calling British fuze experts! identification of 242 244 257 fuzes

[Rrickoshae]

hi guys, these 2 fuzes have puzzled me for years and I'm rather hoping that someone out there can end the confusion.

First, the sectioned fuze. The cut away part contained the fuze number. The remaining stampings read 'W.M Ltd 3 A' and 'KBY 9 43 175'. This fuze has a brass pivoting shutter but is it a 244 or 257? The line drawings that I've looked at appear the same for both fuzes.

The second fuze appears the same externally as the sectioned one. The markings are 'KBY11 44 242' and '257 1 RC 4 A K' I think it originally had a yellow(?) band around it. The shutter is the sliding variety. Is this a plain 257 with 242 being the lot number? Or was this a 242 converted to 257?



Any thoughts would be much appreciated

Dave

 

[lcn]

Hi Dave
The No257 fuze was a No244 without delay .She armed the 17 pdr HE shells for tanks and 6 pdr coastal artillery. Both fuzes were externally identical (except of course markings) a yellow band allowed to differentiate
Cordialement
Jean Paul

 

[Rrickoshae]

Hi Dave
The No257 fuze was a No244 without delay .She armed the 17 pdr HE shells for tanks and 6 pdr coastal artillery. Both fuzes were externally identical (except of course markings) a yellow band allowed to differentiate
Cordialement
Jean Paul

View attachment 79057

so I guess that makes them both a 257. Many thanks Jean Paul, Dave

 

[TimG]

WM Ltd., = Wolseley Motors Ltd.,
RC = Raleigh Cycles
Both fuzes filled by ROF Kirkby - KBY

TimG

 

[Bonnex]

hi guys, these 2 fuzes have puzzled me for years and I'm rather hoping that someone out there can end the confusion.

First, the sectioned fuze. The cut away part contained the fuze number. The remaining stampings read 'W.M Ltd 3 A' and 'KBY 9 43 175'. This fuze has a brass pivoting shutter but is it a 244 or 257? The line drawings that I've looked at appear the same for both fuzes.

The second fuze appears the same externally as the sectioned one. The markings are 'KBY11 44 242' and '257 1 RC 4 A K' I think it originally had a yellow(?) band around it. The shutter is the sliding variety. Is this a plain 257 with 242 being the lot number? Or was this a 242 converted to 257?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated

Dave

Dave,

The Nos 241 and 242 fuzes were smaller than the No 244 and not convertable the No257. I think only the No244 Mark III was converted to the No 257 of which there were three marks (I, 2, 2/1). Apologies for the scruffy picture below but it shows the 242, 244 and 257.




Top row: 244 Mk III - 244 Mk III Trials - L17A6

Bottom Row: 241 Mk I - 242 Mk II - No 257 Mk 2/1 (converted 244 Mk III) - 244 Mk III

 

[Rrickoshae]

many thanks Tim, thats excellent, Wolseley Motors is a nice manufacture to have.

 

[Rrickoshae]

thank you Norman, that is the first time I have seen photos of a 241/242 and the difference is obvious. Can I assume that the 257 Mk2/1 is missing its lower CE magazine?

regards, dave

 

[Bonnex]

thank you Norman, that is the first time I have seen photos of a 241/242 and the difference is obvious. Can I assume that the 257 Mk2/1 is missing its lower CE magazine?

regards, dave

Yes Dave. It uses the same shuttered magazine as the 244. Incidentally, having checked RAOS, the 244 Mark I was also converted to 257 Mk 2/1.

 

[US-Subs]

Dave,

The Nos 241 and 242 fuzes were smaller than the No 244 and not convertable the No257. I think only the No244 Mark III was converted to the No 257 of which there were three marks (I, 2, 2/1). Apologies for the scruffy picture below but it shows the 242, 244 and 257.


View attachment 79066




Photoshop to the rescue.

 

[Bonnex]

OK Jeff, suitably embarrassed. Not that these are much better:

 

[EODONE]

Fuze 257 1 RC 4 AS

Hi folks yet another breed of 257 printed on the fuze cap is "FIRE with CAP ON" bloody steep that I always wore my Cap!