was that this was most likely a remnant of a remote control mechanism. I think there was a piece on it in the much lamented MV Magazine that was a super mag designed for & written by a collection of experts in their particular fields that was very hands-on for those who like working on their vehicles rather than just looking at pictures of pretty vehicles lined up at a show. Rather unlike the swish mags that are available now.

Richard yes indeed it is.

Yes Richard well done absolutely spot on! Any idea on the vehicle? There are a few clues in the first photo. The multi-lens camera is reminiscent of a BBC Sportsview camera of the 1950s & its position suggests it for the remote driver's benefit. Whilst the top camera looks to be rotatable & for a more generalised assessment of the area as Marvin the Martian suggested.

That could well be an application for this interesting experiment. My assessment of date would be 1958-59.

Sorry for delay Iain been out all day (radio junk sale - irresistible) Not GW nothing as sophisticated as that.

Maybe another view would help?

Yes you can't be too careful, they are out to get you!

Richard although there was such a kit & I do have the fitting instructions for it in a Bedford MW this not it & is not a night vision system just daylight. This larger view may help or maybe not.

This might give the game away.

I don't think it is Richard as this is the 1950s & I can see nothing around that would provide an IR source.

Yes it is lens, in fact several, not a turret & the covering could be a tilt of some sort, it was just something to hand I think just tied around whilst the project was undergoing trials.

As we are not allowed a Dad's Army this Saturday, here is something to puzzle over. I may be slow to respond as I have a number of tasks to undertake, so if I go quiet don't assume it is because someone has guessed it correctly

It is indeed a tiresome thing to replace. I assume you remove the divided foot pedal panel to get access. Before you take it off do make sure the bleed screw at the top of the fuel filter is not allowing air to be drawn in - I have had this happen on a couple of vehicles & it is fault that often seems to crop up as well as air leaking in the fuel tank switch & make sure that you prime the filter bowl well with fuel when you reassemble it.

Norman I have had several Humbers & never felt the need to fit an electric pump. When you removed the pump could you feel a suction on your thumb on the inlet as you worked the primer & were you able to at least get that when it had been rebuilt? I would make sure the bleed screw & washer at the top of the filter are air tight. Also check the fuel change over switch, observing fuel switch position is not the same logic of direction as in a Land Rover.

What I was saying was although I like the idea, I don't have the definitive evidence for it being part of the official installation as I don't have that EMER POWER.

Yes it looks an eminently sensible mod. If it was part of the original conversion from Cargo to Generator I would have expected it to be listed in the parts required in EMER WHEELED VEHICLES U 217 Mod Instr No. 10, Feb 1959. Curiously the modifications to be made to the trailer are listed in EMER POWER C 467/3 which I don't seem to have. (Incidentally I would have regarded this significant conversion to be more of an Installation Instruction rather than merely a Modification Instruction, in that it should command a '5' allocation rather than '7' in the EMER categorisation)

Well I suppose you just have to enter your vehicle before 31st January to get the previous rate. No charge of course if you are Living History, until I spotted this: "Each Living History Member is charged £10 for the duration of the show."