Spitfire relic

[Tonka]

Hi, I recently obtained this Spitfire relic, I am not really requiring an ID on this part as I know that it is part of the frame that held the armoured windscreen in, it has the part number 30030/368 or maybe 363 the last number is a bit harder to read. I know that the 300 indicates it was made for Spitfire Mk1 although the Spitfire this was recovered from was a Mk IIa but from what i understand the 300 part number can be used on any Spitfire mark unless it was modified. the 30 indicates that it is part of the main fairing the 368 or 3 I think is like an individual part number. What I am trying to find out is what the other markings are, there is what looks like might be a makers stamp on it, to me it looks like it says IRMA or IPMA? and there is a A in a round circle.
Attached to it is a seperate part made of a different metal, seems to have rusted more than the main part that has 1940 on it which I guess is the year it was made and also has a part number 30030/369, actually i just thought that the other number is probably 368 as they were both joined together. it has what I think says 1E SC but the E might just be part of the wear of the metal and just happens to resemble an E?
If anyone is able to tell me more about these markings I would be very interested to know.
The part itself was recovered from the wreckage of Spitfire MkIIa P8394 which was named Gibraltar it crashed on the 29th of January 1943 sadly killing the pilot, P/O Henri Jeanne Paul De la Bastita, it is thought that he blacked out due to his oxygen supply equipment failing.

 

[Wurger]

The factory stamp VACB 333 indentifies the Vickers Armstrong Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. Also , if memory serves, the numbers on the parts mean ... 30030 is the Spitfire Mk.I drawing number for the main fairing consisting of drawings relating to the Spitfire windscreen while the /368 and /369 are the part numbers.

 

[Tonka]

The factory stamp VACB 333 indentifies the Vickers Armstrong Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. Also , if memory serves, the numbers on the parts mean ... 30030 is the Spitfire Mk.I drawing number for the main fairing consisting of drawings relating to the Spitfire windscreen while the /368 and /369 are the part numbers.

View attachment 852624

Thank you very much Wurger. I did know the aircraft was built at the Castle Bromwich factory but I did not know that the stamp; on that other part would have useful information on it, for some reason I completely overlooked that!

 

[Wurger]

My pleasure.

Regarding the "IRMA" .. I would say that's a logo of the manufacturer that moulded/made the duraluminium part for the windscreen.

Tonka , may I ask if the part marked as the ESC L940 30030/369 is made of the aluminium or steel? Judging by the colour of the rust there it's made of a steel alloy. Am I right?

 

[Wurger]

OK. It is late here in Poland and the UK as well so it is the time to hit the sack. For the reason I'm leaving below my comment to the ID of the "ESC L940 30030/369"

If it's the steel the ESC stands for the English Steel Corporation Ltd that was owned by the Vickers, Vickers-Armstrongs and Cammell, Laird and Co . The L940 looks like the name of the material type that could be the Chromium Steel.

 

[Tonka]

My pleasure.

Regarding the "IRMA" .. I would say that's a logo of the manufacturer that moulded/made the duraluminium part for the windscreen.

Tonka , may I ask if the part marked as the ESC L940 30030/369 is made of the aluminium or steel? Judging by the colour of the rust there it's made of a steel alloy. Am I right?

Oh is it L? I thought it was 1940 assumed that was the date of manufacture? i think it is steel, it seems quite heavy compared to the rest of the frame.

 

[Wurger]

Oh is it L? I thought it was 1940 assumed that was the date of manufacture? i think it is steel, it seems quite heavy compared to the rest of the frame.

IMHO it is "L" though. If it would be the "1" the shape of the top of the sign was looking different and quite similar to the digit "4".

 

[Wurger]

And regarding the ID stamp with the letter A ... I haven't found a such factory marking in my notes listed. Actually a such marking had also the number of the controller like the one with the VACB identification. IMHO it is a marking smilar to the L940 and indicates the material it was made of. In the case the aluminium alloy.

 

[Tonka]

IMHO it is "L" though. If it would be the "1" the shape of the top of the sign was looking different and quite similar to the digit "4".

View attachment 852630

I think you are right it does look more like an L, thanks