Peter S Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 I’ve just purchased a 1917 dated Trench Water Cart and I’mstarting to restore it. The date on the frame is 1917 and the wheels fittingsare dated 1918. However, some of thepipework fittings are marked Water Cart Trench Mk VII. It is also fitted with a steel shaft (itlooks like a military one to me) for being towed by a motorised vehicle ratherthan horses, so I presume it was a post WW1 upgrade of a WW1 cart. The tank, woodwork, steel fittings etc. areall in great condition so I only have to replace a few pieces of timber. It has one pump, so I only have to make thebox for the filter elements and the filter itself. It also has authentic looking sand colourpaint all over it. Any more information on the later Trench Water Carts wouldbe welcome to help my restoration as all my other projects are WWII, and I’mnew to the WWI scene. Attached some pics of the project. I’ll post progress as it happens! Peter S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynx42 Rick Cove Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Hi Peter, Father Christmas brought me a book"A Corner of a Foreigh Field" with photos from the Daily Mail and on page 75 is this photo. I thought you might like to see a water cart in action. (well not quite). Regards Rick. (Copyright approval has been requested but has not yet been received.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nz2 Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 It is good to see another item of the supply column being rebuilt. Do you know much of it's recent history as it appears to be in good shape of all it's years of age. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted December 29, 2013 Author Share Posted December 29, 2013 (edited) Hi Peter, Father Christmas brought me a book"A Corner of a Foreigh Field" with photos from the Daily Mail and on page 75 is this photo. I thought you might like to see a water cart in action. (well not quite). Regards Rick. (Copyright approval has been requested but has not yet been received.) Hi Rick - thanks for the photo. It appears to be from the same set as the famous photo (e.g. on the cover of The War Horses by Simon Butler) and it's nice to see the horse nearly out of the mud. Thank you for it. Peter S. Edited December 29, 2013 by Peter S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted December 29, 2013 Author Share Posted December 29, 2013 It is good to see another item of the supply column being rebuilt. Do you know much of it's recent history as it appears to be in good shape of all it's years of age. Doug Hi Doug, I'm sorry, but I know nothing of the history of this cart. I'm trying to figure out as much as possible from the various stampings and the literature and from the experts in this forum! The main data plate is missing, so it is difficult to be sure about anything, except that it was first built around 1917 - 1918 as a Mk V (or V*) cart. As you say, it is in good shape - here is a picture of the wheels after repair by letting in a fellow of oak, so I didn't need to strip and rebuild the wheels. All the best, Peter S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_shadock Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 nice thing, I like to see unusual items to be cared of and restored. Pierre-Olivier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Hi Peter, Great to see another of these carts being restored. Am sure you've followed this thread on the other WWI Water Cart: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?24128-WW1-Water-Cart Cheers John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Grundy Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Peter It might be a good idea to join the Great War Forum on the net. There is a vast wealth of expertise on this forum. I highly recommend it. Best of luck with the restoration.... Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Hi Peter, Great to see another of these carts being restored. Am sure you've followed this thread on the other WWI Water Cart: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?24128-WW1-Water-Cart Cheers John Hi, John, Yes, I am aware of this thread and I'm contact with them. Thanks for the info. Peter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 PeterIt might be a good idea to join the Great War Forum on the net. There is a vast wealth of expertise on this forum. I highly recommend it. Best of luck with the restoration.... Bob Hi, Bob, It's a good suggestion about the Great War Forum, I'll join it! Peter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotBed Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 my Grandfather had one of these water tanks and for many years it served as a TVO tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 my Grandfather had one of these water tanks and for many years it served as a TVO tank. Hi Graham, thanks for the info. I'm sure these tanks found a lot of uses and got converted for farms, workshops etc as they are so well built. Peter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 Taking a break for the moment while the shotblasting gets done! I stripped and primed the wheels over the holiday - I had some Dunkelgeld paint left over from an Africa Korps vehicle I restored: this makes quite a good match to the original paint, just a bit too green but fine as a primer. Now they just need some TLC to finish them. One of the hubs is dated 1915, the other is undated a slightly different design and clearly later, so it is a real mix of dates. I suspect this is true of most military equipment, with replacement parts being fitted as needed and as available in a rush. Peter S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 (edited) More progress on the restoration! I straightened the draw bar and it's all come back from the shot blasting. The condition of the wood and metal is great, just a few wooden pieces need to be replaced. Next step is to polish the brass, sand down the wood, fill in the defects, paint it and put it all back together. Peter S. Edited February 20, 2014 by Peter S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfire Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 That's starting to look really good. Keep it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Just seen these on ebay Postcard showing WW1 group 646 Company MT Army Service Corps ASC later No 1 Water Tank Company http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW1-group-646-Company-MT-Army-Service-Corps-ASC-later-No-1-Water-Tank-Company-/151233629276?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item23363a0c5c#ht_101wt_1075 Page from Army & Navy mag dated 1915 DRINKING WATER FOR SOLDIERS IN FIELD FILTER TANK HORSE AND CART http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1915-WWI-DRINKING-WATER-FOR-SOLDIERS-IN-FIELD-FILTER-TANK-HORSE-AND-CART-/141012159568?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item20d4facc50#ht_2163wt_1075 C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Target completion date is July, so I have to get a move on, thanks for the encouragement. Peter S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Just seen these on ebay Postcard showing WW1 group 646 Company MT Army Service Corps ASC later No 1 Water Tank Company http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW1-group-646-Company-MT-Army-Service-Corps-ASC-later-No-1-Water-Tank-Company-/151233629276?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item23363a0c5c#ht_101wt_1075 Page from Army & Navy mag dated 1915 DRINKING WATER FOR SOLDIERS IN FIELD FILTER TANK HORSE AND CART http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1915-WWI-DRINKING-WATER-FOR-SOLDIERS-IN-FIELD-FILTER-TANK-HORSE-AND-CART-/141012159568?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item20d4facc50#ht_2163wt_1075 C. Great, thanks for the links, I've checked them out and especially the Army & Navy mag articel is interesting. Peter S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Just found the whole year 1915 of Navy and Army for download for £7.99 including the article Issue No. 26 Feb 13th 1915, Pure Drinking Water for Tommy http://youroldbooksandmaps.co.uk/Navy-and-Army-Illustrated-III-1915.html C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 Just found the whole year 1915 of Navy and Army for download for £7.99 including the article Issue No. 26 Feb 13th 1915, Pure Drinking Water for Tommy http://youroldbooksandmaps.co.uk/Navy-and-Army-Illustrated-III-1915.html C. Charlie, This is a super find, a definite purchase for my library. Thanks for posting it. Peter S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 Here are the latest developments with the cart restoration - I'm running late due to a move from the UK to Denmark. It has all been moved over to Denmark where I'll finish the restoration. It's all back together, except for the tow hitch and some work on the timber frame, but all the preparation has been done. Now the hard work begins of the rebuild, getting the detailing right and finding all the missing bits and pieces (or having them made as a last resort). Peter S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels v Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Where in Denmark do you live ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 Where in Denmark do you live ? Hi, Niels, Just north of Aarhus (in Djursland, just outside the Mols Bjerg National Park). Med venlig hilsen, Peter S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PITT24423 Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Whilst on the hunt for parts for my Daimler we came across this fine water cart literary buried in a shed :wow: on a small holding, any way deal done and got it home at the weekend.No sign of it ever being fitted with a pump or filters,the shafts did have the remains of Khaki with green paint over the top but did pull through the wash down to remove the years of crap which had built up.The red numbers are interesting which are under the green and on the khaki paint ,would be interested if anybody has any ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 Whilst on the hunt for parts for my Daimler we came across this fine water cart literary buried in a shed :wow: on a small holding, any way deal done and got it home at the weekend.No sign of it ever being fitted with a pump or filters,the shafts did have the remains of Khaki with green paint over the top but did pull through the wash down to remove the years of crap which had built up.The red numbers are interesting which are under the green and on the khaki paint ,would be interested if anybody has any ideas. [ATTACH=CONFIG]100780[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]100781[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]100782[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]100783[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]100784[/ATTACH] Hi, this is a great find, and looks in super condition, so I look forward to the restoration! It just shows what is still "out there" and it's most interesting that this is a very different variation to the other two carts that we know about (both very different, so this is the third variation). It looks like it was designed to be pulled by one horse, what do you think? As for the markings, I guess that this would be for the Unit that it was allocated to - the 2 with the line underneath is distinct, but the other letters I can't make out. I'm very sorry for the belated reply - my cart is competing with my house renovation, and it has taken a back seat recently, but I'm getting there slowly. I would be interested to hear more on your project, Peter S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.