For those of yo uwho havent seen French amnunition crates I'd like to share two typicla models with you : one bullet crate ad one grneade one. the first model is a 1929 Model 7.5mm bullet crate -I think for Mas_36 bullets) . Labels are dated from the 1930s up to 1970 which means this box was used for over 40 years and recycled over and over again. This does not mean the bullets were actually used that late, but t could be a storage label until it was scrapped. This box survived the Phoney war, the Batlte of France and decolonisation wars .
The second box is an exercice grenade box for m-1937 grenade models. This box was also reused after the war and wa slast used in 1964. It still has its zinc box inside. picture of grenade here http://img28.imageshack.us/i/dscf5042v.jpg/
Nice boxes Your 7.5 mle 1929 round is slightly later than the Lebel, most likely intended for MAS36 rifle or any of these weapons; FM 24/29 light machine gun Reibel machine gun Darne aircraft machine gun MAC 1931 tank machine gun MAC 1934 aircraft machine gun FN-Browning mle 38 aircraft machine gun (recalibre of the M1919) 7,5 mm 1929C - Wikipédia 7.5x54mm French - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia trying to find label info to see if i can confirm what the 'T12AD' and the'L' mean. I believe the 'L'=Laiton the 'T' may = traçante with the 12AD indicating frequency and type of tracer round, but not found any confirmation of that yet.
Yes, I meant Mas 36 Spartan, by the time you wrote your first post I had already edited my post and posted the Mas 36 pic. Laiton = brass so that's correct and T stands for tracante (tracer)
Sorry Skipper. kind of got distracted searching - took me a while to post after I'd started. Finally found this; http://chasse-tir.ifrance.com/Glossaire Complet sur les cartouches.htm It would appear that; ALM = Atelier Le Mans AD probably = amorçage direct, but that isn't clear, perhaps you will be able to decipher that link better - my french is rusty these days. The '12' may possibly relate to the ball weight (Plombs No 12), my other guess is 1 tracer in 12 but that seems unlikely when packed in 15s Best i can find Edit; Maybe this sheds some light (it is for the 8mm lebel tracer, but some of the terminology may be the same); http://www.histavia21.net/amaviapag/TRacer8.htm '1882' could refer somehow to the base diameter of the projectile.
Wow I'm learning every day here, I didn't know about the LE MANS terminology: Here is more : The box held 45 boxes of 15 bullets(3 clips) total wiegt of box = 21 kilos the (caps) "amorces" (m-1951) are from Atelier T.S (Toulouse or Tarbes?) I found another great marking on the bottom dating from 1912 ! (so this means it was probably used fro Lebel bullets as well. The code is "C1 Mle 1912"
ATS = Tarbes. TE = Toulouse Small arms calibre markings (The Western Front Museum) mle 1912 seems to be update of the 1886 lebel cartridge; from; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebel_Model_1886_rifle
wonderful boxes Skip good to see these in comparison to the German ones, both sides really made the wood boxes "beefy" with subtle changes. Kriegsmarine were metal which the reasons are obvious with zinc liners for Flak ammo as an example
They are both beautiful. The problem is that they both smell like moist. I have cleaned them with alcohol, and even amoniac but the smell is still there, bad enough to keep them away from my collection. They are not rotten though, it's just the fact that the sealed cover was closed for so long, but the smell just won't go away.
dilute vinegar is apparently very good for removing this smell. Also dried coffee grounds are recommended in several places for in wooden drawers - just leave sealed up for a day or two this has some non-destructive ideas too; http://www.ehow.com/how_7388224_smell-mold-out-old-wood.html
Interesting boxes Skipper, thanks for showing them, I like them both.....bet once the smell is gone they will look great in a display
Skipper, very nice boxes. I would say the stench is in the wood. Letting them air out, outside will help but try leaving amonia in a dish inside the box for a few days and see if that helps. How did the French stack their ammo in these were they in bandoleers or paper boxes? A very interesting find congrats. They have been around.
I think cardboard boxes, at least one label says 45 bullets (9 clips) . I will try the amonia in a bowl + wind outside (when it's dry)
