IRON No23 MkI Mills baseplug

[John Bee]

Hello, here is my Mills IRON base plug No 23 Mk1. Determination is difficult, I can only see a ‘L’ (from L td?) and a ‘B’ (or 3 ?) . The rim is with lines, not checkered. I would like to have some info about those IRON BP’s No23 Mk1. Manufacturers, dates (autumn 1916 ?) and if possible a picture.



Thanks in advance. Cheers, Johan

 

[Millsman]

If you can see a large L it could be a Dover Ltd plug. They made cast iron 23 mk I plugs. John

 

[John Bee]

I cleaned up the plug a bit more today. See pointer on the additional pictures for the place of the characters. The first 2 characters following the presumed B are very faint but seem to be curved (& or S ??)

Johan

 

[Millsman]

Just got back home after a few days away.

I have got steel no 23 Mk 1 base plugs by

James Cycle Co
Dover Limited /16
Mills Munitions Co 8/16
ESH & S 11/16
Elmbank Glasgow 12/16

and 4 others where you can only see 23 Mk I or Ltd or dates 8/16 11/16

John

 

[Millsman]

Here's some photos of the Dover Ltd, Mills Munitions and ES&H plugs



MillsBomber's website has more.

John

 

[John Bee]

John, thank you for the info and nice pictures. About the website ‘millsgrenades’: I’m already using it as a reference. But in this case, there is sometimes doubt of what material the plug is made. Some plugs give a red shine on the picture (brass cleaned with acid, shiny steel with red object nearby or remains of copper wash?) So, by starting this thread I want to be sure. Johan