Blasting Machines

[US-Subs]

Here is something a little different.

Over the years I've picked up a number of pieces of equipment loosely associated with EOD work, you've already seen the blasting cap boxes. Here are a few blasting machines I've drug home over the years. I've purposely left out the claymore/MON-50 type clackers from this group.

Included are 1. East (?) German, Soviet, 2. US Dixon 10 cap (White Rogers Electric), 3. US Dixon 10 cap used as manual firing device for M60 Tank, Fidelity Electric 4. US M34 50 cap and 5. A 50 cap Fidelity Electric Hellbox, Serial #20

I got the Hellbox years ago from the Oklahoma City Bomb Squad, traded it for a spare M34 with a broken handle. They said that they could fix the handle and they were tired of carrying the Hellbox around. They had painted the Hellbox a bright cherry red, luckily the red stripped off well, and the original wood was in beautiful condition.

I'm sure there are lots more floating around out there, anybody care to show theirs?

 

[spotter]

The west german blasting machine i have can be found in this post with some others. http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/demolition-gear-ive-t27203.html?t=27203&highlight=blasting
http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=586

 

[orpheus72]

The one i have was used by the Belgian army, and looks like spotter's german one.
This one was also made by ZEB.

 

[butterfly]

Here is one I have...not military though...marked ICI. Used in mines I think?

Don't really know much about it, I was taken by the brass. It looks as though it has been in the thick of it, lots of knocks and dents!!
Think it would have had a leather strap attatched at one time and also a plate attatched to the rear, no doubt on operation. Remnants of red paint can be seen on the top. Also stamped into the brass at the rear is MEB and the number 9413.

Some age to it, if anyone can tell me more I would be interested to know.



regards
Kev

 

[canadianspr]

I have the Exploder Dynamo Condenser Mk2 and the Test Set Demolition Mk1. In WW2 Commonwealth countries used Exploder Mk VII, Exploder Mk VII* (extended Bottom), Exploder Dynamo Condenser Mk1 and Mk2. Mk2 is wider and had modifications to fix problem of lack of completely discharging when fired. For testing there was a Box Testing and Jointing, and Galvanometer Demolitions No 1 set, then the one I have. In addition you could use the Q & I galvanometer a battery and resister to test circuits and I have an other one Demolition Continuity Tester which had a buzzer. the last one is a Resistance box and it is obvious to see how these were all put together into the final version. In my time as a Canadian Engineer these were long gone and we used the ZEB Blaster and Ohm meter test set as pictured above

 

[AE501]

I believe the Exploder Dynamo Condenser Mk I was 1500V and the Mk 2 was reduced to 750v, or so I was told in the late 1950s.

 

[Dronic69]

Here's an unknown non-military type - obviously used for mining - yes also attractive by shiny (ok dull now) brassy mechanisms (LOL)

I remember attempting to track down the Patent "F.9265" without much success..............

Any thoughts on what period it is from would be great!

Thanks
Cheers
Drew

 

[Bellifortis]

Hallo,
I like to show you my collection of East German blasting mashines. They were used as well for civilian blasting as also for military use.As far as I know there is only 1 model still missing, that is of mashines produced in the DDR. They also used Scheffler mashines for very large demolition projects. These mashines still use foil-type condensers (accumulators).
Bellifortis.

 

[Bellifortis]

Hi US-Subs,
a nice collection you have there. The 1.one, the M524 is the last model produced in the GDR. Also the russian model (2.foto) is much stronger, I only use the M524 for firing small fireworks shows with a "Nail Board".The strange thing with the russian mashine is, that you have to upload and fire it 1 time, before it will fire for real. I do not understand why this is so. Included with this russian mashine is a "Multicore electric cable"which is ment to connect 2 mashines to get double power. How this works exactly, I do not know, as I can not read the manual. The russian mashine is quite rare here in Germany The small, white US-mashine in the 4th foto looks very new. Is this still used nowadays ? The last model in the row is a real rarity here in europe. I have in decades not been able to find one here.
Regards,
Bellifortis.

Here is something a little different.

Over the years I've picked up a number of pieces of equipment loosely associated with EOD work, you've already seen the blasting cap boxes. Here are a few blasting machines I've drug home over the years. I've purposely left out the claymore/MON-50 type clackers from this group.

Included are 1. East (?) German, Soviet, 2. US Dixon 10 cap (White Rogers Electric), 3. US Dixon 10 cap used as manual firing device for M60 Tank, Fidelity Electric 4. US M34 50 cap and 5. A 50 cap Fidelity Electric Hellbox, Serial #20

I got the Hellbox years ago from the Oklahoma City Bomb Squad, traded it for a spare M34 with a broken handle. They said that they could fix the handle and they were tired of carrying the Hellbox around. They had painted the Hellbox a bright cherry red, luckily the red stripped off well, and the original wood was in beautiful condition.

I'm sure there are lots more floating around out there, anybody care to show theirs?

 

[AE501]

Dronica69
It is very similar in appearance to Exploder Dynamo Mk VI and in its method of operation.
The case dimensions of this exploder are given as: 5.25" H x 3.5" W x 2.25" Deep and 7.125" H x 3.5" x 3.062" Deep with the handle fitted.

 

[Dronic69]

Hi AE501,

Very interesting - the case dimensions of mine are: 4.5" H x 3.75" W x 2.25" Deep & 7.0" H x 3.75" W x 3.625" Depth with the handle.

Yes very similar indeed (although still looking for a picture of the Mk VI for comparison). Looks similar in construction to the No 3 that US-SUBs posted in the initial post "US Dixon 10 Cap"

Perhaps a commercial version for mining?


Thank you very much
Cheers
Drew

 

[US-Subs]

Here are some updated pictures, with a couple of new machines. The white machine is a converted Dixon ten cap blasting machine, stored in the M60 tanks back in the 70s and 80s, used to fire the main gun if there was a power failure in the vehicle. After the M1 tank was adopted and as the M60s were scrapped, the firing devices were sold off as surplus, but most folks didn't recognize them or had no use for them.
The old wooden "hell-boxes" are difficult to find here as well. The collectors of mining equipment drive their prices to easily over $500, and they do the same with commercial blasting cap boxes.
The bronze-colored tools tools near some of the machines are berylium/copper, non-sparking/non-magnetic tools that used to be in fashion for EOD and bomb squads. Nearly all in the US were made by Berylco, who still makes them for off-shore oil companies. All others have abandoned their use due to the health hazards associated. I'm still looking for some of the large ones from the old EOD non-mag kit, particularly the shovel, axe and pick. As far as blasting machines, I have the military 50 cap M34, but I'm still looking for the 10 cap version, I think off the top of my head it was the M32.

 

[Bellifortis]

Hi US-Subs,
the M34 looks quite small and modern and is very powerful for 50 caps. Does it use a battery or how does it produce its high electric energy ? You have a really nice collection there. Regarding prices for these items, it is the same here. 800,-$ for a 1950s "Zahnstangenmaschine" has always been too much for my pocket, so I still don't have one.
Greetings,
Bellifortis.

 

[US-Subs]

The M34 is a capacitor dump, release the squeeze lever and pump it 2-3 times and you can see it charge up, then the light in the base flashes and it dumps.

 

[Dronic69]

Well while attempting to find a photo of an Exploder Dynamo Mk VI, I stumbled across this interesting website:

https://www.prc68.com/I/BlastingMachines.html

 

[Bellifortis]

Here now is a mashine I know nothing about. I bought it from a mailorder company specialised in second hand and surplus arms parts. about 20 years ago, only because it was cheap. The only info from the seller was, that it was used to fire rockets, like M9, from inside an armoured car. It's the only one I did not test, because I never got this 4-pin russian electric plug.
Bellifortis.

 

[Bellifortis]

Hallo,
we are trying to put together a unique online museum for exploders/blasting mashines. For the older mashines it is very difficult to find the technical/physical parameters. This is even more difficult when this mashines are not of german origion. At the moment I'm looking for technical specifications of the following british exploders:
1.) Exploder Dynamo Mk VII manufactured by G.D. Peters & Co.Ltd in 1943
2.) Exploder Dynamo Mk.VII manufactured by W. Mackie & Co.Ltd in 1938
3.) Admy.Patt. 21068A Exploder Dynamo 1955 (this mashine came off a ship)
Is there any publication where one can look up the technical specifications of such old exploders ?
Thank you for your consideration,
Bellifortis.

 

[MT-LB]

Hello Bellifortis,
this is the firing mechanism for the SPG-9 and the emergency firing device inside the BMP-1 to fire the electric primed 73mm main gun in case the normal electricity fails.
Erik

Here now is a mashine I know nothing about. I bought it from a mailorder company specialised in second hand and surplus arms parts. about 20 years ago, only because it was cheap. The only info from the seller was, that it was used to fire rockets, like M9, from inside an armoured car. It's the only one I did not test, because I never got this 4-pin russian electric plug.
Bellifortis.

 

[tomsk]

This is a Little Demon single shot battery used in coal mines brass so as not to cause a spark We had them in the 70s at Orgreave Mine

 

[Bellifortis]

I will put my questions again on top. Does anybody have any info on the technical specifications (Voltage, type of current, energypulse, time a.s.o.) of these british dynamo exploders ?

Hallo,
we are trying to put together a unique online museum for exploders/blasting mashines. For the older mashines it is very difficult to find the technical/physical parameters. This is even more difficult when this mashines are not of german origion. At the moment I'm looking for technical specifications of the following british exploders:
1.) Exploder Dynamo Mk VII manufactured by G.D. Peters & Co.Ltd in 1943
2.) Exploder Dynamo Mk.VII manufactured by W. Mackie & Co.Ltd in 1938
3.) Admy.Patt. 21068A Exploder Dynamo 1955 (this mashine came off a ship)
Is there any publication where one can look up the technical specifications of such old exploders ?
Thank you for your consideration,
Bellifortis.