British Ordnance Collectors Network
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The Bombatorium
- Thread starter US-Subs
- Start date
Some new additions. I was able to pick up a nice selection of commercial avalanche control rounds. There are many obvious problems with continued used of military systems for avalanche control, training, safety, accountability, dwindling supply of ammunition etc. Experiments with commercial systems started in the 1960s and are generally done by small companies that sell their systems to forestry types responsible for various areas. Nearly all are pneumatic, and their development has been predictably problematic with documented accidents and some deaths due to fuze and arming issues. The last article I read identified that there are currently (2006) three manufacturers in the world, with about 400 operational systems. The three left are US, Canadian and French. In the photos most of the pieces are US manufacture , with one UK/Swiss, one New Zealand and one French (2 meters long).
I also found a couple of nice Japanese pieces, a 47 HE, a 37 and a clean Type 99 grenade. Enjoy.
I also found a couple of nice Japanese pieces, a 47 HE, a 37 and a clean Type 99 grenade. Enjoy.
I have a couple of Avalanche projectiles. One similar to one of yours and one different. The 37mm Jap round is an experimental aircraft round. They were found by a New York Nation Guard Unit in occupied Japan. One box of cases and one box of projectiles. They all came back to New York and got spread out from there.
Nice items, thanks for showing them.
I just got back from a 3 week break in Canada. Whilst walking on the Parker Ridge I came across this sign.
Dave.
Some background -
about one week ago I was contacted in regard to the family of a US EOD man who died nearly four years ago. By all accounts he was a true EOD Tech in every sense of the word, and his family remains very proud of he EOD accomplishments and reputation. As with many techs, he had a collection of pieces that he had accumulated over the years that he was very proud of. Some years after his death it became necessary to sell the family home and move on. As part of this they needed to dispose of his EOD memorabilia, and they wanted it to go to a good home where it would be preserved and not sold off. Before I knew it, I had been recommended by one EOD Tech and confirmed by another - both BOCN members. My thanks to each.
There were a couple of problems. The first was that all of the items had to be removed by the end of this month. With my current work schedule that left only this current weekend, I had less than a week to plan and prepare. The second, the centerpiece of his collection was an M56 4000lb bomb. Complicating this was the fact that this collection was more than 800 miles (1280km) from the Bombatorium.
Long story short, it was a very difficult movement involving lots of sweat, a little blood, vehicle breakdown and some good old fashioned credit card debt, but we made it back without serious injury. The sorting has begun and there are some great tools, manuals, slides, and of course ordnance. I hope that we can live up to the families expectations.
I have not started the ID process, but there are several of the small tools etc that I will have some problems with, mostly in the last 7
photos or so. The studded projo looks a little like an Armstrong, but I'm not sure. It is a touch over 8" in diameter. I'm also not sure if I have a ref on the torpedo fuze - anyone?
Enjoy the pictures.
about one week ago I was contacted in regard to the family of a US EOD man who died nearly four years ago. By all accounts he was a true EOD Tech in every sense of the word, and his family remains very proud of he EOD accomplishments and reputation. As with many techs, he had a collection of pieces that he had accumulated over the years that he was very proud of. Some years after his death it became necessary to sell the family home and move on. As part of this they needed to dispose of his EOD memorabilia, and they wanted it to go to a good home where it would be preserved and not sold off. Before I knew it, I had been recommended by one EOD Tech and confirmed by another - both BOCN members. My thanks to each.
There were a couple of problems. The first was that all of the items had to be removed by the end of this month. With my current work schedule that left only this current weekend, I had less than a week to plan and prepare. The second, the centerpiece of his collection was an M56 4000lb bomb. Complicating this was the fact that this collection was more than 800 miles (1280km) from the Bombatorium.
Long story short, it was a very difficult movement involving lots of sweat, a little blood, vehicle breakdown and some good old fashioned credit card debt, but we made it back without serious injury. The sorting has begun and there are some great tools, manuals, slides, and of course ordnance. I hope that we can live up to the families expectations.
I have not started the ID process, but there are several of the small tools etc that I will have some problems with, mostly in the last 7
photos or so. The studded projo looks a little like an Armstrong, but I'm not sure. It is a touch over 8" in diameter. I'm also not sure if I have a ref on the torpedo fuze - anyone?
Enjoy the pictures.
No matter what you say Jeff, the Bombatorium is gonna have to get bigger!!!
Thanks for the offer Erik, I'll keep it in mind. Space is a constant issue, rearranging and making the most of what we have. We are slowly moving more and more to the ceiling, when we built the Bombatorium it was engineered to where we are supposed to be able to hand up to 500lbs from any single area. The largest items currently on the ceiling are dispensers, SUU-7 and SUU-30s, then a lot of the smaller bombs, 100lbs and less. I'll need to update the general photos soon.
We are also looking at making some of the other displays vertical, to save floor space. We have a MK 84 2000lb bomb due in soon, we are considering making a frame to place all of the MK series bombs in a near vertical position, like a staircase with the smallest at the top and the 84 at the bottom. As the cradle for the new bomb is too small and we need to have a new one made, we are also considering turning it on its tail and having a support made that would put the weight on the base to keep from crushing it.
We are also in the process of finishing the third floor space, which was previously attic type storage. We have insulated, placed lighting, installed heating/cooling, and now have walls and wallboard up, the painting is being done this week. It will be limited to lightweight items, but we are looking at moving police equipment, explosives and blasting materials, EOD tools etc up there and freeing up some space on the second floor. It will be a while as we still need a lot of shelving and cabinets and this expansion has kept me broke most of the summer.
We are also looking at making some of the other displays vertical, to save floor space. We have a MK 84 2000lb bomb due in soon, we are considering making a frame to place all of the MK series bombs in a near vertical position, like a staircase with the smallest at the top and the 84 at the bottom. As the cradle for the new bomb is too small and we need to have a new one made, we are also considering turning it on its tail and having a support made that would put the weight on the base to keep from crushing it.
We are also in the process of finishing the third floor space, which was previously attic type storage. We have insulated, placed lighting, installed heating/cooling, and now have walls and wallboard up, the painting is being done this week. It will be limited to lightweight items, but we are looking at moving police equipment, explosives and blasting materials, EOD tools etc up there and freeing up some space on the second floor. It will be a while as we still need a lot of shelving and cabinets and this expansion has kept me broke most of the summer.
A few more new arrivals, these came in a couple of weeks ago. Included are a GBU nose unit, a Little John warhead section, a French Matra warhead, a LUU-10 smoke marker, a small chlorine cylinder and a container full of practice ring airfoil teargas grenades (RAG).
Torpedo fuze shown before. I just haven't had time to clean yet and get it taken care of. We've been working on an expansion area for police stuff and pyrotechnics, until that is done I'm behind in lots of other stuff. Starting to load shelves now, hope to have some pictures by the weekend. I'm out again next week for a conference, so I need to get a move on.