Bren Mag Loader

[Robert Bergeron]

Nice Rob.

But the British / Can Mk 1 is entirely different as it will only load from 5 round clips. Does someone have a picture handy for that model or is it model A on Rob's picture ?

If I recall there a no feet on the Mk1 and it should fit the storage box on the MK1 Carrier.

Ford changed from the MK1 Carrier to the MKII because the new Bren mag loader did not fit the box on the MKI ( wink, wink ,smile ) .

Did not make any sense anyway to bother making a specific storage box on an small armoured vehicle for a specific mag loader in the first place !

But for collectors and restorers it's a nice challenge and makes for subject matter for treads on MLU !

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

Ford changed from the MK1 Carrier to the MKII because the new Bren mag loader did not fit the box on the MKI ( wink, wink ,smile ) .

Ah, but wait, carrier production history is never that clear cut. My March 1943 Mk.1* has no provision for the mag loader box. Never fitted...which saves me from worrying about this whole discussion!!

[Lynn Eades]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

Ah, but wait, carrier production history is never that clear cut. My March 1943 Mk.1* has no provision for the mag loader box. Never fitted...which saves me from worrying about this whole discussion!!

So Bruce, that would be the reason why some battery box lids are missing the 4 mounting holes. I had assumed the mag loader had just moved somewhere else.

[rob love]

By that time the loader was obsolete, since it was found to be quicker to load the magazines by hand than by the loading tool. Of course, it would take a little while to trickle down to the designers at Ford who could make the necessary changes.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by rob love

By that time the loader was obsolete, since it was found to be quicker to load the magazines by hand than by the loading tool. Of course, it would take a little while to trickle down to the designers at Ford who could make the necessary changes.

True. That is why late 1943 (or even early 1944?) Mk.1* carriers were still being built with that folding aerial contraption on the rear right complete with the (obsolete since 1941) 11 set aerial base. And no, the Bren magazine loader was not relocated as Rob correctly says.

[Ron Pier]

My 1944 MK2* has this which I believe is something to do with loading the Bren. Can anyone enlighten me please. Ron

[Ben]

Ron, I think that's for loading the circular 100 round magazines.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

Nice Rob.

But the British / Can Mk 1 is entirely different as it will only load from 5 round clips. Does someone have a picture handy for that model or is it model A on Rob's picture ?

Nope, it is item C on the picture. The loader is made to clamp onto the bren magazine chest I believe.

[Marc van Aalderen]

Loader A is the ZB loader in which you drop a clip with 5 rounds of 7,92x57 Mauser cartridges. The same loader as in Dusan's photo.

Cheers,