ijdo Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 Dear all, it's been a few years (...) since i was active on this forum, so i'll give a quick re-introduction; Martin IJdo, 43, Holland. Was very active in MV restoration, untill i decided to turn my hobby in to work. Net result: no more time for hobby. ;-) Anyway, at the moment we at Historic Engineering (www.historicengineering.com) are working on a rare beast: Standard Beaverette Mk.IV. This actually belongs to the Dutch National Military Museum, and is to be restored by us to full running condition. As far as i have been able to determine, this is the most complete one of 3 or 4 Mk.IV's world wide (please correct me if i'm wrong). some images on our FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/historic.engineering.nl/ While we have most of the technical bits sorted, we have started grinding through the present coat of paint, result of a "restoration" many moons ago. Just like the majority of work we do on MV's and canon, this too is above all a matter of un-doing a bad restoration. In this case bizarly enough, the original scheme of black MM camo over service brown had been painted over by brown MM camo over almost bright green. At least they managed to follow the MM scheme exactly.... While sanding we have untill now come accross an original WD number on the rear LH corner (Yipee!!!). On the front however i found a marking which i can not place, and was hoping for one of you British MV bufs to tell me more about. It is on the top LH corner of the front armour, with the letter about 3 inches high, similar to the hight of the yellow encircled number 183: any info on this marking is more than welcome! many thanks, Martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 Hello Martin That looks like a very interesting and rare project, would you add some more photos of the whole vehicle inside and out please. Good luck Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
79x100 Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 On an armoured vehicle, a circle was used to indicate "C" Squadron or Company and yellow indicated the second regiment or battalion. "Troop, Platoon or section number painted in allotted colour in or beside sign as above" These numbers and the colours don't quite seem to fit but instructions may have changed over time. Unfortunately, without a formation sign, it is impossible to pin down further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B. Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 (edited) Could the markings on the front be those of another country ? Belgium or Holland perhaps. Edited March 5, 2016 by David B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Ashby Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 The British Army reg number is interesting if I am reading it correctly it is M4810227?. The Chilwell list for the Standard Motor Car Co has one contract for 'Car 4x2 Light Armoured mkIV contract number V5198 M number 4815604 to 4816409. However 4810227? does turn up as part of a block of numbers allocated to the 10th Indian Army for 'various types' 4786500 to 4811499 Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ijdo Posted March 6, 2016 Author Share Posted March 6, 2016 Thanks a lot for the info guys! The yellow circle and number might indeed be Dutch. This British signs you discribe should be larger. Also, the type of lettering used for the number is often seen on Dutch vehicles. Good of intel on the contractnumber too! Strange result though. This vehicle has probably been in Holland quite soon after WW2. Dispite the Irene Brigade having 10 on strength on paper, they were never actually put in service. For obvious reasons in presume........ maybe this goes for the number too? First alocated to India on paper, but actually sent to NL? i will post some more photos this week. Martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ijdo Posted March 6, 2016 Author Share Posted March 6, 2016 The number might actually read 4816227. Ill check Monday! martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruxy Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Hello Martin That looks like a very interesting and rare project, would you add some more photos of the whole vehicle inside and out please. Good luck Jules Scroll down to bottom for pic of the Dutch Beaverette on display http://panzerserra.blogspot.co.uk/2013_09_01_archive.html I should have taken more notice of the Cobbarton Museum exhibit when I was there years ago , liked the slab sided appearance , but probably unaware at the time of the history. Post WW2 - I suppose the RAF fleet when chopped down filled the role as low cost glider tugs quite well ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baz48 Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Thanks a lot for the info guys! The yellow circle and number might indeed be Dutch. This British signs you discribe should be larger. Also, the type of lettering used for the number is often seen on Dutch vehicles. Good of intel on the contractnumber too! Strange result though. This vehicle has probably been in Holland quite soon after WW2. Dispite the Irene Brigade having 10 on strength on paper, they were never actually put in service. For obvious reasons in presume........ maybe this goes for the number too? First alocated to India on paper, but actually sent to NL? i will post some more photos this week. Martin. It's not that unusual to find vehicle number apparently applied to the wrong vehicle type, a friends Otter was slammed by an expert for having a number allocated to a bren-carrier when period pictorial evidence proved otherwise, that said a photo of a Beverette as found many years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeePig Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 I was perusing the Kent Glider Club site, and came across a picture of a vehicle, is it a cut down beaverette? http://www.kent-gliding-club.co.uk/history-of-gliding trevor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Herbert Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 I was perusing the Kent Glider Club site, and came across a picture of a vehicle, is it a cut down beaverette? trevor I would say so. Well spotted - not the place you would think to look for historic MV photos. Balloon winch 3ton 6x4 too. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruxy Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 http://www.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-000-128-484-C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeePig Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 I would say so. Well spotted - not the place you would think to look for historic MV photos. Balloon winch 3ton 6x4 too. David I wonder if it is still there, in the weeds? trevor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 In 1947 standard beaverettes were making between £70 and £140 pounds for complete one's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruxy Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 (edited) 1947 making between £70 and £140 pounds , that was a lot of money (certainly buy a house in the pit village I originated , or was that a street of houses ) , hardly a domestic or commercial model and what with petrol rationing. My old man must have spent most of his de-mob payout by then - he could only afford a Norton 500cc side-valve , he must have saved ££ for the side-car that came in 1948 along with my elder sister (I arrived 1950) ,, Edited March 9, 2016 by ruxy spelin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baz48 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 1947 making between £70 and £140 pounds , that was a lot of money (certainly buy a house in the pit village I originated , or was that a street of houses ) , hardly a domestic or commercial model and what with petrol rationing. My old man must have spent most of his de-mob payout by then - he could only afford a Norton 500cc side-valve , he must have saved ££ for the side-car that came in 1948 along with my elder sister (I arrived 1950) ,, Mere youngster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ijdo Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 We finished the rebuild on the Beaverette. A link to our FB page: we we kept the markings as found, as you can see. Thanks again for your input, especially re the contractnumber! Martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ijdo Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 Wow. Only just noticed in the list above: next to the contract number, is a park serial number. I have a 5-digit number on the engine deck that I couldn't place: 30918. I know suspect this being the psn, as the first Beaverette in the list also has this 5 digit no starting with 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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