Bren Pogo Stick: Real or Repro

[rob love]

I recently bought a Bren stem (aka pogo stick) mount from Ebay. The buyer indicated, several times, that it was an original, minty, and in his possession from the mid 80s when he brought a carrier out of a barn in France and imported it to the US. I already had an excellent repro from Rick Debruyn, but thought an upgrade to an original would be a nice treat.

It showed up yesterday, but there seem to be a few inconsistencies from what I would expect on a 75 year old item. So I am going to post some photos, and would ask the opinions of those who have known originals, as well as known repros. I'll point out a few of the things that bother me, and await the opinions of the collective group.

First off is the little 6-32 screw. It has a plated finish as opposed to the non-plated screws that I am used to with that vintage. As well, there seems to be some odd wear on the end of the little locating stud more akin to welding and filing.

Then there is the long spring. The ends are plain, and this one is actually two shorter springs welded in the middle. Seems odd that the military didn't have the required springs manufactured.

[rob love]

Next is the end of the dowel that runs up the middle of the lower half of the stem. This is the only part that shows "patina (rust), but the end is still shiny from where it was crudely ground. Seems to me in production, the end might have been turned in a lathe and over 75 years, the patina would have covered the ground portion.

This one has British casting marks on the upper cast part. No other part numbers are anywhere on the mount. The cast part number is nice and clear on the one side, but a little faint on the other. There would appear to be a small locating mark in the tube at the top where it meets the cast stem.

[rob love]

I have seen a little drain hole on the bottom of the tube on some repros, just above the steel pintle insert and below the long slot. This one does not have a drain hole.

Paint is the darker British green, and underneath the top half there does not appear to be any primer, nor any patina where the paint is missing on the first 3". As well, there is a slight counterboring done on the upper tubing for the first 1/4".

I'll now ask for the opinions of the group. Did I buy a repro, or an extremely minty original? Overall it just appears too good to be true.

[rob love]

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ght=pogo+stick
On the above linked thread, Kevin shows a repro he made next to one he says is original. The original seems to have a few of the same features as this one, like the black primer underneath the green paint on the bottom half of the stick. He only shows the part number on the one side of the upper casting....seems to be a very good match. Would love to see some of the finer details of that original. The photos below are Kevin's.

[Lynn Eades]

Hi Rob, The spring is definitely a replacement.
I had 4 originals.
One i traded of to Nigel Ward in Australia. he made about 20 copies if I recall correctly. He took them to the U.K to sell.
Yes they have two pinning holes and above that is a smaller drain hole.
The original spring only has an air gap about the same size as the wire dia. (do you follow?} One I have appears to have a slightly lighter spring.
The inner tube is marked TL12433 FAACO 42
The tubes seem to be stainless and have no primer only an olivey green paint
In contast, he cast top is marked FMCo and has a smaller i.d. to the B.G. mounting hole, than your one pictured.
Your screw has probably been replaced. One i have is much shorter, but the same head style.
Of the four, the one Nigel had, had a pitted top casting. The three I kept being better. One I have has very faint markings.
The flange on the bottom is marked TL12429 around the big dia.
The outer tube is marked again with the FAACO (Ford Anti Aircraft Co?????)
but the part number is faint. One, I cannot find any markings.
Does that help?
I'd say the main bits you have are original, if you can forgive the hole size in the top casting and the keeper and screw.
The bottom bit looks rather new?
It is likely the keeper is hand finished, in keeping with British methodology

[rob love]

Thanks for your insight Lynn.

The three photos in the post above yours are of Kevin's repro along with one he had borrowed which was original. The one I have has a more proportional hole on the top casting very much like the repro from Rick. There is still paint in the hole. I'll try it out on a Bren tonight for fit.

The lack of part numbers and drain hole is worrisome to me.

Does anyone know when these were initially repro'd? I thought I had read about reproductions dating right back into the 80s in the old quad or cmp magazines.