English fuze ?

[silent knight]

Do you have any idea of the origin of this clockwork fuze ?
Same threading as the german HZ14
Marked: PATD & PATSPEND
Weighting 875g

Regards,
Pascal

 

[Alpini]

the marking means "patented and patents pending" which means some features of the fuze are already patented and other features are filed in patent office still awaiting to be official accepted. I think I have seen that mechanism before, I'll try to find out something later. It looks like US origin...

 

[Alpini]

ok, I think I found the right drawing, but if you hold the piece in your hand you can better judge if it is the same mechanics as on the drawing. Take a look at the follwoing patent drawing. It has been applied for Frederick W. Bold & Charles H. Pearson (at least F.W. Bold worked for the famous Waltham Watch Company :tinysmile_twink_t

Very interesting and beautiful piece of a fuze :tinysmile_tongue_t:

 

[silent knight]

Thank you Alpini for the answer and the drawing.

As this fuze has the same shape and the same threading than the german HZ14, do you think it could have been used on german shell like the 10,5cm?

Regards,
Pascal

 

[Alpini]

Absolutely not, in 1st WW Germany did not bought any fuze abroad. And on the foto the thread looks a little bit longer than on the HZ14 and also the shape of the gaine would not fit.

I guess your fuze is a demonstration/marketing object from Waltham Watch Company or an other company producing such fuze in license.

Do you know where this fuze comes from? May be it would help to find out more.