German fuzes - anodized or not?

[US-Subs]

I've been having a discusion with two BOCN members separately about the subject of anodized (anodised, for those with a Queen) German fuzes/components.

On one side I am told that late in the war, Germany did some of it, starting with Rheinmetal, and that these are examples.

On the other side I am told that there is no doubt that this is not anodized material, it is just a different type of paint.

I do not know, and my experience with German fuzes is much less than many on the site. I do, however, have two pieces which are either anodized (one is on the couplers only), or have some very unusual paint. Since I was getting tired of reading about homemade WWI grenades on sticks and small arms (<40mm), I thought I would throw it out for the forum to tear away at.

Here are my two pieces, the top portion of a Zt Z 89 B and one of my 106's. Anyone got an opinion?

 

[waffenamt]

In all honesty,i thought anodizing was a post-war concept?(thats without going on google!)
Thats about as much as i can weigh in im afraid.
Still great pieces and thank you for showing them

best

waff

 

[US-Subs]

Wikipedia says 1923

 

[waffenamt]

Wikipedia says 1923

cheers for that.

W

 

[gijunkman]

Well this thread caused me to learn something, did you know there are home anodizing kits available? The history of anodizing was too breif on wiki sounds like the process was discovered before 1923 but was first used in industry in 1923, which would make the process availabe to the Germans during WW2. But why red? What would the color mean?:hmmmm2:

 

[butterfly]

But why red? What would the color mean?:hmmmm2:

Hi gijunkman,

Red is for airburst fuzes.

regards
Kev

 

[tigbrand]

Scratch test

From my experience in the engineering world, anodising of aluminium produces an extremely hard finish which does not mark easily. When applied to zinc,or other alloys i cant say.So does it mark easily,or scratch off? or is the fuze zinc die cast perhaps? The wash that seems to coat some die cast items breaks down over time.leaving the metal prone to corrosion.

 

[TimG]

Initially, I thought that the 89 was anodised. However, if one looks closely the finish appears to be chipped and this is not what one would expect of an anodised finish. It appears to be a clear red lacquer/varnish. Could you test a bit with some acetone?

The Germans were definitely anodising some of their equipment, somewhere I have a S. Mi. Z. 35 pressure fuze, the body of which is anodised (IIRC it is of earlyish manufacture) I'm sure the D.Z 35(A) is anodized as well.

With respect to the 106, the connectors certainly appear anodised. I've an intelligence report for the fuze somewhere, I'll see if there is any mention of the the connectors.

Regards

TimG

 

[US-Subs]

Not possible at the moment, I'm about 4000 miles from my collection. I'll see if I can get someone to try this weekend.

 

[US-Subs]

The nay-sayers win this round. My son informs me that the fuze has failed the (carefully applied) acetone test. Kudos to Steve and the others for their accurate call on this one.

 

[Madbomber31]

Just did a test on a anodised climbing hook a red one with acetone and it came of to :questionmark:

 

[Tmine35]

Acetone seemst to be aggreesive stuff. A corrosion specialist once adviced me to remove rust from dug-up items by soaking it a few days in acetone. I don't know if it works as I haven't tried it.