What's new
British Ordnance Collectors Network

Join over 14,000 collectors of inert military ordnance. Get expert identification help for shells, fuzes, grenades, and more — plus access our classifieds marketplace and decades of archived knowledge. Free to register, takes seconds.

Bofors fuze No. 251 II maker

O

ozziammo

HONOURED MEMBER RIP
Hi All, a request for makers ID of Bofors fuze No.251 II being MC over V as per pic.
Thanks, regards Ozzi.
 

Attachments

  • 35404358_1676609945767622_2436299917820428288_n.jpg
    35404358_1676609945767622_2436299917820428288_n.jpg
    294.7 KB · Views: 82
Think it's a Mk III fuze. Ryan asked me also.
Now that I'm home I have checked and these are definitely Australian as I've got a couple. They are marked MC over V '43 and filled MS 4/43. They are fitted to GMH-W projectiles.
I wonder if MC Finsbury had a subcontractor in Victoria?
 
Howdy Darkman, yes same item from same person! He didn't supply a very good pic of the filling code, only this pic of the manufacturer stamp. I was wondering if MC made fuzes? Why do you think MC had a subcontractor in Vic? Thanks Mate, regards Ozzi.
 
Hi Ozzi, apparently this fuze hasn't been filled so it has no filler code.
MC Finsbury definitely made fuzes. I have documentation that specifies this and also refer to the attached drawing of the Finsbury site during WW2 that details buildings 25 and 26 - Fuse factories No. 1 & 2. I am wondering if MC/V was the standard marking for fuzes made at Finsbury (although I think I have, or have seen fuzes marked just MC), but adding a dash or line to a fuze code usually means a location. That's why I think it may have been a subcontractor and/or possibly in Victoria. Just another thought - did Victor Harbour have any WW2 munitions manufacturing during WW2?
 

Attachments

  • MC Finsbury.jpg
    MC Finsbury.jpg
    132.3 KB · Views: 80
Is there any possibility that it's not MC/V but either MCD/V or MCI/V?

GMHW/S I have as Holdens Motor Body Builders, Wardville, Australia.

TimG
 
Hi Tim, it's definitely only MC over V only. GMH-W was General Motors Holden's, Woodville, South Australia (They started as Holden's Motor Body Builders). During the war GMH made 2 pdr AT guns, Bofors projectiles, C219 ammo boxes and I'm sure many other things.
 
I thought there was something about that GM.

I have some old manuscript notes that show two MC listings for Victoria - McD/V I think it's McDarwin (in Carlton?) or similar, there's no trace in my 1937 Cook's Directory. The other is McI/V, which I've identified as John McIlwraith and Co., who were a very large plumbing fittings company. A lot of British plumbing fitting companies turned their hand to fuze manufacture during the wars. It is more than possible that the listings I have are only partially correct - you've got GMH-W (more than likely stamped on a shell) I've got GMHW/S scribbled on a piece of paper.

TimG
 
The GMH Woodville plant also made 6pdr 7cwt guns as well as 20mm POLSTEN guns. I will find a pic showing what looks like 2pdr Vickers shell bodies being made at that plant.
I wonder where the production records & figures went for the MC plant?
Regards Ozzi.
 
I have never heard of Victor Harbour having a ammo manufacturing facility of any description, too small a place, more of a tourist destination by the sea.
 
TimG said:
Is there any possibility that it's not MC/V but either MCD/V or MCI/V?

TimG
Click to expand...


Tim I looked closely at another fuze recently and it is MCI/V. Or more precisely McI/V (McIntosh, McIntyre?).

Do you know who this maker is?

Thanks, Graeme
 
Graeme,

Apologies, I missed that.

As stated above, I think it is John McIlwraith and Co., who were a very large plumbing fittings company.

TimG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top