Inter Acco ? machine gun mount

[Mike Cecil]

Yes, the cab roof/ground mount (it has a set of legs) designed for the No.1, 2.5 ton truck built by International. Not a trial: many were manufactured by Howard Auto Cultivators (HAC) - they were all sold off about 12-13 years ago, most never having been unpacked from their crates. A chap outside Canberra had over 100 in crates. Wonder what happened to them.

Mike

[Tony Smith]

While the ebay link is now dead, and we have no picture, I do recall the fitting discussed. The Australian versions were indeed made by Howard's, but they weren't designed in Australia for the Inter Mk1 apparently.

A UK Ebay seller is selling a copy of a British manual from 1953 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-cal-L1...gAAOSwo6lWQ1yc) that shows that these roof mounts were a British design, for a range of vehicles and received the nomenclature of Mounting, MG .50 AA, L1A1 and Vehicle Stand, L1A1.

Seems we adopted the mounting from the Brits and included it in the design of the Truck, 2 1/2 Ton, No1 Mk1. In this pic of a No1 Mk1 we can see the ball fittings on the roof

[Mike Cecil]

Interesting, Tony, well spotted. Can't say I ever delved into the history of the mount in any detail, so that's a revelation to me. But they were certainly made in Australia to be mounted on the Inter No.1 Mk.1 - perhaps the legs were re-designed to fit? In any event, it seemed like such an awkward contraption!

I accepted one for the AWM collection, which sits in a shelf in storage at Mitchell. Don't know if it has been cattle-dogged as yet - it was pretty far down the list.

May be you could send those images/references to the AWM for their interest,for when they do get around to looking at it in detail?

Send to the Duty Curator at MHT@awm.gov.au

Mike

[Richard Farrant]

Tony and Mike,
A lot of British trucks of the 1950's era had the fittings on the cab for this contraption, the illustration in the picture Tony attached looks like the Austin K9. The Leyland 6x6, AEC 6x6 and 6x4 were other, I seem to think the Humber 1 ton 4x4 (which Australia also had in service), had the fitments. Recently several of these Australian ones were brought to the UK as I understand. Never seen photos of them fitted in service though.

regards, Richard

[Ryan]

Who had the mounts for sale?
I remember a bunch at Corowa some years ago, $150 or so I think. Maybe I'm wrong. I wouldn't mind one now.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Who had the mounts for sale?
I remember a bunch at Corowa some years ago, $150 or so I think. Maybe I'm wrong. I wouldn't mind one now.

Hi Ryan,
I know who had them for sale at Corowa a few years ago, will contact him to see if he has one and let you know.

regards, Richard

[Tony Smith]

The only pics I have seen of them fitted are during the Trials. The Trials vehicles, P1 and P2 had very high canopies on the rear of the tray. Later vehicles in service had a lower roofline on the canopy, which would have seen the mounting protruding quite high and likely to foul any overhanging branches (as would the "trial" canopy itself). It may be that the Trials or Mk1 trucks had a trombone arrangement on the canopy support bows that enabled two heights to be selected, but later marks of the Inter only had one roof height.

In the very few available pics of Mk1 trucks in service, it is not usually possible to see the ball pins on the roof. Maybe the mounting was only considered during the trial, and discounted for production vehicles along with the higher canopy?

[Ryan]

Thank you sir.
You put the 'a' in Ace.

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Hi Ryan,
I know who had them for sale at Corowa a few years ago, will contact him to see if he has one and let you know.

regards, Richard