25 Pounder info needed.

[Private_collector]

Good evening,
It's been one hell of a long time since I've been active here, and although this year hasn't been great for me, it hasn't been great for most of the world either, so I won't moan. Suffice to say I'm still alive! Who was it that said "rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated!"?

Although I've not felt up to working on any heavy project, I have been tarting up an old Land Rover Defender that belonged to my Wife's late Father. We've taken it from a tray back ute, to an enclosed canopy for reasonably comfortable overnight camping. Naturally, it's camo green in color, and has a decidedly 'retro' appearance. Have been away for a couple of brief trips in recent months, with hopefully many more in the future. The other thing I've been amusing myself with, and I can't really explain why I got into this, is the building of movie props. Most significantly, Dr Who props! I built a full scale Dalek that was to be my costume at a work function which sadly had to be cancelled, thanks to COVID-19. So now I have an almost 6ft tall Ironside Dalek sitting in my dining room. I built it on an electric wheelchair base, and it's driven from inside. Obviously, no Dalek is complete without that iconic voice, so it won't come as a surprise that mine has that too.

In the past couple of years I've been in the workshop (where my CMP and 25pr build are waiting) about 5 times in total. Two of those were in the past couple of months, after having the roof replaced due to hail damage. None of those times were to actually do anything, but it is my plan to return to the 25pr in particular, fairly soon. Just haven't had the stamina to do anything that is strenuous. The CMP won't get a look in for a while yet, but after being in hospital recently, I came out more determined to get the 25pr back on track. Then I got a huge motivation boost by stumbling onto a particular part I've been searching for, for years.

After exhausting all avenues for a correct No. 5, Illuminating Apparatus, I found one advertised just a few hours away from my place. It was listed without description to it's purpose, and it appeared the seller did not know it was 25pr application. He obviously knew WHAT it was, hence the high price he was asking, but I suspect it would have been much more if he knew how rare it was. When I got it home, I opened it up and found it was absolutely complete, with exception of a battery. Even the spare parts were in their boxes labelled "A" & "B". After all these years I couldn't believe I finally had one, AND it was complete. I've just finished 2 weeks of renovating, to as good a condition as possible, including color change to match my shield. See attached photos, if I can remember how to upload them. Let me know if it hasn't worked! I will endeavour to add the 'before' photos now, and the 'after' ones in next post.

[Private_collector]

Some photos after I refurbished the unit.
Ended up having to make one of the labels inside lid of the spare part boxes (box A) from what was readable on the old, unsalvagable one. A quick soak in strong tea/coffee mixture aged the paper a little!

Now, if anyone has a set of trails for sale, we need to talk!!!

[rob love]

Great to hear from you again, and that you are on the top side of the grass.



What a great find. Certainly it is one of the holy grails for a 25 pounder, and on my short list of 25 pdr items to find yet. I do have the apparatus, but not the container. Your photos will go a long way towards making one if I have to go that route.



I have a spare 25 pdr carriage here, but postage to your end of the world would be ridiculous.

[David Dunlop]

Nice to hear from you again, Tony. Great find for the 25 pdr!

All Best Wishes to you and the family for Christmas!

David

[m606paz]

Good to hear from you Tony!
I have missed your progress on the CMP as well as all your comments. Merry Christmas and may we start to see that CMP more assembled next year!
Best regards!

[Ken Smith]

Tony, wonderful to have you back. Looks like you haven't lost any of your restoration skills.
That box looks perfect.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Ken

[Lynn Eades]

Welcome back Tony. and Happy Christmas!

[Private_collector]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Tony, wonderful to have you back. Looks like you haven't lost any of your restoration skills.
That box looks perfect.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Ken

Hi Ken.
Happy New Year to you & your family.

Thanks for your kind words. I know some people disagree with full restoration of historic pieces like that, but I see it as restarting a clock that should keep going now for another few decades. At least it keeps it presentable and looks worth keeping when in good shape. I wonder how many interesting pieces of history got chucked away by someone who thought it was just junk, after the owner was no longer around to vouch for it's significance.

[Private_collector]

Thanks Folks, and Merry Christmas.
I have no current plans to restart CMP work as yet. That one's a bit too heavy duty for me now.
T

[Mike Cecil]

Welcome back, Tony.

Nice find, and an Australian-built No.5 set.

Nice job with the restoration, too.

Best regards

Mike

[Private_collector]

Originally Posted by rob love

Great to hear from you again, and that you are on the top side of the grass.



What a great find. Certainly it is one of the holy grails for a 25 pounder, and on my short list of 25 pdr items to find yet. I do have the apparatus, but not the container. Your photos will go a long way towards making one if I have to go that route.



I have a spare 25 pdr carriage here, but postage to your end of the world would be ridiculous.

Hi Rob,
Might not be as ridiculous as you would think, if a freight forwarding company brought it in with other things. That said, closer to home would save a lot, no doubt.

Would you like me to send you more drawings to aid your construction of a case? Happy to do so, if it helps. Possibly doing a seperate thread on MLU might benefit others also, if anyone is interested. It really is a most over-engineered little box, in reality. Quite complex. Without detailed photos an measurements, it would be almost impossible to replicate convincingly. I might have tried, some years ago, but the lack of available reference materials (or a real one to study) put me off.
T

[rob love]

There was a fellow from down under a few years ago that was after some 105mm artillery items I had. He mentioned that a neighbor of his regularly imported farm equipment from Saskatchewan via seacans, which is the next province over. He felt his stuff could hitch a ride in one of those. The deal never did come to fruition however...he kind of dropped off communications.


The box certainly merits a thread on it's own, with plenty of photos. It looks like some of the hinges are actually where they rolled the ends of the sheetmetal rather than simply adding piano hinges to the appropriate spots. Photos of all sides and back would be mucho appreciated.

[lynx42]

Tony, Happy New Year, it might be for you. There was, or still is, a 25pdr. trail hidden in scrub on a property just out of Bright, Victoria. I am sure that if it is still there that the owner could be talked into parting with it. Don't remember their name but will go and check it out if I am in the area, Won't be for a while as it's on my way to the Corowa for the Swim-In and 2021 has been cancelled for the correct and obviously reasons. Cheers Rick.

[Private_collector]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Tony, Happy New Year, it might be for you. There was, or still is, a 25pdr. trail hidden in scrub on a property just out of Bright, Victoria. I am sure that if it is still there that the owner could be talked into parting with it. Don't remember their name but will go and check it out if I am in the area, Won't be for a while as it's on my way to the Corowa for the Swim-In and 2021 has been cancelled for the correct and obviously reasons. Cheers Rick.

Hi Rick, thanks and same from me to you!

If you wouldn't mind, that would be great. Pulling off a find like that, would save me hundreds of hours of work and some swearing! Pity google isnt a bit higher resolution, or we could scan from the comfort of home, no matter what lockdown we find ourselves in.
Thanks again,
T

[Private_collector]

Originally Posted by rob love

There was a fellow from down under a few years ago that was after some 105mm artillery items I had. He mentioned that a neighbor of his regularly imported farm equipment from Saskatchewan via seacans, which is the next province over. He felt his stuff could hitch a ride in one of those. The deal never did come to fruition however...he kind of dropped off communications.


The box certainly merits a thread on it's own, with plenty of photos. It looks like some of the hinges are actually where they rolled the ends of the sheetmetal rather than simply adding piano hinges to the appropriate spots. Photos of all sides and back would be mucho appreciated.

I understand, deals have a way of going cold before completion. I will start taking measurements and photos of the Illuminating Apparatus this evening, and make a seperate thread to put them in. We're going into town today. I will go to the hardware store and look for a ruler or two that have marking easiest to read clearly in photos. Most my existing ones are quite worn, and some marks are getting hard to read.

You are absolutely correct about the hinges. There aren't any individual hinges attached, as all hinges are rolled edges of plate. Takes me back to my metal-shop days at highschool! From a painters perspective, the rolled hinge type gives more clearance (when done properly, and these are) between the surfaces, meaning when you move the hinge, you don't scrape paint off the other surface.
T