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GraemeVW
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I've got most of this fortis de rusted now, just struggling a little with the castings. The castings are so rough that the citric is struggling to loosed the rust in places. That and some of it is now a scale that is as hard as the steel!
I'll leave it in the citric one more night then tomorrow try some electrolysis.
I was toying with tidying up the castings a little but it's pointless, and it is what it is, military equipment and cast steel.
Now most of the rust is off though I can see the stamping.
Seems it was stamped at least, in March 1953. Not sure what the other stamp is.
The crows foot and some numbers that can't all be read are on the top
Is that a big O or just a punch mark.
Anyone understand 1950s military stamps? Is it possible to trace any more history on this?
I'll leave it in the citric one more night then tomorrow try some electrolysis.
I was toying with tidying up the castings a little but it's pointless, and it is what it is, military equipment and cast steel.
Now most of the rust is off though I can see the stamping.
Seems it was stamped at least, in March 1953. Not sure what the other stamp is.
The crows foot and some numbers that can't all be read are on the top
Is that a big O or just a punch mark.
Anyone understand 1950s military stamps? Is it possible to trace any more history on this?
GraemeVW
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Interestingly the one on ebay has the same number stamped in the top, but the date isn't on the side. Mine also shows signs of having this colour paint on it at some point, even though it looks like it was light green first, then yellow, then probably this silver.
The eBay ones castings seem alot better than mine too. Maybe I will clean it up a tiny bit here and there.
The eBay ones castings seem alot better than mine too. Maybe I will clean it up a tiny bit here and there.
MattF
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That casting above has had a flap disc, file etc. on it at some point, most likely. They aren't usually that smooth anywhere they haven't been machined.
Wouldn't bother trying to tidy up the castings. Being rough as a bears @rse isn't uncommon for them. Function over form.
Wouldn't bother trying to tidy up the castings. Being rough as a bears @rse isn't uncommon for them. Function over form.
MattF
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) on that front.Superb, thanks for that. Great collection
GraemeVW
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My main reason for considering it is the paint I'm using is pretty thin. Even with multiple coats it will try and run off any high points.
The only bit I am going to sort out is the anvil. It's not got a flat part on it. I won't go for perfect, but reasonably flat with dents is what I'm going for.
So far all I've done is knock the tops of a couple of 4mm high balls in the casting and hammered any raised areas around dents back in. The castings is quite soft. I could make the whole thing smooth by hammering it if I wanted!
Not going to though.
SteveB58
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The crows foot, as far as I know, is not restricted to the military but to any government purchase. 2957 could be the department, base or area the vice was used or it could even be the inspectors number who accepted the vice. C with the broad arrow can mean that there is a Canadian connection. There were thousands of these markings and so many not recorded that you may never find out.
Steve
GraemeVW
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The circular one on the side of the rear jaw is about the only one that could mean something.
I think it says S?ECo and a number 3.
I'd hazard a guess at it being S? Engineering corps?
I found no info online about military markings really, and as military stuff is pretty collectable, I figured the markings must be pretty indecipherable.
SteveB58
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Saw that, the first thing that came to my mind was it might be and electricity company? South Eastern Electricity, South Wales Electricity, South Western Electricity possible candidates. I know the GPO used the arrow, but did the utility companies?
Steve
SteveB58
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Used by many government departments, or so I believe. Even on cannon balls so you knew who was firing at you.
The_Yellow_Ardvark
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Used by all government departments and organisations to identify it as belonging to HM Government .
CwazyWabbit
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The_Yellow_Ardvark
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That was to identify it as cast fir the government at the time.
Not a private organisation.
SteveB58
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And if they wanted their ball back.
dannysheff
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Good question -- don't have an inclusive answer, but I remember noticing that some preWWII catalogues seemed to use this to describe vices where the two casting static was replaced by one casting - eg Parky's Handy.
Could this tie in with what you've seen?
SteveB58
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Could just be marketing, if the customer thinks they are getting something better for the same or higher price they may find that product more attractive, How often do you hear of a 'new and improved shampoo' which washes your hair no better than it did last week, but is now 30p dearer. While it may well be an improvement to the product it could just as easily be semantics. Or am I just an old cynic?
Hmmm, yep the ones i've seen are similar to a Handy in appearance, that's a good theory. Thanks for that Danny
