The gearbox casing is quite likely to have been cast from Elektron, which was a magnesium alloy developed by a German company in the Inter War period. A company was formed in England in the early 1930's to produce Elektron castings. I know that the gun mantlet in the Vickers Mk6A was cast in this metal. It is light and stronger than cast iron. The gearbox casings on the Ferguson TE-20 tractor were cast in this metal and are part of the main spine of the machine, so on doubting the strength.
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Richard
1943 Bedford QLD lorry - 1941 BSA WM20 m/cycle - 1943 Daimler Scout Car Mk2
Member of MVT, IMPS, MVG of NSW, KVE and AMVCS
KVE President & KVE News Editor
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