Puzzling Holes in Front (Feedblock) Covers

[Peter Wells]

After puzzling over this for some time and wading thru GOL I have to ask for help.

I have three front covers which show evidence of having had four holes in two pairs (other than rivet holes) in them presumably for some device to be attached.
1) See pic. Holes welded and upper surface neatly finished but under surface left rough
2) Similar to the above but holes closer together and +-5mm in diameter, neatly finished inside and out
3) Similar to 2) but holes +-4mm in diameter.



I see two possibilities:
1) They could be 'Light Pattern' parts (see GOL Illustration #23 & 26 and also, apparently the 'Commercial' guns - see Ill# 73) which, rather than being scrapped, were modded to go on the new Mk1 guns. Not sure if there was interchangeability of parts between these two guns? See also Ill. 33 which shows two round holes which are not consistent with the sectionalising process or needs.
2) They could have been for some other air or ground attachment.

Any ideas guys?

[Richard Fisher]

Hi Peter,

It could be for a sight like those found on the 1908 light pattern guns; however the holes look in slightly the wrong place. Are there any marks on top of the cover? These feedblock cover mounted sights did appear on other guns as well. Pic 238 shows one on the Mk. XXI guns. Many of these were converted to Mk. I guns so this could be part of that.

Could it be something like that shown in pic 85, 87 or 88 as part of an air attachment? Could be for the Mk. V gun rather than a Mk. I*

Certainly a few options to look into!

Regards

Richard

[Peter Wells]

Pretty much my thinking too Rich.

The pieces must have been re-blacked as they show no sings of bare metal after the welds/plugs had been filed or ground. You would normally not notice the plugs, so well have they been done, and you can only see them on the upper side when the light is at the correct angle.

One can't see much detail in Ill. 85 & 88, but 87shows 6 rivets rather than 4 so not conclusive at all.

Let's see how many others surface - hopefully our members check their guns - as I can't believe that I have landed up with three and they are unknown in the rest of the world.

For all I know it may be a local mod. Who knows.

Cheers for now.

[Peter Wells]

Would appreciate all you guys checking your front covers diligently for signs of 4 carefully plugged holes on your guns.

I must get to the bottom of this.

TIA.

[captain]

Nothing on my three ones. But, when I see some pics of some Vickers in different books, some have a kind of brass plate on the cover (4 rivets) with patents, or museum register serials or even regimental register marks.
Another solution, of course, could be a former collector trying to customize his gun.

[andrewupton]

Jan 1, 2010 10:20:28 GMT 1 Peter Wells said:

2) They could have been for some other air or ground attachment.

Any ideas guys?

I might have stumbled on the answer by accident whilst looking at Goldsmiths "Grand Old Lady" page 542, Figure 676 the other night - it shows a partially dismantled MkII aircraft Vickers so that the friction of the recoiling parts can be weighed. It appears to have four holes in the feedblock cover which match those on your example - presumably for attaching either a sychronising gear or an electrical firer. Maybe it was a cover off an aircraft gun that was converted to be used on a ground gun when they'd become obsolete?

s4.postimage.org/1AO23S-56b97e33c9a9dfd6477a7f04d1c8d185.jpg

[Peter Wells]

Well spotted Andrew. The first evidence that has come to light.

Thanks