question Strangest Military Vehicle or Items to Collect?

[robin craig]

I have pulled the pin and rolled the metaphorical hand grenade on this subject elsewhere, it is amusing to see reactions.

 

So I was idle the other day and wondered what the strangest item is that anyone could collect in the form of a vehicle or equipment or whatever that is not camouflaged and run of the mill military pattern kit?

 

My first attempt at a suggestion in this category is this speed trailer (as I call it) that the Military Police use to show the speed of vehicles on Camp / base over here to get drivers to slow down through education, it is usually after a road layout change or a speed reduction change.

 

Over to you folks for your nominations, let us try to get a picture in here as well so the rest of us know what you are on about.

[Starfire]

This could be a fun topic

[Great War truck]

Yes, I agree. A brilliant idea for a topic. I am sure when these things were all made no one ever said people will be collecting these in 40 years time. At least the speed trailers have a use. The concept of collecting railway baggage trolley numbers does seem pointless, but collecting the trolleys themselves seems quite a reasonable concept. At Dallas today a saw kit bag hasp and thought they would be a good thing to collect as in fact many people do, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

[gazzaw]

Always thought this one would be good to collect (doubles up as card school or drinking table) the Minelayer, Mechanical, Towed Equipment, Mk 1. (aka The Beast) seen this back in 70s at RSME Chattenden)

 

 

Acknowledgement to Clives mystery Item thread for photo

 

gary

[Willyslancs]

kit bag locks ,also a very large collection of button sticks

[Ashcollection]

Always thought this one would be good to collect (doubles up as card school or drinking table) the Minelayer, Mechanical, Towed Equipment, Mk 1. (aka The Beast) seen this back in 70s at RSME Chattenden)

 

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Acknowledgement to Clives mystery Item thread for photo

 

gary

Got one of those, has anybody else been that silly? also got 6 cranes, only 1 of them works (ok only half works) oh hang on this thread is the "strangest" not the stupidest!

[Sean N]

I'm not sure it's silly. For me, preserving items like that is just as important as, say, a CCKW, Ferret, Landrover or anything else; and speaking as an engineer, just as if not more interesting. They all go to tell a story of how things - problem solving, design, development, engineering, working, soldiering, whatever - were done historically. I always think it's a shame that specialist commercial vehicles tend not to survive, and most of the vehicles you see at shows are flatbeds.

 

Having said that, I'm not sure our own collection has been particularly eclectic or insane, unless you count the bridging rig. I fancied a mobile aircraft control tower once (in fact twice - a Bedford TK at Aston Down, and the Karrier that used to be at Middle Wallop), and came close a couple of times to buying a Thornycroft LMD. At a miscellaneous sale I fancied an Access Equipment Ltd 'Beanstalk' - essentially an upright mounted, multi-stage hydraulic ram with a chair fitted to the top - but it went for a surprisingly large amount of money.

 

The best eccentric collection I've come across, however, has to be at Nothe Fort, Weymouth, though sadly it's not on display any more - a collection of military moustaches.

[Rangie]

Beanstalks are tremendous pieces of kit!

A mate and I have one in our collection of miscellaneous equipment.

 

Quite hairy up there at full extension.......

 

Alec.

[Ashcollection]

I'm not sure it's silly. For me, preserving items like that is just as important as, say, a CCKW, Ferret, Landrover or anything else; and speaking as an engineer, just as if not more interesting. They all go to tell a story of how things - problem solving, design, development, engineering, working, soldiering, whatever - were done historically. I always think it's a shame that specialist commercial vehicles tend not to survive, and most of the vehicles you see at shows are flatbeds.

 

Having said that, I'm not sure our own collection has been particularly eclectic or insane, unless you count the bridging rig. I fancied a mobile aircraft control tower once (in fact twice - a Bedford TK at Aston Down, and the Karrier that used to be at Middle Wallop), and came close a couple of times to buying a Thornycroft LMD. At a miscellaneous sale I fancied an Access Equipment Ltd 'Beanstalk' - essentially an upright mounted, multi-stage hydraulic ram with a chair fitted to the top - but it went for a surprisingly large amount of money.

 

The best eccentric collection I've come across, however, has to be at Nothe Fort, Weymouth, though sadly it's not on display any more - a collection of military moustaches.

We have a LMD as well, I'm also an engineer Not military back ground but my specialist subject was EOD, my dad was RE hence the interest.

[Sean N]

Beanstalks are tremendous pieces of kit!

A mate and I have one in our collection of miscellaneous equipment.

 

Quite hairy up there at full extension.......

 

Alec.

 

If you come across another at a sensible price I'd be interested, I've always slightly regretted not getting that one but I guess someone actually had a serious use for it...

[Rangie]

Some have a hydraulic pump but most, like ours have a piston pump. pulling that handle back and forth, waggling at full extension can be fun....

 

Alec.

[mash]

kit bag locks ,also a very large collection of button sticks

 

Ok I am sure I'm not the only one to notice a familiar looking object formed on the right hand side with three locks and a button stick.

[pc1959]

If you come across another at a sensible price I'd be interested, I've always slightly regretted not getting that one but I guess someone actually had a serious use for it...

 

Here's one for £495.....http://www.usedplantandmachinery.co.uk/everything.html

[lynx42 Rick Cove]

I have pulled the pin and rolled the metaphorical hand grenade on this subject elsewhere, it is amusing to see reactions.

 

So I was idle the other day and wondered what the strangest item is that anyone could collect in the form of a vehicle or equipment or whatever that is not camouflaged and run of the mill military pattern kit?

 

My first attempt at a suggestion in this category is this speed trailer (as I call it) that the Military Police use to show the speed of vehicles on Camp / base over here to get drivers to slow down through education, it is usually after a road layout change or a speed reduction change.

 

Over to you folks for your nominations, let us try to get a picture in here as well so the rest of us know what you are on about.

 

 

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[TD] Robin, a great thread to which I have to add my moment of madness.

 

How about a LINK TRAINER for a Grumman Tracker Anti-Submarine carrier born plane.

 

This unit consists of two, yes two, 40 feet long aluminum clad trailers. One trailer is the plane and training studio and the other the computer to drive it. Today you could drive it on your laptop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the 17 Grumman Trackers which were where the trailers were.

 

 

Pilots seat

 

 

Co-Pilots seat.

 

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Both trailers have been locked up securely since 1982. The air in the cupboards is the 1982 air as I have not opened them yet.

 

 

Overhead switch panel.

 

 

Another view of the panel overhead.

 

 

 

 

Navigator area every panel inside the trainer trailer was or is covered with bubble wrap for protection.

 

 

View out the cockpit roof at the windscreens and nose cone.

 

 

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[TD]The id: plate on the Computer trailer.

 

 

The id: plate on the Link Trainer trailer

 

 

Bringing home the goods behind my mates old Mack.

 

Now the question is??? What do I do with them????

 

Regards Rick. [/TD]

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[fesm_ndt]

How about a LINK TRAINER for a Grumman Tracker Anti-Submarine carrier born plane.

 

 

 

brings back memories of the fuel cock incident...... sad in many ways, Folklore in Australian military aviation

 

PS Robin I don't collect anything odd.............. there mine, mine, my precious :banana:

 

well there is the boxes of military postcards (RPPC) I have, mostly ww2 ships, knives, binoculars, tools