Identifying a Relic.

Seems to me to be a good idea to have a thread with this heading.....

Just back from my Normandy holiday and now the Fun Part II begins - trying to identify the relics ( Fun Part I was finding the stuff ).

Walking the fields between Chambois and Moissy in the Falaise Gap, I spotted this tiny circular object lying on the surface.



As can be seen from the 10p piece, it's really small. However, it's obviously non-ferrous and as it has a broken 'axle', looks as though it may have been an adjusting wheel of some kind.

Of course, there are always those who will immediately say that it's part of an old washing machine, or something off Farmer Giles' tractor.....

Back home, and a gentle rubbing-over with an old toothbrush reveals something embossed on the inside of the 'wheel' ; three letters and two figures ; -



Under strong magnification, that's 'hkb42' which even I recognize as a German Manufacturers' Code ( so, it's not part of a washing-machine or tractor ).

Luckily, the internet has some very good sites listing the codes and so it's fairly easy to find that 'hkb' was : -

J. Weissensee GmbH, metallwarenfabrik of Fulda

and the part was, of course, made in 1942.

'J. Weissensee' are still going strong, specialising in copper precision parts for air conditioning, medical equipment, etc.

And as to exactly what 'my' part is, well...who knows ? But there's no doubt at all that it's a bona fide relic of the Falaise Gap......

 

That looks to me like a British 10 pence coin.











Oh? You mean the one on the left? Err, can't help you on that one I'm afraid.

 

Is a part of a filter system of a German gasmask.
(information thnx to my own forum)

 

Nick - that's great !

Thank you very much indeed - and to give credit also where it's due, when I showed the relic to Jagdpanther44 in Chambois last week, he immediately said 'Part of a German gasmask' but then wasn't so sure.

Well done, guys !

 

This is another quite nice relic from Normandy. I found this in the small wood at Le Bas Aubry which overlooks Moissy and Chambois and was used during the River Dives crossing by German artillery.

Some scrubland had recently been cleared and had revealed a number of pieces of unrecognizable metal, but this piece was complete : -






It is too rusty to reveal any marks but it's relatively undamaged ; the rubber gasket inside the lid is very brittle but complete which is remarkable after 64 years.....

I think it's a lid ( the spring-clip and hinge are still there ) from a steel carrying-canister of a shell ; I don't know what type but the lid is 13cm across.

I like it - it's one of the best relics I found last week.

 

Its German thats for sure... its a lid of a artillery container or something. Were used for many types.

 

I hereby nominate 272VGD as the WWII Forums 'Rusty Relic Expert'.....

 

Hahaha thank you very much!! I guess....

 

To put a picture with the story.
This is an container for the German Nebelwerfer (I believe so), with the same lid as yours.
They where also used on 8,8 cm Flak containers and other calibers.

Sorry but this is the best picture I have... I sold the container a few years ago because I didn't found it myself.

 

Good show Nick! I was going to say a lid too, but I hadn't thought about a Nebelwerfer. It's hard to be sure though as Martin's lid is in a battered condition, but both items look alike.

 

I know for sure but I can't show you guys because the item is not in my posession anymore. But ones again this kind of lid was used for all kind of container-stuff.

Regards,
Nick

 

I cannot tell for certain but is the lid hinged and or threaded for a screw on or off type of lid ?

 

It's just hinged, with the rubber gasket to seal against moisture.

Thanks for the image, Nick. I've seen these containers being sold ( for very high prices ) at Militaria fairs but again - I know that my relic was there, in the 'Hell of Falaise'.....

 

and it's your relic Martin and the sentimental value makes it priceless for the finder

 

Well, this one has rather defeated me so far...anyone got any ideas ?

Here's the actual moment of finding it in a Falaise 'Corridor of Death' hedgerow.....




And here it is after just a gentle cleaning-off.....



The drain-hole and pressed ribbing should be a give-away ; I've definitely seen these for sale at Militaria fairs and I'm fairly certain it's the base of some kind of munitions carrying-case....?

 

It is an part of a US or UK mortar container.
Used for different types of mortar's, like the US 81mm but also the UK 3 inch types.

Between 2 of this steel "ends" the mortars where fitted in carton containers.
The 2 ends where hold together by an iron whire located in the hole you see in the middle.

 

I found these a lot near Groesbeek, a few years ago.

 

Once again, thanks Nick !

I knew I had seen these somewhere before.....

 

nice pics thanks may i ask what did you do with all your findings

 

I take a few with me, also the UK jerrycan with bullit and scrapnell holes. The rest I leave behind, you find these very often, it isn't funny anymore after a while.