Seeking BESA canvas items

[humbermk4]

Hi folks, just found this site..
I have a restored 43 Humber Mk4 Armoured car in the States and my co-owners and I are mounting a BESA parts kit (old IMA import) as a (cringe.. Don't hate me! ) Oxy Propane hollywood gun.
As fake as that is, we ran the hoses in the underside and with the canvas shell chute installed, you can't see it.

Preston Issacs is making a few repros of the bag for Dainler Armoure cars and Churchills, but the Humber only took the upper part (with the feed for the spent belt) and a simple chute for the lower into the turret basket bin.

I am looking or that canvas in any condition... I sew and have an industrial machine so I can add new canvas to an otherwise moldy mess.

Also... the HAC supposedly had a canvas weather cover for the entire barrel and armour shield to keep the rain out of the turret. DO any of you have any drawings or pics of this? By chance one to sell ?

I am sure you realize I am not talking about the muzzle cover... I am looking for one of them too, but they are fairly simple to make a copy.

Happy to share tech on how we converted a parts kit to an Oxy/propane if it would be of interest here.

[tom]

As it happens I have the factory drawing for the full cover, and the muzzle job, copied from the half plate negaatives at the old pattern room. I may even have a spare muzzle cover buried somewhere.



Drop us a line at
tombear01@googlemail._com
(remove underbar) and I can send you a better jpg, I've scanned in quite a bit of Besa related stuff.

Nice one on making a propane Besa!

ATB

Tom

[humbermk4]

Hi Tom,
I am gobsmacked! The search for the holy grail is over minutes after it started!! <g>

I am also sending this via email and will send links to phot sites of the Humber as well.

Cheers,
And a profound "Thank You!"
Jim

[humbermk4]

Meant to say, if you can excavate your spare muzzle cover, I would love to try to buy it/trade for it..

[tom]

e mail sent
ATB

Tom

[Kev]

Excellent result !

[Richard Fisher]

Hi Jim,

Great to see you on here.

You were one of the earliest contacts I had for the Vickers and certainly the first shooter.

Hope you're well.

Richard

[humbermk4]

Hi Richard! Looks like you have done great things here.
Although I have sold my Vickers some years ago when the job went south, I have recovered and have been putting in my energies and money in a 1/3 share of a Humber armoured car.

I still have all my accessories for the Vickers including two barr and stroud rangfinders. I think one was from you! Have to survey the want adds and see if history would be better served in putting those things up for sale or trade so an Active Vickers collector can make use of them.
Hope all is well with you and life has been treating you kindly.
Happy Yule!
Jim