Blanking Board Holder
 

I took this off my Carrier for others to copy This goes to the left of the gunners left foot and is bolted to the side plate

Attachment 39403

George
 

Me thinks that is not for the blanking board, but for the gunners cleaning rod. If it is true, then how would the blanking board be held by it? Thanks for posting it George. One way or another we're learning. :salute:
Btw. your link comes up as invalid.

lower left, gun cleaning rod holder
Aidan

George
 

These pictures relate to a proper Bren ( not a universal) I think the MI, MkI*, and MkII, all had these fittings. The location of the blanking board is shown in the other picture. I dont know if the U.C's went this way.

My drivers handbook shows the board as being stowed behind the front gunners seat back. I put mine there and it fits just fine. Not sure where it would go on a MK2 carrier as the seat is different.

I thought we already went over this in another threat but I couldn't find it doing a quick search.

yup my Mk1* has this bracket, i think we discussed it not so long ago.

Richard
 

Which bracket?..... Which photo? :devil:

Blanking Board holder
 

Well thank's guys A year ago I lost an argument about this thing # 105344. I said the board went behind the seat but no the guys said this holds the board on a MK2 .I have two MK 1s and they don't have this on them .So I took it off my MK2 for them to make copies . I have to agree that it is for the cleaning rod .This was discussed a little over a year ago . Hey where is the guy that made these things ? He's got to be younger than me .

Lynn errr the original one that George posted for the rod... mounts on the lower part of the tub on the side by the gunners feet.....that one..... please dont make me hunt the old thread out. i cant remember but we were talking about the other bracket that mounts further up the hull by the gunners left knee which i thought at the time was part of the blanking board holder bracket....but was advised it was also part of the bren push rod bracketry......if this makes sense :coffee

Blanking board holder
 

lots of information on this Search " Blanking board" The thing is that the board and the cleaning rod go in the same area but use different attachments to hold them .On the other thread they state that this holder I posted is for the Boyes rifle cleaning rod and were used on the MK1&MK2 .If you have the holder ,did you have a Boyes rifle? Check out . Kevin Powles post on the forsale or trade post Nov 28,2010 .If anyone wants measurements for the rod holder I'll post some .

Rod holder
 

It makes sense that the front bracket would suit the boys cleaning rod if the carrier is fitted with a boys.

On the Mk1 Scout Carrier there is a simpler bracket which I will have to test to see if it holds the boys rod. Of course there is a holder for the bren cleaning rod under the lid of the stowage bin on left track guard.

If the blanking boeard stows behind the seat on the Mk1 Carrier, what stops it from rattling about ? Does it screw to the face of the bulkhead ?

Cheers

Phill

Variables
 

What we have to keep in mind here is that the stowage varied from theatre to theatre, and with the different countries of origin. I have a copy of "Universal Carrier Variants" by allied command Productions. It only covers the MKII*. Some variations had a service rifle tucked in there on the gunners left side. I think it is supposed to be a Vickers "D" handled cleaning rod (same rod works for the bren???) in there in the earlier carriers. I just cant remember where I picked that info up. Remember that these early machines carried a vickers as M.G carriers. If the same rod worked for the later Bren, then why change it. Makes sense for the gunner in the front to have easy access to it.

The blanking board fits nice and tight behind the gunners seat back. Dont forget that there is that adjustment rod at the bottom of the seat back. When it is in the "back" position it will hold the blanking board very tight.

Spring
 

The Scout has a spring steel fitting which holds the cleaning rod under compression against the inside of the hull. Unfortunately the bottom bolts on the the inside mounting of the idler bracket have rusted off so I can only guess that perhaps there was a socket as pictured at the beginning of this thread.

Cheers

Phill

Phillip
 

Is that spring steel clip riveted to the hull with two small rivets?

Yep
 

Either Rivets or small bolts. The spring itself has long been broken off but theres enough to see how it worked...

PS - check your inbox Lynn :salute:

Cheers

Phill