Ken Wales Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 I have just purchased another Ferret as a spares source for my other one (which was imported from the UK) Details are Australian Number 115151 With coloured red and yellow sign on back and front 107 Date Plate Mark 1 Model B 427 Cont No 6/FV/4267 Vehicle No 36 BA 95 On removal of data plate expecting to see date of manufacture there has been another plate welded to the hull 427B Condition is very rough. Referring to Ferret in British Army service indicates it was built in 1951 and the Contract Number 6/FV/4267 and British registration ( 36 BA 95) ties up but why was it given a British registration? The ignition panel looks a lot different (old fashioned) to my other Ferret a 1959 Mk2 Any comments help with the history would be appreciated. Is there any point of approaching tank museum to see if it had a UK history or would it have been sent to Australia immediately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montie Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Post some photos, friend, it always helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Hi Ken The original Aussie and Canadian ferrets were taken out of the First British Army contract, which was for 593 vehicles and took quite a while to fulfill (as you can imagine with that number to be produced under a new production line) The British Military numbers were already assigned, however I don't think they were ever in service with the British Army. It might be worth an email to the librarian of the Tank Museum, just to check if anything exists against 36BA95. All the record cards are held there for ferrets. Regarding the hull number. 427 is the hull (build) number and after the B on the hull plate should be another 2/3 digits. The first will be the month and the second will be the year in the 50's, so for example 500 B.3.4, would decode as Hull number 500 built in March 1954 (for example). Can you have another look? or even post a photo of the hull plate. Cheers Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin craig Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Shame to hear that parts are so difficult to find that you are having to make one die to keep others alive. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Wales Posted April 25, 2012 Author Share Posted April 25, 2012 Matt Thanks for that information very informative. I will have another look at hull plate but what I saw on initial look was this small plate 2 inches by 1 inch welded to the hull with 427 B engraved. The area around this plate I could see no other markings showing the manufacturing date. I did not clean the paint off to see if there was anything underneath but the welded plate was probably right on top of the area I need to see. Robin. I understand your comments but I am concerned as there is only one supplier in Australia that I am aware of (he is pretty good from my limited experience) but if I need a large part it would be difficult/expensive to get hold of if the Australian supplier could did not have in stock. One of the main reasons I purchased the Ferret was to get the large side bin which is slightly ironic as at the time my offer was finally accepted I had already committed to buy a replica bin whilst I was in the UK. That came home with me on an Emirates flight as luggage 20 kilos worth. The Ferret is now stored in my hangar and will not deteriorate any further. It will not die. it will be a hangar queen and someday someone may rebuild it but it is in pretty poor condition with some internal parts stripped before I purchased. One potential is that it could be made into a museum exhibit at some future date. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Hi Ken The small welded on plate sounds like the genuine hull plate. The numbers on the RH side of the B might be very faint. Anyway, if you can post a pic of the plate for further investigation that would be great. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Wales Posted April 26, 2012 Author Share Posted April 26, 2012 Hi Ken The small welded on plate sounds like the genuine hull plate. The numbers on the RH side of the B might be very faint. Anyway, if you can post a pic of the plate for further investigation that would be great. Matt Please see attached photo of plate. It shows 6 upwards arrow and 4 so I presume June 1954. Tank Museum replied very quickly but they have no records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griff66 Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 that looks like genuine plate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 yep. Genuine plate. Ferret manufactured June 54 as you said. Ken, does the ferret have the data plate? Could you post a pic of that as well. Cheers Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Wales Posted April 27, 2012 Author Share Posted April 27, 2012 yep. Genuine plate. Ferret manufactured June 54 as you said. Ken, does the ferret have the data plate? Could you post a pic of that as well. Cheers Matt Matt Data Plate Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 MattData Plate Ken Great. Thanks Ken. Cheers Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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