Adrian Dwyer

6 minutes ago, 31770 said:

Certainly not of ferrous metal, doesn’t look like brass or bronze either 🤔

That was going to be my next question!  The stampings are very ordnance in nature but, as mentioned, I cannot place the item.  My best guess, pending someone offering a positive ID, is a blanking plug from ordnance.  However, as a paperweight, on my desk, I have the filling plug from a US drop-tank of WW2 vintage: the diameter of the thread is  only just in excess of 2".

Not your item, but here's an image of the base plug from a 1941 Mills bomb.  The 41 stamping is within a 0.25" diameter circle.

Evening Dave - can you confirm exactly what is stamped into the upper surface.  The 43 in the circle is consistent with the date stamp on certain types of ordnance - but I do not recognise the item.  Also, just to confirm, the diameter of the threated section is 2"?

Below are a couple of images from a 1980s vintage plug from a British 1000lb medium capacity iron bomb.  My default is to look for an ordnance link!  But, to me, the underside has a very similar appearance.

2 hours ago, Ron said:

Ha Ha! There's your main problem. Did you buy UK parts or Indian made?

Yes always use the valve lifter to get over compression. It's surprises me how many guys and girls I meet who just don't get it🥴 Ron

New old stock!

Ron,

Really helpful and what a great pair of bikes!

On the basis these are two of the components replaced, I'm thinking I need to be a bit less energetic/optimistic - and master the gentle art of the valve lifter!

A

Thanks Ron - just replaced the quadrant, pinion, spring and bushes.  It's better than it was but still jams occasionally.  I'm thinking my technique is a bit too T150 and not enough 3HW!  Is it your experience that you have to me more careful engaging the quadrant on the 1940's box than on Triumph of the 60s and 70s?  

Thanks again.

A

Sorry Ron, I started a new post on Motorcycles.  I'd be grateful for your view!

A

1 hour ago, Ron said:

If that's the stamping under the saddle. It will say TEC Month and Year  ( TEC = Triumph Engineering Co)

Thanks Ron - a bit more application of the wire brush required to reveal all the detail!  Did you take a view on the kick start issue?  A

6 hours ago, Adrian Dwyer said:

Under the Italian black, under the primer, under what's left of the green, '42 emerges!

 

You may have to stare at this for a while until the 42 (the stamping of the 4 and the 2 still filled with black paint) emerges!

Yes, good material for friction: nice smell when riding over cobbles, too!  I had assumed they were a man-made material - which I think is what the girders use.

The other interesting discovery - to me at least - is that the material used in the 1940s friction dampers on the elastico is close-grain hardwood.

Under the Italian black, under the primer, under what's left of the green, '42 emerges!

Morning all.  Is it a known problem with the 3HW gearbox that the kick starter jams when the quadrant fist begins to engage?  This has become an issue with the 'elastico' 3HW (see previous post for more detail about the '42 Italian Triumph): a good swinging-kick starting from the fully-upright position of the kick start routinely causes it to lock solid.  Should I be gently prodding it to a more horizontal attitude before I apply the downward force of my ever-increasing bulk!  Or is the jamming-up symptomatic of a gearbox issue, as yet undiagnosed?

The two images show the resting position of the kickstart and the point at which the quadrant just starts to engage (and at which it sometimes jams).

Many thanks in anticipation!

A

Morning all.  As has been noted, this is such a useful piece of work (much used by those treading the wary path through ebay sellers).  I know Edward has achieved his aim but I thought the following images might be interesting as they give dates. 

• NI combat glove dated 1984
• Braces, dated 1980
• Both sides of the folded tag on helmet 'sock', dated 1983
• Anti-mine goggles case , dated 1973

All the very  best and, once again, many thanks to Edward for the original legwork!

A

Morning Larry - an authority on the history of SD-2s made the comment (copied below) on the RE BD facebook page.  I think he hopes to join HMVF so may be able to add even more!

'Beaverettes were also used by the RAF to clear airfields of SD2s in another way: a long thick rope or chain was dragged between two Beaverettes, rather like minesweeping ships.'

Larry, there is some support for the SD-2 theory.  I think there will be a post here giving more detail.

No mention of brylcreem as yet...

A

Done!  I await the side-splittingly humorous responses suggesting its function was brylcreem-related!

A

Morning all. 

The term used in the caption 'airstrip cleaner' is not one I've ever encountered as a euphemism for UXO tasks.  I do know the fear of the SD-2 'butterfly bomb' certainly taxed the RE BD units, particularly from '43 onward: not least of all because, by visual means, it could be problematic to determine if the fuze was a failed impact fuze, a time-delay variant or an anti-disturbance option. The first airfield to be attacked by the SD-2 was Harlaxton ,Lincs, on 18 August 1941: 70+ were deployed with only 11 impacting on Air Ministry property.  However, between June-October 1943, almost 10,000 SD-2s were dropped.  The late Arthur Hogben (in this excellent book 'Designed to Kill') noted that in the August of '43, 3000 SD-2s were dropped by Luftwaffe fighter-bombers that followed allied planes back to their airfields in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk.  A tactic repeated thereafter elsewhere: so, the problem certainly existed and minds must have been focused!

In terms of the family of incendiaries known as Elektronbrandbombe, they would typically burn to nothing relatively quickly or remain inert.  The incendiary with the high-explosive element (in the nose or tail) was much less common than the straight pyrotechnic type. 

As a former Royal Engineer I know very little about WW2 RAF BD, but using such a thin-skinned vehicle to 'push' enemy UXO off an airfield would no be my first guess.  The theory about dealing with unarmed bombs that detached unexpectedly from our planes may be right, but still sounds a bit odd.  However, someone must know.  I'm happy to post the question - with the photo - on the RE BD EOD history page - if that would be considered helpful?

All the best.

A

One of my favourite artifacts (of which there are many) from his scrapbook.

Thanks Ron.  I have found an ally fluent in Italian, so will try a more personal approach.  It is, of course, entirely possible that the Italian nation is more than a little embarrassed about making a Benelli out of a Triumph!  And, as a result, rather wishes these WD-elasticos didn't exist.   As a clichéd character from an '80s sitcom once said, what-a-mistake-a-to-make-a.  Vermouth anyone?

All the best.

A

On 8/6/2023 at 4:36 PM, rewdco said:

I think it could be worth contacting the MotoCiclismo d'epoca editor. When I was working in Italy in the 1990's I always bought this high quality monthly. It used to have (still has?) lots of in-depth articles. Definitely worth a try!

No response from MotoCiclismo d'epoca.  I will try and locate someone who can translate my question into Italian!

Flying 'The Hump'.  I refer you to my previous comment: what a man.

11 hours ago, Adrian Dwyer said:

Not quite as long as the multi-stage flight from Canada to China but a good tally of flying hours.

Not quite as long as the multi-stage flight from Canada to China but a good tally of flying hours.

On 8/18/2023 at 12:14 AM, Jerryjeeprichard said:

Lucky find today. 
 

NOS blade for the saw bench. Still wrapped in the cosmoline. 
 

 

Something deeply satisfying about 'new-old-stock'!