Vickers Machine Gun Carrier Mk1 No1

[kevin powles]

Folks, Is this the earliest Carrier in existence?, precedes, Bren, Scout or Cavalry carrier. Featured in Nigel’s Vol 1 book

[kosbie]

Awesome project

[eddy8men]

excellent project and well worth the effort

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Exciting find, is it yours?

H.

[kevin powles]

Hi Hanno, Yes it is, one of only 14 made according to the book, will look for some date stamps but built in 1936 - 1937 I think.

[ajmac]

Where had that been hiding Kevin? I would have thought they were obsolete before WW2 even started!

[David Dunlop]

Is it CMM 986?

David

[kevin powles]

Hi, It had been saved by a gentleman many years ago and now I have it I’m going to restore it, still has its engine, gearbox and radiator in. I’ll have a proper look at the CMM number to see exactly what it is, but I understand from reading Nigel’s book several of the 12 or 14 were modified for development purposes, this one appears to be still in its original configuration.

One interesting point is the front idler is mounted lower than the later carriers.

Kevin

[Petr Brezina]

Great find Kevin!

[jack neville]

Now that’s a project!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by kevin powles

Hi Hanno, Yes it is, one of only 14 made according to the book, will look for some date stamps but built in 1936 - 1937 I think.

Hi Kevin, what an amazing survivor, a shedload of work but it will be worth it in the end!

You are to be commended for taking on this project

H.

[kevin powles]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Hi Kevin, what an amazing survivor, a shedload of work but it will be worth it in the end!

You are to be commended for taking on this project

H.

Yes, It needs saving, nothing earlier than this one I’m aware of and it’s what all other carriers are derived from.

Kevin

[RichardT10829]

Absolutely amazing ! It’s in good hands now too.

[Rob Beale]

This adds to the development story, with the Scout and Bren survivors.

Please post detail pics when you can of the pedals if they are still there, and the rear of the hull with the towing eyes etc.

Rob

[kevin powles]

Hi Rob, unfortunately the foot pedal are no longer there, but a picture of the tow arrangement is attached.

This is CMM 985 which is T1829 which was the second carrier built by Vickers Armstrong under contract T2996 one of 14 made. I will contact Bovington to try and get more details and pictures if they have any of this carrier.

[kevin powles]

The fuel tanks are almost Have size also, same turnbuckles with two straps.

[Ron Pier]

You'll need a big bottle of SLOSH for those Kev. Ron

[kevin powles]

Originally Posted by Ron Pier

You'll need a big bottle of SLOSH for those Kev. Ron

Yes Ron, I’ll mix it up thick 👍

[kevin powles]

Here is the instruction manual for the Vickers MG carrier, also covers Bren, Scout and Cavalry carrier, the forward section mentions the 14 made of mild steel. Also note each fuel tank is ten gallons capacity for all types the book covers, Calvary has additional tank.

Kindly supplied by Richard of the Vickers MG Collection.


https://wetransfer.com/downloads/7d9...8210018/184114

[RichardT10829]

at least the tank fittings are still present. John Wiseman makes perfect repro caps, both vented and none vented variants.

[kevin powles]

Originally Posted by RichardT10829

at least the tank fittings are still present. John Wiseman makes perfect repro caps, both vented and none vented variants.

Hi, Yes I’ve seen Johns work it’s outstanding, the fuel tanks still had the turn buckles there to. I think I’ve got a vented cap somewhere but will be wanting another one.

Anyone know who the go to guy is at Bovington Tank Museum for archive stuff and whether Vickers have a vehicle archive ?

Also the Dash looks different on the Vickers Carriers.

Kevin

[kevin powles]

This is what the tank museum has to say :

The Contract Card is dated 8.4.1936 and gives the T numbers as T1828 to T1840 AND T19821. The last one was delivered separately 26/3/1937 (hence the different T number and the different registration number that you can see in some of the photos DMV 877). The reverse states that 7 were fitted with Zenith Carburettor Type 42 VE.I. and 7 with Solex Carburettor Type 30 ??? FF.I.. It doesn’t say which ones are which though… A copy of the contract card is £5.

I have located a list of the drawing numbers used in the vehicles construction, but I don’t think we have any of those drawings here. Tyne & Wear Archives might have some if they were given any documents from the old Vickers factory before it closed. That’s where we got our drawings from, but as I said, I don’t think we have any for the No.1 Mark 1 MGC.

You can see how they modified the top armour during development to form the shape of the sloped bren carrier.

[kevin powles]

One further pic, will get hi resolution copies of these.

[kevin powles]

Here is the contract card.

[kevin powles]

Removed the radiator today, it appears at some point a modified mk2 carrier radiator had been fitted, this suggests the carrier was used after 1942. The top mount bracket from the original radiator has been soldered to the mk2 radiator and the side stays removed to get it to fit. Will send it off for refurbishment this week.

Also to note the carburettor choke knob is located above the decision plate.

[Lynn Eades]

Also to note the carburettor choke knob is located above the decision plate.[/QUOTE]
Kevin, I believe all the pre Universal carriers had the choke control knob mounted at the division plate.

[kevin powles]

Hi Lynn, Yes you can see it in this picture. They must of used a commercially available type from that time. I think the one I have can be restored, the focus is on retaining all the original parts.