Saunders Roe Parts?

Andy K · Nov 8, 2019

I have had permission to metal detect on a south Cumbrian WW2 airfield for the past 5 years.
As you can imagine, I have tons of stuff, a lot of which I cannot i.d. so I have decided to try this forum.
These solid Brass parts have an SR serial number, which I have been told is for Saunders Roe.
But any idea what model of plane or what the parts are? 5 of them came out of the same hole.

Andy K · Dec 13, 2019

A few more items found metal detecting. Any help with identifying would be much appreciated.

safariman · Mar 31, 2020

Hi there I am a total novice but have found something similar to your 3rd picture and I believe its a fuel cap from a drop tank. Mine I think is from a P-51 Mustang.

I hope I am right and this helps

Regards
Neil

Cap1.gif

safariman
Mar 31, 2020

P-51 Drop Tank Cap

Andy K · Apr 9, 2020

safariman said:
Hi there I am a total novice but have found something similar to your 3rd picture and I believe its a fuel cap from a drop tank. Mine I think is from a P-51 Mustang.

I hope I am right and this helps

Regards
Neil

Cap1.gif

safariman

Mar 31, 2020

P-51 Drop Tank Cap

Hi Neil
Thanks for your message, l too am new to this website and to be truthful, I am more interested in ancient history than WW2, but have had a great opportunity to detect on an old airfield that is too good to miss.
Is the cap in your plcture heavy solid brass?
I have some other brass fittings which I guessed might be fuel related, but I am most pleased with the personal items that really connect you to the people stationed there.
Andy

Kingscoy · Apr 10, 2020

Andy K said:
A few more items found metal detecting. Any help with identifying would be much appreciated.

The no.15 IM cap could be ammunition related. End cap for a fuse or perhaps a blind cap...something in that direction.

elliott1940 · May 2, 2020

Hi Andy

Interesting parts! I have seen SR stamps on Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah aero engine parts - very common engine in Cumbria, used on Ansons and Oxfords. I would be really interested to see what else you found.

cammerjeff · May 4, 2020

The Items in Pictures 1 & 4 of your 2nd post are maintenance tools, #1 looks to be something like a Cleco to hold sheet metal parts together when riveting them together, you squeeze the end with the spring, insert the other end into the rivet holes and it clamps the two sheet metal parts together.
#4 is some type of cable tensioning clamp, I don't know what it was used for specifiically but it would be used to hold tension on rigging wires on older Biplanes. I suspect the 6 parts in the 1st picture may have something to do with rigging as well, but that is just a guess on my part.

Saunders Roe made many seaplanes & flying boats so many struts & wires to rig properly. Good luck with your search, and thanks for posting your finds.

ThomasP · May 14, 2020

Hey Andy K,

re item #3 in your 2nd post
S H & S is the makers mark for "Samuel Heath & Sons" and the No.15 indicates a number 15 size blow torch.
A brass foundry and manufacturer of all manner of brass hardware, including paraffin blow torches, paraffin stoves, and paraffin storage/transport containers for the military in WWI and WWII.

Andy K · May 17, 2020

Kingscoy said:
The no.15 IM cap could be ammunition related. End cap for a fuse or perhaps a blind cap...something in that direction.

Hi
Thanks for your input it will give me another angle to investigate.
Cheers
AndyK

Andy K · May 17, 2020

cammerjeff said:
The Items in Pictures 1 & 4 of your 2nd post are maintenance tools, #1 looks to be something like a Cleco to hold sheet metal parts together when riveting them together, you squeeze the end with the spring, insert the other end into the rivet holes and it clamps the two sheet metal parts together.
#4 is some type of cable tensioning clamp, I don't know what it was used for specifiically but it would be used to hold tension on rigging wires on older Biplanes. I suspect the 6 parts in the 1st picture may have something to do with rigging as well, but that is just a guess on my part.

Saunders Roe made many seaplanes & flying boats so many struts & wires to rig properly. Good luck with your search, and thanks for posting your finds.

Hi Cammerjeff
Thanks for your help. The spring loaded Cleco seems to be a likely identification and I shall investigate further. Actually since posting that picture I have found another identical piece.
As to the tensioning clamp you may be right there too, as I often find lengths of braided steel cable about the site.
Thanks again for you help, and I shall be posting a few more pictures shortly.
AndyK

Andy K · May 17, 2020

ThomasP said:
Hey Andy K,

re item #3 in your 2nd post
S H & S is the makers mark for "Samuel Heath & Sons" and the No.15 indicates a number 15 size blow torch.
A brass foundry and manufacturer of all manner of brass hardware, including paraffin blow torches, paraffin stoves, and paraffin storage/transport containers for the military in WWI and WWII.

Hi ThomasP

Thanks for your reply, that is some very specific information! A bit surprising to be a part of a Blowtorch, it must have been quite a big one!
I shall research further.
Thanks again.

AndyK

Andy K · May 17, 2020

elliott1940 said:
Hi Andy

Interesting parts! I have seen SR stamps on Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah aero engine parts - very common engine in Cumbria, used on Ansons and Oxfords. I would be really interested to see what else you found.

Hi Elliott1940

Thanks for your reply. You are probably aware that Ansons were the training plane of choice in the early days of the war, although very soon replaced due to their being underpowered and prone to engine problems, and so you may be right about the SR stamp mark.
If you would like to see more items, I intend to post a few more pictures soon, but I have literally boxes full of stuff. If you are in the area any time I might be able to arrange to show you if you are interested.

Thanks again

AndyK

ThomasP · May 17, 2020

Hey Andy K,

The No.15 size may be (probably is?) manufacturer and/or model specific. I think the No.15 in this case is for a blow torch with a 1 Impgal. capacity, but I could be wrong. You might want to contact the Blowlamp Society at "HOME".

ThomasP · May 26, 2020

Hey Andy K,

re your first photo of 6 parts.

The 36U stamp on 2 of the parts is the RAF stores designation for Armstong-Siddeley engine tooling.

The SR prefix is also used on nearly all Armstrong-Siddeley engine tooling.

H&G was the makers mark logo for Hepworth & Grandage when there was no room to put their full name on the item, and was also used for their inspector's stamps. Hepworth & Grandage made engine parts for a lot of engine manufacturers, including Armstrong-Siddeley, Bristol, and Napier, in the WWI thru post-WWII era. The parts were mostly concerned with the pistons, piston rings, cylinder sleeves, valves, etc. During the busy war periods they also filled special requests for fine castings of various materials - including (but not limited to) parts used on the tools used in conjunction with their engine parts. In this case the H&G with 10 inside a circle would be an inspector's stamp, probably for the finished machined part, but possibly just for the blank casting.

The W on the one part is maybe shorthand for 36W(?) which is the RAF stores designation for Bristol engine tooling, but that is a guess.

As far as the CW on 2 of the parts goes, I have no idea, unless maybe it is for C(?) and W(Bristol) engines?

I suspect the S/I/xxx in an oval is a Siddeley Inspector's stamp, but that is a guess.

Andy K · May 26, 2020

Hi ThomasP

Thanks for your comments, I knew someone out there would know what such clear marks mean.
I appreciate your helping me out.

AndyK

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