Sean N

Lettering on the ship and the library number on the photo are both the wrong way round, which is a bit of a giveaway. Hans' version looks a lot better - now all you have to do is get the IWM to reverse their watermark!

Alec, I have a couple of Edbro mechanical PTOs that came from a recovery company that were running Bedfords. It is for the SAE 6 bolt fixing but neither look quite right on the gear; one has a straight cut gear, while the other the gear looks too coarse pitch: The straight cut one is marked PTO.602.15 922015 while the other is just marked 18 x 84 S, I assume a reference to the ratio. If they are any help let me know

I'll try to get photos tomorrow.

I've seen it called 'Pierced' or 'Perforated' but not pressed. NOS, your picture is not showing though it does link.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marston_Mat Terry, some years ago I was offered a large quantity of PSP. I had a fair idea people used it in ones and twos e.g. as sand channel, so I made enquiries. It turned out that it was in demand at the time and sold for considerably more (10 - 20 times?) its value in scrap. That might well still be the case. As scrap it'd probably go as light iron, so just a few tens of pounds a tonne these days. It makes a lot of difference whether it's straight, as obviously after years of use it tends to get bowed, rusty and the edges get bent so it won't interlock. All the ones I've ever seen, irrespective of manufacturing date, have always had the holes punched right through.

I've been able to dig all this out now. I have all the interior fittings bar one desk and the radios themselves, plus a number of components and loose fittings, plus bags of stakes and cabling that came with the vehicle. Interior fittings: All radio mounting brackets and pins etc., shelves for above the windows either side, table for OSR with box under, base for NSR desk with heater, fold down seats and cushions, interior lights, notice boards, 240V distribution board for OSR, breaker etc. board for NSR, complete interior wiring loom, various connectors, fasteners, clips etc. Components and loose fittings: Marconi power transformer, Marconi HF transformer, telephone handset in case, morse key, large ceramic aerial mount, bags of cable etc.

Chris, you have a PM.

Yes, that's fine. Many older British (and German, and other) vehicles have riveted chassis plates without stamped numbers.

John, CBF have it, see http://storage.cbf.uk.com/pdf/STEELSECTION299.pdf

I'm not sure about etched and enamelled or embossed, the drawing says sheet brass pressing, so I'd guess they were just stamped out from a sheet. I have an identical badge, from brass, that came from an O870, clearly made in a single press operation. I'd guess the 'slight dish to facilitate manufacture' would be to aid release from the press tool. As Richard says, 23 Aug '74 is probably a copy issue date, last amendment looks like the addition of sheet steel as an alternative material on 11.10.43 presumably due to MoS supply concerns? 'Background to be sunk' I would guess is indicated because there is no cross section so without that instruction it would not be clear, rather than to show a second operation.

Radek, from the photo that looks as though the original colour for that engine was deep bronze green or mid bronze green. The MOWOG green Ian refers to is mid bronze green.

Ingenious. Wonder how well cooked the potato was when they reached their destination. ISTR the approved REME recovery manual method for condenser replacement was two baked bean cans (or equivalent) with a piece of paper between.

Cross-posted here: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?51521-TWO-got-killed-by-firing-an-WWII-tank

John, I appreciate you have facilities and help there, but the work you have accomplished on such a mammoth and complex vehicle in such a short space of time is extraordinary (and makes me feel as though I'm very much slacking!). What is happening after Bordon, I'm out of touch - everything going to Lyneham?

Chance anyone with knowledge / parts lists could confirm some fitments for me? RE3043 / FV141449 Valve, exhaust - I have this as Rolls-Royce B40/B60/B80 and 4.25 litre civilian Rolls-Royce engine (1946 - 1955) EB3853 / FV141322 Valve, inlet - I have this as Rolls-Royce B40/B60/B80 and 4.25 litre civilian Rolls-Royce engine (1946 - 1955) Rover 246346 Piston - I have this as Rover 60 and Landrover Series 1 2 litre petrol BUT there seem to be a lot of different pistons for these engines and some confusion over fitment - I have it variously listed as 1952 - 1955, 1954 - 1955, and 1954 - 1959. Not sure whether this reflects parts list publication dates or genuine confusion. Anyone confirm, particularly for the latter? Thanks.

The article is very specific in saying it was a 1945 vehicle refurbished in 2005, which sounds too specific to be just newspaper speculation.

Radek, first three photos look like mid bronze green (also known as BMC green). Fourth photo looks like eau-de-nil. Fifth photo, it's a bit dark to tell in that engine bay! Could be black?

I don't recall having seen a russet brown engine, but my experience is by no means definitive. I do think eau-de-nil went on a lot later than is generally said, just based on what I've seen - pretty much every '50s vehicle I can think of having seen, including those that were still being cast in the '90s, had eau-de-nil engines (except those which still had OEM engines), whereas sky blue seemed to be much more '60s on - I associate it with Landrover and tank engines, for some reason. I would not like to swear to wartime engine colour but black seems likely, I don't know why.

Didn't even see Radek's question. Wally, cat, pigeons, worms, can. Didn't we decide in the K9 topic that they stuck with eau-de-nil until well into the '50s at least? If Radek's truck is WW2 (which it is), were Austin engines green or black then?

Another vote for shepherd's hut - and good money in good condition, but that's a long way from good condition...

The $35k US example you posted is probably not a good price guide as if you look at the photos closely it has evidently not been restored, just tarted up and blown over. This may have been done as a museum exhibit or it may have been done for sale. Either way, it isn't as good as it appears at first glance and it's in the US; it's likely Axis vehicles would fetch more over there than in Europe as they'll be less common. In any case, you can't assume a general restored value from one or two examples. To be honest, I can't help feeling the value of something like this is likely to be 'what you can get for it', which may be a lot or a little depending on who's in the market. You probably should not reckon on making a fortune on it, or buy it with the sole aim of doing so; there are very few vehicles that repay their restoration costs and turn a profit. Really, when valuing vehicles, there are a few ways - what will it make restored, less the restoration cost (difficult to know as not enough are sold); - what is the open market or book value (see above); - what is it worth in scrap or in breaking value; - what is it worth to you; - what does the seller want. If several of these tally, you know you're about right. If you have no idea about any of them, it comes down to how much you want it! If you do really want it and are interested for more than a quick profit then the answer to what it is worth is how much can you reasonably afford to pay for it without stretching yourself.

There's a gun tank at Bovvy in good order, but I don't know if it's in running order.

Mark, you could just sound him out as to what he'd like to get for it, and see if that tallies with your thinking. With all the missing panels etc. there's a lot of quite expensive work needed though.

Are these dates right? Saturday and Sunday are 26th / 27th.