Manufacturers’ Markings

Many Vickers MGs are not directly marked as to who the manufacturer was as the War Office contract guns did not require anything further than a serial number. The exception to this rule are the Commercial Guns as the manufacturer wished all to know who produced the gun as an additional marketing technique. Component parts and accessories often included a manufacturer marking for traceability.

In the Second World War, this was reduced to a alpha-numerical code with N for Northern, M for Midlands and then S for Southern, followed by a number. Manufacturers’ markings are sometimes accompanied by a year of production, which could be the full four digits or just the two end digits.

For additional information on the history of UK companies, the links go to Graces Guide.

B

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
B & Co Ltd.Bradley Bar & Sheet Iron Company, Bradley, BilstonNo 6 and No 7 Belt Boxes
BABathurst Annex (a feeder factory for the Small Arms Factory, Lithgow, Australia)Extractor
BAGCRAFT LTD.Bagcraft, Sackville House, 39-40 Picadilly, London, W1VGO ammunition pouches
B.A.M.Burroughs Adding Machine Company, Nottingham and Glasgow.Muzzle cup
B.H.&G.Barrow, Hepburn & Gale, Grange Mills, Grange Road, Bermondsey, LondonOil can cases
BSA (and three rifles)Birmingham Small ArmsMonopod
BUSBritish United Shoe Machinery Company, Leicester.Extractor
B.W.Ld. LondonBowden Wire Co., Willesden Junction, LondonMuzzle cup
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (B).
  • B & Co Ltd on No 7 belt box. Bradley Bar & Sheet Iron Company, Bilston.
  • B & Co Ltd on No 6 belt box. Bradley Bar & Sheet Company, Bilston.
  • BA on extractor. Bathurst Annex, Australia.
  • Bagcraft Ltd. on Vickers Gas-Operated magazine ammunition pouches. Bagcraft, London.
  • B.A.M. on muzzle cup. Burroughs Adding Machine Company, Nottingham.
  • B.H.&G. on oil case case. Barrow, Hepburn & Gale.
  • BSA (and three rifles) on monopod. Birmingham Small Arms.
  • BUS on extractor. British United Shoe Machinery Company, Leicester.
  • B.W. Ltd. London. on muzzle cup. Bowden Wire Co., Willesden Junction, London.

C

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
C.P. Ltd.Caoutchouc Products Ltd. – possibly Continental Caoutchouc and Guttapercha Co, Holborn Viaduct, LondonVGO single ammunition pouch
CRDClimax Rock Drill Company, Carn Brea, CornwallFeedblock top pawl, crank handles
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (C).
  • C.P.Ltd. on Vickers Gas-Operated magazine pouches. Caoutchouc Products Ltd.
  • CRD on feedblock top pawl. Climax Rock Drill, Cornwall.
  • CRD on crank handle. Climax Rock Drill, Cornwall.

E

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
E inside DRoyal Small Arms Factory, EnfieldDirection dial pointer, Mark IV tripod
EFDRoyal Small Arms Factory, EnfieldMark I ammunition belt
EvertautEvertaut, Walsall Road, Perry Barr, BirminghamNo 2 Mark I .5-inch ammunition box
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (E).
  • E inside D on Tripod Direction Pointer Mk. II. Enfield.
  • E inside D on Mark IV tripod crosshead. Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield.
  • EFD on ammunition belt. Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield.
  • Evertaut on .5-inch No 2 Mark I ammunition box. Evertaut, Birmingham.

F

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
FBPFábrica de Braço de Prata, PortugalPortuguese-made Vickers MG, Clinometer, Ammunition belts
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (F).
  • FBP on M/930 Vickers, Fabrica de Braco de Prata, Portugal
  • FBP on ammunition belt. Fabrica de Braco de Prata.

G

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
G S WGeneral Steel Wares, Canada2 Gallon Can
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (G).
  • G S W on 2 Gallon Can, General Steel Wares.

H

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
H & E Ltd.Hooper & Edman, BirminghamNo. 8 Belt Box
H. BrindleyH Brindley, Ltd, Birmingham.Belt repair tool
H.T.&S.Herbert Terry & Sons, Redditch, Worcestershire.Feedblock bottom pawl spring
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (H).
  • H & E Ltd on No 8 Belt Box. Hooper & Edman, Birmingham.
  • H Brindley on belt repair tool. H Brindley, Limited, Birmingham.
  • H.T.&S on feedblock bottom pawl spring. Herbert Terry & Sons, Redditch.

J

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
J & J.T. Ltd.John & Joseph Taunton, BirminghamNo. 8 Belt Box
J.B.& CoJones Brothers & Company, WolverhamptonNo. 6 Belt Box
JIJohn Inglis and Company, CanadaBarrels
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (J).
  • J & J.T. Ltd on No 8 Belt Box. John & Joseph Taunton, Birmingham.
  • J.B.&Co on No 6 belt box. Jones Brothers & Company. Wolverhampton.
  • JI on barrel. John Inglis and Company, Canada.

M

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
M/268Westley Richards, BournbrookTrigger lock
M 78Elkington & Co. Ltd, Newhall Street, BirminghamMonopod
M 602Alfred Bray & Sons Limited, Leicester.Mark IV tripod
M 603British United Shoe Machinery Company, Leicester.Extractor
M.611Mellor Bromley Co., LeicesterSlide No 1
MAMade in AustraliaFeedblock top and bottom pawls springs, Slide No 1
MCMonotype Corporation, Salfords, RedhillExtractor
M.E.CoMills Equipment Company, 56 Victoria Street, Westminster, London, SW1VGO ammunition pouches
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (M).
  • MA on Feedblock Top Pawls spring. Made in Australia.
  • MA on feedblock bottom pawls spring. Made in Australia.
  • M/268 on trigger lock.
  • M 78 on monopod. Elkington & Co Ltd, Birmingham.
  • M 602 on Mark IV tripod. Alfred Bray & Sons Limited, Leicester.
  • M 603 on extractor. British United Shoe Machinery Company, Leicester.
  • M.611 on Slide, No 1.
  • MA’42 on slide, No 1. Made in Australia.
  • MC on extractor. Monotype Corporation, Redhill.
  • M.E.Co on Vickers Gas-Operated magazine pouches. Mills Equipment Company.

P

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
P & P Ltd.Peyton & Peyton, BirminghamNo. 8 Belt Box
PAParkes Annex, (a feeder factory for the Small Arms Factory, Lithgow), Parkes, New South WalesExtractor
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (P).
  • P & P Ltd on No 8 Belt Box. Peyton & Peyton, Birmingham.
  • PA on extractor. Parkes Annex, Australia.

R

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
RCDRoyal Carriage DepartmentTripod mounting blocks
RFIRifle Factory Ishapore, IndiaExtractor
R.P.LtdR Parkyn LimitedWebbing ammunition box carriers
RPL over SRheem Australia Proprietary Limited, SydneyNo. 8 and No. 10 belts boxes
RTRandwick Tramways, SydneyMark IV tripods
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (R).
  • R.C.D. 1913 on Tripod mounting blocks. Royal Carriage Department, 1913.
  • RFI on extractor. Rifle Factory, Ishapore, India.
  • R.P.Ltd. on ammunition box carrier. R Parkyn Ltd.
  • RPL over S on No 8 belt box. Believed to be Rheem Proprietary Limited, Sydney.
  • RPL over S on No 8 belt box. Believed to be Rheem Proprietary Limited, Sydney.
  • RT on Mark IV tripod. Randwick Tramways.

S

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
S 26Climax Rock Drill Company, Carn Brea, CornwallFeedblock casing
S 81Monotype Corporation, Salfords, Redhill Extractor
S 254Portadyne Radio, Portadyne Works, 18-19 Gorst Road, London, NW10.Mark 5 tripod direction pointer
S 343Nicholls & Janes, St. Mary’s St., High Wycombe, BucksSpare parts box Mark III
S.J.&E.F. Ltd.S.J. & E. Fellows Limited, Vulcan Works, WolverhamptonNo. 6 belt box
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (S).
  • S 26 on feedblock. Climax Rock Drill Company, Carn Brea, Cornwall.
  • S 81 on extractor. Monotype Corporation, Redhill.
  • S 254 on Mark 5 tripod direction pointer. Portadyne Radio.
  • S 343 on Mk. III Spare Parts and Tools Box. Nicholls & James, High Wycombe.
  • S.J. & E.F. Ltd on No 6 belt box. S.J. & E. Fellows Limited, Wolverhampton.

T

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
T.F.&S.LdThomas French & Sons, Dyer Street, Chester Road, Manchester.Stripless ammunition belts
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (T).
  • T.F.&SLtd on Mark III ammunition belt. Thomas French & Sons Ltd.
  • T.F.&S. Ld. on Mark IV ammunition belt. Thomas French & Sons.

V

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
V inside CVickers Armstrongs CrayfordRear cover lock
VAVickers Armstrongs.5-inch Mark V
VACVickers Armstrongs CrayfordExtractor, rear cover lock
V.A.ER.Vickers Armstrongs ErithClass C Vickers machine gun
VANVickers-Armstrongs (believed to be Newcastle)Feedblock casing
VSMVickers, Sons and MaximTrigger bar, crosspiece, rear cover lock
VSM in circleVickers, Sons and MaximSlide No 1
VSM MVickers, Sons and Maxim – the ‘M’ is believed to indicate the ‘Maxim’ works at Erith.Fusee, trigger lock
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (V).
  • V inside C on rear cover lock. Vickers Armstrongs Crayford.
  • VA on .5-inch Mark V. Vickers Armstrongs.
  • VAC on .5-inch extractor. Vickers Armstrongs, Crayford.
  • VAC on extractor. Vickers Armstrong Crayford.
  • VAC on rear cover lock. Vickers Armstrongs Crayford.
  • V.A.ER. on Class C gun. Vickers Armstrongs Erith.
  • V.A.N. on feedblock. Believed Vickers Armstrongs Newcastle.
  • VSM on bottom of rear cross-piece. Vickers Sons & Maxim.
  • VSM on trigger bar. Vickers Sons & Maxim.
  • VSM on rear cover lock. Vickers Sons & Maxim.
  • VSM in circle on slide, No 1. Vickers Sons & Maxim.
  • VSM M on fusee. Vickers Sons & Maxim – ‘M’ believed to be for ‘Maxim’ works at Erith.
  • VSM M on trigger lock. Vickers Sons & Maxim – ‘M’ believed to be fore ‘Maxim’ works at Erith.

W

MarkingManufacturer detailsExamples found on
W.T.&Co.Wynn, Timmins & Co Ltd., BirminghamBelt repairing tool
Manufacturers markings on Vickers MGs and components (W).
  • W.T & Co. 1916. on Belt Repairing Tool. Wynn, Timmins & Co Ltd., Birmingham, 1916.

Sources