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Glass delay ampoules for No.37 pistols and AN-M123/-124/-125 fuzes

C

cornman

Well-Known Member
I have two questions about the glass ampoules filled with acetone which are, for example, used in the British No.37 pistol and the US AN-M123, -124, -125 tail fuzes.
They come in different colors to identify the different delay times.

Question 1: Does anyone know, or (most preferred) has a manual or writing in which is explained, what color stands for which delay time?
A few years ago I found a still intact ampoule with light orange fluid in a No.37 after removal by EOD personnell. The pistol is stamped with a “6” denoting 6 hours delay.

Question 2: As (in appearance) the ampoules used by the RAF and the USAAF in their fuzes/pistols are the same. Are these interchangeable or are there differences between them?

The ampoules shown in the picture comes from a set used for the SOE/ OSS used limpet mines, but are the same as used in de bomb pistols/ fuzes I guess.

Kind regards, Cornman
 

Attachments

  • acetone ampoules.jpg
    acetone ampoules.jpg
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Bomb fuze times were factory set, the time delay was stamped in the fuze body, and the number and thickness of the celluloid solvable discs and aceton solution were also factory set, and they were under no circumstances to be field modified. So different colours had no added value in closed bomb fuzes. For the limpet mines they did have usage as the glass veil was placed just prior to usage, so they do denote a percentage of the aceton/alcohol mixture, alcohol being the filler material in the glass veil.
 
I'm sorry for intruding on the topic, since the only thing they have in common is that they're both glass ampoules... I couldn't resist posting a picture of the two glass ampoules I have from the German E.S. Mi.Z. 40 fuses.
Pero por curiosidad...

20250509_003107.jpg20250509_003117.jpg

If any admin decides to delete the post because it's off-topic... I have no problem!
Best regards!
 
chispa said:
I'm sorry for intruding on the topic, since the only thing they have in common is that they're both glass ampoules... I couldn't resist posting a picture of the two glass ampoules I have from the German E.S. Mi.Z. 40 fuses.
Pero por curiosidad...

View attachment 203839View attachment 203840

If any admin decides to delete the post because it's off-topic... I have no problem!
Best regards!
Click to expand...
Interesting, I never saw the German ones
 
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