Strange Military Vehicle or Items to Collect

[Robin Craig]

So, in a moment of silliness I wondered today what is the oddest piece of kit we have or could save and own. Something that isnt your usual camo pattern SMP item etc.

I have seen this special speed trailer as I call it around Base Kingston, they have them at most of the bases as an education tool.

So my challenge to the rest of you is to think of and post a picture of something that you could own and save one day or perhaps you wish still existed.

[rob love]

ntxt!!

[maple_leaf_eh]

I have too many not working things. Does that qualify as use-less?

[Robin Craig]

Dear Terry,

You are off topic, already, I said strangest not useless.

Thanks Rob Love for the inclusion of the suitcase filter device, that was a cheap shot well below the belt, you know I already own one!

Admittedly I do like some odd duck things so it was a fair cheap shot Rob, no offence taken mate!

Robin

[Mike Cecil]

Hmmmm, I wonder if anyone has managed to acquire, let alone restore, a 'Trailer, 4 wheel, Pigeon Loft (Aust)' (complete with Pigeons, of course)??

I did have a 'Respirator, Infant' at one stage - funny sort of bag arrangement you put the brat inside, hopefully not forgetting to force-feed the air through the filter (or a blue-tinged brat might result!) It's now in the National Collection at the AWM, but I doubt it will go on display anytime soon.

Mike

[Robin Craig]

The Pigeon trailer would, dare I say it, be a hoot to own and display!

R

[Keith Webb]

I daresay the pigeons might take more restoring than the trailer.

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Hmmmm, I wonder if anyone has managed to acquire, let alone restore, a 'Trailer, 4 wheel, Pigeon Loft (Aust)' (complete with Pigeons, of course)??

I did have a 'Respirator, Infant' at one stage - funny sort of bag arrangement you put the brat inside, hopefully not forgetting to force-feed the air through the filter (or a blue-tinged brat might result!) It's now in the National Collection at the AWM, but I doubt it will go on display anytime soon.

Mike

[rob love]

When I ran the tool crib at a military unit years back, we had stock class catalogs which would list all the tools that were available in the supply system, organized alphabetically. The "5120" catalog was fairly large, covering "handtools, non-edged and non-powered". In it were various listings like "socket, regular length", or "wrench, open end" and under each heading would be the various tools and their Nato Stock Numbers.

One particularly amusing section had "tools, no known use", and then had listings of the various tools that fell in to that category.

I wish I had kept that page.

[Mike Cecil]

Robin, Keith, the lucky owner of a 'Trailer, Pigeon' would doubtless be cooing ...... or in a flap ....


'TOOL, NO KNOWN USE???' now that was a page worth saving! Really liked that one! And what a collector's item:

Spectator: 'What is it'?
Owner: 'It's a 'Tool, No Known Use, NSN 2054-66-1234-2309'
Spectator 'Oh, riiight...' as he wanders away perplexed to look at the jeep parts....

Mike

[chris vickery]

Although no pics right handy, there is a Bailey bridge section for sale locally that would qualify as one of those "just because" purchases.
Alternately, I have always thought that a GE searchlight and generator trailer to be one of those oddities that makes people ask "why?"

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Robin

You ask a very interesting question, that took some thinking, liked some of the other answers.

I've always wanted to get one of those radar speed units for a club event so we could all calibrate our speedometers. Having pair of Bailey Bridge section at the end of the drive would be interesting.

But for a really odd piece of military equipment how about a submarine periscope, now that mounted in the living room sticking up through the house would be interesting we have a pretty good view as it is but with a periscope might even be able to see the Atlantic Ocean with it fully extended. Beside seeing stuff you could mount the TV aerial on top of it so much neater to walk over turn your hat around backwards fold down the handles on the scope and swivel the hole thing around to aim it at the new channel.

Cheers Phil

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

I once owned an ejection seat from a CF-100 fighter jet...thought it would be great in the rec room for watching TV...until I tried it.

Years ago I took an interest in collecting old school text books from the late 1800's/early 1900's. Great titles like "Canadian Citizenship" and "Personal Hygiene". Then I found one on "The Women's Role in the Kitchen". It taught young ladies the proper way cook for their husbands and operate hand crank wringer washers. My wife found it an confiscated the whole collection. One serious comparison was between the "High School Reader" from 1916 versus the 1917 version. The earlier one was full of glorious war stories from Britain's military past, obviously to encourage young men to enlist. The stories in the 1917 version weren't all that glorious.

[David Dunlop]

I think there is a Legion Branch somewhere in the Maritine provinces beat you you to it. They have the periscope from one of two U-Boats owned post war by the RCN for a while, sticking up through the roof of their facility. Maybe they will sell it to you?😳

David

[lynx42]

[QUOTE=Robin Craig;212607]So, in a moment of silliness I wondered today what is the oddest piece of kit we have or could save and own. Something that isn't your usual camo pattern SMP item etc.QUOTE]

Robin, a great thread to which I have to add my moment of madness.

How about a LINK TRAINER for a Grumman Tracker Anti-Submarine carrier born plane.



This unit consists of two, yes two, 40 feet long aluminum clad trailers. One trailer is the plane and training studio and the other the computer to drive it. Today you could drive it on your laptop.

Here is a drawing layout.



Some of the 17 Grumman Trackers which were where the trailers were.



Pilots seat



Co-Pilots seat.





I will put up a few photos so you can see what I got.

Regards Rick.

[lynx42]

Both trailers have been locked up securely since 1982. The air in the cupboards is the 1982 air as I have not opened them yet.



Overhead switch panel.



Another view of the panel overhead.






Navigator area every panel inside the trainer trailer was or is covered with bubble wrap for protection.



View out the cockpit roof at the windscreens and nose cone.

Regards Rick.

[lynx42]

The id: plate on the Computer trailer.



The id: plate on the Link Trainer trailer



Bringing home the goods behind my mates old Mack.

Now the question is??? What do I do with them????

Regards Rick.

[Robin Craig]

Rick,

wonderful tale and pictures, thank you for sharing. Glad to prove that some of us are not restricted in our ability to collect different items.

I have been around Trackers when I was a volunteer at the Carp Air show here in Ontario many years ago.

Wonderful aircraft.

Robin

[Eric B]

Hey Robin

I was thinking... and you know who this is.

A spouse who tolerates collecting military vehicles, drinks beer, golfs and knows the difference between an M38A1 and M151A2.

And I got me one. (Of course I asked permission before posting this)

Here's to our spouses and partners who pretend they understand and tolerate our unusual collections.

Maybe its us who are unusual.

Eric