25 pdr project

[lynx42]

G'day Shaun,

I've attached a couple of photos of my 25pdr. Built by G & J Weir in Scotland in 1940. It is No. 266. (The Australian War Memorial has one by the same manufacturer, No. 504.)

I have the breech etc. but I am missing the striker case and firing pin. If you happen to find one in your travels, or any one on MLU has one, please let me know.

I also have an Australian Short 25pdr. It is No. 0175 but is pretty sad. Certainly saveable and and it will be with a bit of hard work.

I have not been able to find any records as yet at the AWM but a trip to Canberra is on the cards.

266 now lives in our museum colllection which is a lot better than sitting outside like it used too.

Regards Rick.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Shaun - I am not sure how this can qualify as a funeral carriage. Most funeral carriages I have seen have been flat tops so somebody might have just used it for a funeral for an artillery person. It definitely does not look like the run of the mill funeral carriage. If it is only a one off with no real provenance I would rebuild the gun. The key word here is Provenance and the research to establish that.

Bob

[shaun]

Hi Bob,
The organisation i got this from has other funeral carriges (13pdr and 18pdr) all with provonance. Is one had no provenace and is in a poor state so it was decided it had to go. There was a wooden tray supported by 2 brackets above the barrel. the tray had rollers and a raised edge. You van see one of the brackets still attached. when it came up for disposal i just happened to be in the right place at the right time (benifits of the job).
I have access to 3 other 25pdrs in our museum collection so i will probably copy the missing parts if i cant get the genuine parts.
I will have a look and see if i have the parts you need. I hold a firearms dealers license here (UK) so shipping is no problem if you are covered your side of the 3rd rock.

TTFN
Shaun

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Shaun - your further explanation puts a different slant on this carriage. I agree entirely with Rick to keep it as a funeral carriage. It would be a darn sight less expensive to replace the upper tray, rollers etc. as it would be to rebuild another 25pdr. You already have access to three and they really are a dime a dozen unlike funeral carriages. There is nothing bizzare in having one. I personally like the more unusual vehicles and this is no exception. In fact this is like having two vehicles in one, a 25pdr undercarriage with a tray top converting it to a funeral carriage.

Enjoy your sleepless nights mulling this one over.

Bob

[shaun]

Hi Bob,
Now working in the museum world this is a conundrum oftern encounted . What to do with an artifact ????? - preseivation , conservation or restoration ???? if its restoration what period in the artifact history do you restore it back to.

I will ponder some more, im not likley to start on the restoration this year.

TTFN
Shaun

[Stuart Kirkham]

Not sure if you have seen this photo Shaun. Look very similar to yours.

British army, Cyprus mid 70's.