Hello everyone,
My opinion is the same as TimG, the combination of letters below CCS is for the lot.
CCS takes part of a group of canadian makers who uses this system.
At the beginning, the lots are noted A, B..., when the alphabet is ended, they use a combination of two letters AA, AB, .....ZZ and then combinations of three letters.
CCC is a very interessant maker ( If it is alwways the same ).
At the beginning, there is no lot, the inspector's number is 1 ( inside a circle ) or 1 and 3, or 1,2 3 on the same case.
In october 1915, I think, an important modification:
The lot appears and they are two inspectors operating at the same time.
The number 6 ( the most frequent ), in that case the logo is CC with a S inside, and the number 8, then the logo is CC or CCO without the S inside.( cf 1,2,3 ). I have not yet understood how is the repartition of the lots between this two inspectors. I have never found the same combination of letters with the number 6 and the number 8.
cf1: At this date the inspector 1 is gone to MDCo, the inspector 6 comes from RSCo where he was operating together with the inspector 57.
cf2: During some months in 1916, by the inspector 6 the S disappears in the logo witch becomes CCC or CC. ( some combinations of three letters beginning by D or E ).
cf3: The same duality, inspector 6 and 8 is also found on 13PrMkII. On he other hand, on 4.5INCH MkII, I have always seen the inspector 6 without the S in the logo.
Photo 1: First production without lot.
Photos 2,3,4 inspector 6 with one letter, two letters and three letters.
Photo 5: Inspector 8, three letters ( never seen one or two letters ).
Photo 6: Inspector 6, 1916, without the S in the logo.
Regards,
Dandebur.