British WW1 Fuze?

[Vasco Da Gama]

The pictured item turned up recently and I am stumped as to what it is! I suspect it is British as the construction of the time setting rings is very similar to those on a No 80 fuze, pictured alongside for comparison. It is in excellent condition with some original red paint remaining but I suspect it is WW1 vintage. No markings on the fuze, bar a large M on the top of the final capping screw. The upper ring is marked 1-14 and the lower 15-27, base diameter of the adapted ring is 83mm. Ready to be educated!

 

[greif]

It is the Dutch T&P fuze No.1 (NIL) as used by the Dutch colonial army (in Indonesia). The rings slightly differ. On my drawing they go from 1 to 30. The screw on cap with the M doesn't belong to this fuze, but is from another Dutch T&P fuze used by the Dutch home army.

 

[Vasco Da Gama]

Many thanks Grief, I appreciate the identification. I suspect this fuze was in use in the early 1900's? I am trying to work out how a fired example of a fuze used by Dutch colonial troops ended up in Northern England! With Holland being neutral in WW1 I doubt it would have been recovered by a British serviceman.

 

[greif]

In the past years I have seen many British collectors visiting our Dutch ammo fairs. So I think one of them must have picked it up over here.

 

[sgdbdr]

Hi Greif,


From which book is the drawing extracted, and is there a digital copy available ?

Regards,

S.

 

[greif]

It is from a 1912 learning (plate) book of the Dutch Royal Military Academy.
You can find it here: http://www.lexpev.nl/downloads/handleidingtotdekennisderartillerie1912.pdf