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Mystery object
Bit of fun a mystery object, test your knowledge;
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Thank You to CINDERS For This Useful Post:
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02-21-2017 05:35 AM
# ADS
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The Following 3 Members Say Thank You to Flying10uk For This Useful Post:
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Originally Posted by
Flying10uk
As far as I know all
British "fuse caps" were made from brass. It appears
Germany has chosen plastic/bakerlite.
WW2 fuse caps/covers were a mixture.
On 25 Pdr's & 5.5" howitzers HE shells had a black painted base metal fuse cover, but on 25 Pdr smoke shells with timed fuses came with a brass cover just like the ones you see on Great War trench art.
I should add my observations were taken during the late 1960's and early 1970's when we were still using up WW2 stocks of artillery ammunition.
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I have a few WW2 British examples made of brass some of which have been made into ash trays. Will post pictures later.
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Thank You to Flying10uk For This Useful Post:
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You are correct F10 its a WWII bakerlite fuze holder for the 88mm round I have had the fuze for a while and decided it needed a holder whilst it is not the greatest looking fuze it still has the German stampings also the brass timing mechanism inside though due to its exposure to the elements seized up but still in good nik and we do not often get a chance to own one down under just 2 more bits and I may have a complete round.
I know a chap who has a shell case but he will never part with it Ovidio put me onto a site but they have sold out of the 8.8cm shells.
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Advisory Panel
We used to use tin containers that used a screw on cap. They looked like a silver tobacco can for all the world, very handy for small items in the field camps.
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Here are some British brass "fuse caps" and it is my understanding that these were put on the shell during manufacture/storage before being removed shortly before firing, to be replaced by the actual fuse. Would someone confirm that this is correct, please, or were these items actually used to store the fuse it's self with, with perhaps something else blanking off the hole occupied by the fuse in the end of the shell?
The conversion into an ash-tray is a fairly simple bit of metalwork; the cap is cut through into half it's height. The top part is then inverted then reinserted into the bottom part and soft soldered together. It appears that I also have the "deluxe" version with cigarette resting places.
I assume that the conversions of these caps into ash-trays is a period conversion, perhaps for use in a mess? They are how I picked them up and apologies for not cleaning them before taking the pictures.
Last edited by Flying10uk; 02-21-2017 at 03:30 PM.
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Originally Posted by
Flying10uk
these were put on the shell during manufacture/storage before being removed shortly before firing, to be replaced by the actual fuse
That was called a shipping plug and would screw in and out. Some had a loop at the "Point" to handle the ammo. They would be unscrewed and the fuze would be screwed in. The fuze for arty shells comes in a separate container. Same with Powder bags, shells...
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Ok thanks Jim. The shell cap/ash-tray, with ears or cigarette resting places, my father picked up either during the war or just after but the others I have acquired myself in more recent years from junk shops/flea markets.
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Advisory Panel
You can find original examples of those fuse containers for sale on Ebay, complete with bottom cap.
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