The GMC CCKW

Rich, if you have to pull it apart as a last resort, so be it. If no one else knows the answer, i do have other crates which i would rather pull (one) apart to find out.
Did you get my note about the cartridge cases?
Regards
Ken

kpu121265 wrote:Rich, if you have to pull it apart as a last resort, so be it. If no one else knows the answer, i do have other crates which i would rather pull (one) apart to find out.
Did you get my note about the cartridge cases?
Regards
Ken

Hi Ken, just thought, I could do it to one of the newer ones you gave me !! would still be the same principle I should think.
Unless maybe someone else has a broken one which would show how the rope handle is fixed..

I have sent you an e-mail so you have my address too.

Good idea, if it doesn't survive the surgery, i have another couple you can have.
Ken

Can Catman, or anyone else tell me why the two ends of the crate which have the diamond shaped metal plates nailed to them are different, one is plain and the other use to have four triangular points stamped out around the hole in the plate ? Was this to stop the wing nut undoing during transit or to stop the metal rod coming out?

Does anybody have pics of the threaded rods and the head end and also the wing nut please.

With reference to the stencilling, how was it put on the crates, the yellow paint is very thin, not just free hand all too in line and edges are very straight, looking at the "O" and "0" there is no joining lines for the centre bit to make the O shape !! were all the stencils a type of rubber stamp ? How was it done.

What is the " RIQCA " marks referring to on the ends and side ?

It is on the side and one of the ends of the crate, but the other end has " STEEL CASE " "RIQCS

Also on the side and one end is " LOT EOP 1-84 " but on the other end it has " LOT EOP 7-19 X "

What is this marking in the middle on the outside base of the crate, it says " W. W. INC. No.1

Can anyone tell me what the colour of the shell crates were when they were brand new, were they coated with a varnish or wood stain ? or is this very dark brown colour just age ?

Rich, i will tell you what i know, mainly from observation.
EOP is for Elwood Ordnance Plant - i have no explanation for the multiple lot numbers (unless the crate was reloaded which i have seen examples of).
In my experience (and i am not saying this is the rule), crates with yellow markings have a brown under finish to them, almost like shed/fence 'paint'. I have three very clean WW2 marked AT mine crates, they are exactly the same colour inside and out, yellow markings on a russet coloured crate. When you think about it, this makes sense in that yellow markings on a white wooded crate would not stand out. All the original .30/.50 cal crates i have (75+) have black markings.

The markings themselves appear to be stamped on. The general "whats in the crate", and other standing info such as LOT No (as opposed to the number itself), flaming bomb etc in some cases leave a bit of an impression on the crate, so i have doubted that this was actually a rubber stamp, probably something with a bit more longevity. The actuall lot numbers and load date as far as i can see were a rubber stamp, usually much lighter in application (although the same colour), sometimes smudged (where the standing info is not) and not always lined up properly with the text which preceeds it.

I do not know what RIQCA/S stands for but i have seen it on a lot of crates from different Ord plants - so it must have been something which was generic to the contents - i would be very interested to know the answer to that. I did wonder if it had something to do with the type of explosive or propellant the rounds were loaded with?

I would image that steel case refers to the type of cartridge case?

The WW Inc is i think the manufacturer of the crate. I have seen this on other crates, not all of them, but some of them have a manufacturer marking on them.

Regards

Ken

I should qualify the above.
The crates with black markings are those which are natural wood, these also have the painted bands on them to denote the type of ammunition (yellow and blue, red etc).
I also have many crates which are painted in a chocolate brown colour (paint as opposed to the stain of the AT mine crates referred to above) with yellow markings on.
Regards
Ken

Cheers Ken I sort of did work that out, the shell is with the glass fibre company now, they did not seem to think it would be much of a problem to copy, we shall see, just waiting on a price !!!

Next time we 'collide' i have these cartridge cases for you.
Ken