The Spare Parts box was the method of carrying spares and tools for the Section. These were carried as part of the Section equipment and therefore for every two, or sometimes four, guns.
Box, Spare Parts & Tools, .303-inch Vickers Gun, Leather, Mark I
The box is of leather of the following dimensions:- 13 inches by 8¼ inches by 5½ inches (approximately), internally it is fitted with partitions, loops, and straps, to take the stores enumerated on p.82. It is closed with a lid which is secured by a strap. Carrying straps, with handles, are provided. The box also carries the spares parts case.
Box, Spare Parts & Tools, .303-inch Vickers Gun, Wood (Mark I)
[The] wooden box is supplied as an alternative to the leather box before described. [It] is fitted to take the same complement of spare parts and tools and the same pattern of leather spare parts case as carried in the leather box. The lid is secured by means of a spring catch, and carrying straps, with handles, are provided.
The [dimension] of the [box is] as follows:
Length overall 19 5/16 inches Depth overall 7½ inches Width overall 9 1/3 inches
The Mark I wooden box for the Vickers. However, this particular example is labelled up for use as a Maxim Spare Parts Box and therefore has different internal fittings (which have actually been removed).
Box, Spare Parts & Tools, .303-inch Vickers Gun, Wood (Mark II)
[The] wooden box is supplied as an alternative to the leather box before described. [It] is fitted to take the same complement of spare parts and tools and the same pattern of leather spare parts case as carried in the leather box. The lid is secured by means of a spring catch, and carrying straps, with handles, are provided.
The [dimension] of the [box is] as follows:
Length overall 15 1/5 inches Depth overall 8 inches Width overall 9 1/2 inches
- Cat No. C1/BD 0099, BOX, SPARE PARTS AND TOOLS, VICKERS .303-IN. M.G., MK. 2*, Empty
- Cat No. C1/BD 0101, BOX, SPARE PARTS AND TOOLS, VICKERS .303-IN. M.G., MK. 2*, Filled
- Cat No. C1/BD 0192, List of changes C 2493 and C 2875, CATCHES, SPRING, NO. 3 – Consisting of bottom plate with top plate, handle, latch and spring assembled and four 5/8-in. No. 10 flathead screws; and latch plate with four 5/8-in. No. 8 brass flathead screws. For Boxes, spare parts and tools, Vickers .303-in. M.G., Mk. 2*
- Cat No. C1/CA 0580, CATCHES, SPRING, NO. 3, Handle
- Cat No. C1/CA 0581, CATCHES, SPRING, NO. 3, Latch
- Cat No. C1/CA 0582, CATCHES, SPRING, NO. 3, Plate, bottom
- Cat No. G1/GA 1170, CATCHES, SPRING, NO. 3, Plate, bottom, Screw, brass, flat head, No. 10 x 5/8
- Cat No. C1/CA 0583, CATCHES, SPRING, NO. 3, Plate, bottom, Spring, plate
- Cat No. C1/CA 0584, CATCHES, SPRING, NO. 3, Plate, latch
- Cat No. G1/GA 1169, CATCHES, SPRING, NO. 3, Plate, latch, Screw, brass, flat head, No. 8 x 5/8
- Cat No. C1/CA 0585, CATCHES, SPRING, NO. 3, Plate, top
- Cat No. C1/CA 0586, CATCHES, SPRING, NO. 3, Plate, top, Screw, fixing
Box, Spare Parts & Tools, .303-inch Vickers Gun, Mk. III
- Cat No. C1/BD 6082, BOX, SPARE PARTS AND TOOLS, VICKERS .303-IN. M.G., MK. 3, Empty
- Cat No. C1/CA 0736, BOX, SPARE PARTS AND TOOLS, VICKERS .303-IN. M.G., MK. 3, Filled
A wooden box of the same dimensions as the Mk. II above but with a leather handle of the side and a pair of clips to secure the lid. All internal fittings are the same as the Mk. II.
The Mark III box is shown and the external differences can be easily seen, however, there were no internal differences from the later Mk. II boxes.
Boxes, Spares, M.G.
Three boxes are provided for the carriage of spare parts for guns in A.F.Vs. The No. 1 box is for emergency spares for .303-in. guns; No. 2 for maintenance spares for .303-in. and .5-in. guns; and No. 3 for emergency spares for .5-in. guns. The fillings of the boxes will be found in the “Equipment Scales for ‘A’ Vehicles”. The boxes are white and are stencilled with the appropriate nomenclature.
List of changes A 7766: BOXES, SPARES, M.G., No. 1, Mk. I – Tinned-plate; with hinged flap and lid; and tool bracket. For Vickers .303-in. M.G.
- Cat No. C2/BG 0026, …Empty.
- Cat No. C2/BG 0027, …Filled, “A”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0028, …Filled, “B”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0029, …Filled, “C”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0030, …Filled, “D”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0031, …Filled, “E”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0032, …Filled, “F”
List of changes A 7766: BOXES, SPARES, M.G., No. 2, Mk. I – Tinned-plate; with hinged lid. For Vickers .303-in. and .5-in. M.Gs.
- Cat No. C2/BG 0036, …Empty.
- Cat No. C2/BG 0037, …Filled, “A”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0038, …Filled, “B”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0039, …Filled, “C”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0040, …Filled, “D”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0041, …Filled, “E”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0042, …Filled, “F”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0043, …Filled, “G”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0044, …Filled, “H”
List of changes A 7766: BOXES, SPARES, M.G., No. 3 – Tinned-plate; with hinged flap and lid. For Vickers .5-in. M.G.
- Cat No. C2/BG 0048, …MK I, Empty
- Cat No. C2/BG 0049, …MK. II, Empty
- Cat No. C2/BG 0050, …Filled, “A”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0051, …Filled, “B”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0052, …Filled, “C”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0053, …Filled, “D”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0054, …Filled, “E”
- Cat No. C2/BG 0055, …Filled, “F”
Bags
- Cat No. C1/BD 0028, List of changes A 3312, BAGS, SPARE PARTS AND TOOLS, M.G., EMPTY, Mk. 2 – With leather details and shoulder strap
- Cat No. C1/BD 0029, List of changes A 3312, BAGS, SPARE PARTS AND TOOLS, M.G., EMPTY, No. 2, Mk. 3 – With leather details and shoulder strap
Sources:
Specific source references can be provided if required.