Derk’s new Universal carrier Mk 1*

[kevin powles]

You are doing a fantastic job there, watching with interest.

Kevin

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by derk derin

After owning a sewing machine for 12 years now it was time I used it. After spending some time cleaning it up, figuring out how to load the thread and get the tensions just right I tackled my first project, the canvas pouch that’s riveted to the inside lid of the crew locker. I must say it turned out alright!

Hello Derk,

Well, I was not expecting for your post to help me solve a mystery that I have been searching for an answer for over a couple of years now! I read your post and glanced at some of your photographs. Then I read on and went "hang-on"! So, I went back to have another look at the earlier page where I had first saw the photographs.

Thank you very much for posting the photographs of the machine as it has helped me out a lot. My Singer looks very similar to yours and it failed to duck itself down while I was lifting an engine from the floor to be stored on the back of a truck in my shed. I was left with the spool holder (?) and the silver wheel bit (?) that appears to be positioned just to the front of the belt. See adapted version of your photograph with red outlines added.

Since it was a fair time after I had bought the sewing machine and had not yet gotten around to using it - I did not have a clue where these two parts belong! Luckily for me these were the only two items that were dislodged during my the lifting the motor. Lesson learnt - do not store a sewing machine in front of a truck tray while using a mobile crane to lift an engine on to the truck bed.

Derk, have a guess at what the next question might just be? Here is a hint ... It just could be something about the possible alignment of some mystery parts.

P.S. Could you please provide some details of what looks like a Singer sewing machine - its model or serial number? I can find its year of manufacture through these codes. My Singer turned out to be a World War II era machine.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Grant Bowker]

I don't think the position of the thread supply holder is critical +/- an inch or two as the post can be turned which results in changing the fore/aft and left/right placement of the thread reels. Also, as far as I know, it isn't critical which peg the active reel is placed on.
The other deviceis a bobbin winder, driven by putting the wheel into contact with the sewing machine's drive belt. Alignment and placement need to be reasonably accurate for proper function. If your wayward engine damaged the bobbin winder assembly, they are readily available on ebay and elsewhere. Since they seem to be pretty standard, you can likely find existing holes in the table to mount your existing or replacement winder (likely the thread reel support too). Searching the make/model of your sewing machine will likely let you download a manual for it.

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Grant Bowker

I don't think the position of the thread supply holder is critical +/- an inch or two as the post can be turned which results in changing the fore/aft and left/right placement of the thread reels. Also, as far as I know, it isn't critical which peg the active reel is placed on.
The other deviceis a bobbin winder, driven by putting the wheel into contact with the sewing machine's drive belt. Alignment and placement need to be reasonably accurate for proper function. If your wayward engine damaged the bobbin winder assembly, they are readily available on ebay and elsewhere. Since they seem to be pretty standard, you can likely find existing holes in the table to mount your existing or replacement winder (likely the thread reel support too). Searching the make/model of your sewing machine will likely let you download a manual for it.

Hello Grant,

Thank you for the detailed reply. I went into my shed late last night and knowing from Derk's photograph where the different parts should be positioned, I worked out the holes that secured the bobbin winder. I also worked out that I must be missing the thread supply post. It must have disappeared in the shed after the incident occurred. I did locate the three holes in the tabletop where the post mount was screwed into the frame. It really does help to know what you are looking at!

As a temporary measure, I will make a mount for the post out of wood. From my quick observations of the bobbin winder it needs a good soaking with some penetrant to loosen things up a lot. In the meantime I will search online of a spare parts catalogue to see if the base for the post is available. It was in its original state for over 70 years before it interacted with the engine. Since I am responsible for the damage I reckon I owe the machine that much to get it back to its original state. The only real damage was the top part of the post was considerably off skew. Luckily it straightened out okay. The bobbin winder is pretty robust and only had the screws ripped out of the tabletop. The post is significantly offset from the bobbin winder. The Singer's previous owner is a saddle maker and sewing machine was set up for work in their shop. So, it must have been set to work efficiently.

I will take a couple of photographs and take some measurements. I will post them up later today. However, at first I have to tame the grass around my house. It is summer here and there has been lots of heat and rain, so the grass grows before your eyes.

Kind regards
Lionel

[derk derin]

I ran my serial number of the Singer sewing machine through a Google search and came up with a date of manufacture, 1942 which I was interested to see. It must have wound up in some factory somewhere sewing up war material. If it could only talk! Wish they had log books like the aircraft would have detailing when and where it was!

[derk derin]

As far as operation of the machine it was a trials & errors for me as it was in storage and disassembled for years before I decided to start using it.
YouTube videos on the subject helped me understand many things about setting up the machine like how to load the spool of thread in the bobbin correctly and placing it in the sewing machine. Tension on the bobbin thread and sewing machine tension was critical in getting a nice tight stitch without breaking the thread. Trial & error! As far as the spool bobbin winder, that I had to figure out all on my own. Sitting for so many years left things gummed up and had to be lubricated. Nothing a tin of sewing machine oil didn’t fix.
The bobbin winder must be set up on the table so when the machine is running, the wheel isn’t turning. By placing an empty bobbin on the wonder you then push down on the bracket which puts the wheel up against the belt and allows the bobbin to spin. Run your thread through the tensioner at the other end and thread through the eyehole to guide it and once the thread fills the bobbin, the arm kicks off the wheel!

[derk derin]

The thread holder isn’t that critical. You could even set the spool of thread on the table, or a shelf. The one thing you want is the metal hook above the thread to guide it smoothly off the thread so it feeds the sewing machine unrestricted.

[derk derin]

I was at an old department store in downtown Winnipeg last week where they used to handle some military surplus back in the day. I like to stop in once in awhile for certain items. This time we’re the Bren Auxiliary shoulder straps. They have boxes of them and I realized they’re the proper width to make up the straps for the 19 set hold down straps. I can cut and sew them together to make the length I need as it’s impossible to find the proper material to make these straps up.
While I was there I spotted a pile of green material that looked exactly like the material on Carrier seats. They’re British military bedding stowage bags (whatever they’re used for?) and they were $5.00 each.

[derk derin]

I have been busy sewing up the seat cushions and they have the look of proper waterproof material the carrier seats were made of so I’m happy with it.
Of course while I was looking around the vast amount of stuff still in this old store I always find more than I bargain for. 1943 dated brushes, 1951 pattern L straps, a roll of 1950’s tie material which I always give away ties to whoever needs one for their battledress uniform, and various other items I think I will one day need!

[derk derin]

Finished sewing up my seat cushions tonight. Turned out not bad for limited sewing ability.
Still have to find some more seat foam to finish filling a pair of seat bottoms and a seat back as well as order some lift the dot fasteners and studs to complete the seat cushions.

[derk derin]

I finished off both sets of seat cushions for both carriers today and installed them. I was able to salvage enough lift the dot fasteners to use on my rear seat cushions and both wireless operators rear seat cushions but will have to order 34 more to do the front seat cushion backs on the other carrier.
They’re impossible to find locally so will have to order them from the internet.
I also finished cleaning up and painting the shovel and had a friend lathe me the crowbar for the back tool storage area. Have the paint drying on the pick axe helve and it will be ready to go in its spot as well.

[derk derin]

I managed to piece together enough items to complete a 19 set for my carrier after a lot of help from Prairie Command members who all had items to sell or give me. I have the B set antenna lower mount but have to pick it up yet. I will build a mounting bracket for it and install it on the carrier when the warm weather returns.
Also need to build the variometer mounting bracket which shouldn’t be too difficult. Too cold right now to work out in the shop. Lots of small items to keep me busy inside for the rest of the winter!

[derk derin]

Todays project was the inserts for the flare pistol rounds bin. It wasn’t as easy as I thought it was going to be but I think what I built will work.
I will have to finish the top wood insert for the second bin on a warmer day. Too cold to work in the garage right now.

[derk derin]

As I was working on the flare rounds bin, Dave came over with a box of stuff that went with the carrier. Another exciting day for me! He had the FUC-01 manual with the waterproof cover and both inserts still there, the FUC-02 Illustrated parts manual, a spare carrier carburetor, a carrier trouble light, brass 1 inch flare pistol with 4 empty flare rounds that were fired off and a pile of American 1 inch flare rounds that were March,April & May 1945 dated.
The brass flare pistol was an exciting gift as in all my years of collecting I never owned the brass flare pistol.
The most exciting was the proper Mark 1* carrier manual with the waterproof cover. That was on my want list but wasn’t hopeful of ever finding one as I’ve never seen one before. Just a few images online.

[derk derin]

These foldout charts are almost always missing so it was nice they were still in the manual.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Excellent work on the seats, Derk! Lovely that you manged to find fabric so close to the look and texture of the orginal.

Am I the only one that thought.....is that a WS19 antenna mount used to fix the thread holder to the Singer table?

[derk derin]

Today I was back at the sewing machine. Another seemingly simple job took me hours to do! First attempt at sewing the pouch together left the side strip an inch short so I had to cut all my stitching and do it a second time.
The second attempt went way better when I extended the piece by an inch. Then when I was done I realized I sewed the panels on backwards so had to cut all the stitching again. Go upstairs for a coffee break and then try again for the 3rd time. I finally got it right so I had the confidence to make my second one! Now that they’re both done (with the wooden inserts) I have to go find some strips of leather tomorrow so I can finish off the leather edging.
I used old duffle bags for material and didn’t want to waste the Cbroadarrow stamp so I cut out the pattern so it would show inside the flap.
There’s no doubt that 2 Boyes magazines fit well into this pouch. I knew I would never find spare Boyes magazines so I cut apart an old metal shelf and fabricated a couple dummy mags to store in the pouch.

[David Dunlop]

Nice sewing, Derk.

What was the normal issue of Boyes Magazines on the Universal Carriers and did they carry extra bulk rounds?


David

[rob love]

In the manual the carrier platoon in the infantry battalion it specifies that only one anti tank rifle was issued per 3 carriers of each section. There was a total of 4 sections per platoon along with a platoon commanders carrier and a recce carrier. As well, there was an assortment of motorcycles.

I have war establishment manuals somewhere which will better detail the issues and entitlement for weapons and possibly ammunition.

Notable also is that each section got one 2 inch mortar.

[derk derin]

Picked up some leather today to finish off the pouches. I had to take them apart again but eventually I was able to sew the leather edging on and add my snaps. Riveted the pouch on the metal mounting plate and they’re ready to install! Another piece of the puzzle done.

[derk derin]

I would like to know if there was only 2 spare Boyes magazines in the carrier that was equipped with the anti-tank rifle or if all the carriers had Boyes rifle magazines in the magazine pouch of each carrier and if there was any quantity of .55 Boyes ammunition stored in the ammo bins.

[rob love]

I can't see them putting boys mags in carriers with no boys rifle. The manual does mention at least 6 mags being in the carrier being deployed with the rifle.

If you have one of the magazine boxes and one of the boys bandoleers, try them out in the various storage locations. Afraid my carrier is tucked away in a seaman for the winter so I can't try it myself.