Another ratchet
 

Speaking of ratchets; What was the ratchet, or the saw-toothed looking bar on the front of my Sexton? Jesse.

It was for the parking brake cable attachment for shipping purposes.

http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoels..._brakelock.htm

Hanno´s site has the answer!

Thanks for the link. That answered my question. Another Question; As I am now working on the suspension, I'm wondering why the bogey wheels are to be used on Sextons only, and not tanks. Also, what is the 3/4" round red mark on the rubber? Union stamp? Jesse.

Red mark on tires
 

I'm almost certain that I've read that the red circle was to identify tires (of all sorts, solid and pneumatic) made with synthetic rubber that was believed at the time to be inferior to natural rubber, particularly in resilience and resistance to chunking when used on tank bogies. Looking at the toughness of some of the original tires you could easily believe it, but there were also period tires that have had the cords exposed and so rotten they can be torn by hand. Modern synthetics have wonderful qualities of wear, traction etc. but I wonder what they'll look like in 60 years. You win some, lose some.

The comb
 

The famous 'comb' was one of the most lively discussions ever seen on the old AFVNews both online and in print. It was a demonstration to me of the scholasticism of the men and women who have shared in George Bradford's little experiment of over the years. Hanno capably summarized the issue on his site.

The lettering: "for use on Sextons only. Not for use on tanks" is molded into the rubber. Maybe that had something to do with them being synthetic? Jesse.
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