Double conversion Bristish No 56 Boer War Period Fuze

[Dronic69]

Hi Everyone,

The British Boer War period fuzes are one of my favorite types of fuze - here's an interesting one which has been "converted" twice:

> It has three date stamps: "6/01", "6/02" & "2/04"
> It has two manufacturers stamps "R^L" & "W&P" (What does "W&P" stand for?)
> It has two marks: "IV" & "II"
> It has two batch numbers "930" & "25"
> It has two type stamps: "61" & "60c" (or as you read on, perhaps the "61" is a batch number and not a fuze type???)

Here's my analysis of the fuze's conversion history......

1) It was originally manufactured in 1901 by Royal Labs (R^L) as a No 56 (single banked - 18 seconds) fuze Mk IV This also is supported by the broad arrow (R^L) on the nut as the later fuze types were conversions to dual banks (2 time rings) of earlier types {It seems that the only Mks for the No 56 were either Mk IV or Mk V, although I have never seen a Mk V - has anyone?}

2) It was next converted in 1902 by "W&P" to a No 61 (Mk II?) as these were only converted from No 56 - well maybe?
Here's where it gets a little unclear......
Does the "61" denotes fuze type 61? or is it just a coincidence that it may be actually a batch number "61"? That is, if the "930", ""25" etc are manufacturing batch numbers?.....not sure here - anyone?

If the "61" is indeed a "batch" number (for the final conversion as it is not crossed out), was perhaps the first conversion to a No 58 Mk II, which was the British manufactured one for the Erhardt 15 pdr QF round?

BTW - The No 60 and higher number types were double banked combustion fuzes - i.e. 2 x time rings for longer times (from 18 to 44 secs), and involved replacing the original single time ring and dome top to 2 x time rings and a smaller dome top.

3) So first thoughts on the conversion sequence is that it was converted from a No 56 to a No 61, then finally to a No 60c in 1904

3a) Or was it actually No 56 Mk IV, to a No 58 MkII, then finally a No60c?

Notes:
a) No 60c fuzes were made by converting either Nos 57, 58 or 61 !!!
b) "Mk II" on No 62 types denotes that only one time ring was movable, whereas "Mk I" implied that both time rings were movable. This fuse has only one movable time ring.

I welcome all thoughts on this as my Armstrong pattern fuze & derivatives information is extremely small and limited.

Thanks
Cheers
Drew

 

[Dronic69]

Good Evening my Fellow Ordnance Collectors,

Does anyone know which military manufacturer had the stamp "W&P"???

Waterhouse & Parker?

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman,Times,serif]Weems & Plath?

[/FONT][/FONT]Words and Phrases? (You can see I have been "googling" too long!)

Thanks
Cheers
Drew

 

[TimG]

Drew,

Initial search shows that 'W&P' might be Whitehead & Poole, Miltown Engineering Works, Radcliffe, Manchester. In the Great War they manufactured, amongst other items, 18 pdr HE shells. Before the War they made were involved in general engineering work and were also iron and brass founders.


TimG

 

[Bonnex]

Drew,

From my notes (which are largely the work of Hogg):

The No 56 Mark IV was based on the No 55 Mark III with a solid stem (WOLC 7716). This might explain the lack of Marks I to III for the No 56. There was a No 56 Mark IV* which used larger detonators (para 13775). Nothing in my notes about a Mark V.

No 60C (Design RL11070K) was a conversion of old Nos 56, 57 or 61 types to No 60 pattern. Mark I introduced by WOLC Para 11691 dated 19th Sept 1902.
Mark II (para 11692, 9th April 1903) Converted No 56 Mk IV and fitted with pointer to show the setting.

No 61 Design RL 11330. Fuze No 56 converted by using a longer burning time composition in the ring giving 20s at rest Gas escape in the body blocked up, and a hole provided in he time ring. Dome and nut painted red.
Mark I (para 11099 23rd Jan 1902) conversion of No 56 Mk IV empty fuzes
(para 11691 19th Sept 1902) conversion to cease; No 56 fuze now to be converted into No 60C

No 65 design RL 16480. Conversion of No 56 or No 60 by fitting new rings and dome. Conversion of No 57 authorised by para 16160 25th March 1912.
Mark I para 15452 13th Jan 1910 Introduced
Mark II para 17163 24th Sep 1913 Use extended to Naval Service. Made from converted Nos 56, 57, 60 or 63.

Hope some of this is helpful in sorting out the chronology of your fuze.

 

[Dronic69]

Hi Bonnex,

That's interesting re the No 56 started out based on No 55 Mk III - certainly explains the lack of No 56 Mks 1-III. I've only came across a single reference re the No 56 Mk V and of course can't remember where that was now.....funny it must have been so well know during the 1900 period that it was a "No 56" fuse that they only stamped "IV".

I have a similar table (probably a variation of Hogg's), which describes the conversion linkage between the No 56s up through to No 65s.

Great stuff - thank you!

Cheers
Drew