Any idea what this is?

Cockpit is the remains of a long nosed Blenheim, which wouldn’t tally with the tubular frame rear so like you say has the look of bits thrown together.

Jon

Just a thought, It could of been a lettered disc for entering a magazine area. You enter an area that may have some danger of explosion and the disc would allow identification to who was in the area, a bit like a dog tag.

Sounds almost bronze then, wonder if it was a drilling guide? Cannot see why you’d stamp it otherwise.

Well, it’s not magnetic. As for what colour the metal is, good question – like my old barometer, I got the Brasso out, rubbed like a teenager with his first Razzle, and all that happened was I got a clean shiny brown surface as opposed to a dirty dull brown surface. Make of that what you will.

I have to say that a test piece would probably explain why it has no obvious function!

Adrian

Adrian
The way the metal is torn around the edge of the holes it makes me think the tool that made the hole was rather crude, perhaps just a steel bar or tube pressed into a block of something soft, perhaps wood.
I also wondered if someone was making some sort of letter ident discs discs, would the letters that are still visible fit in the size of one of the punched out holes, although saying that they do look a bit big. Perhaps they used a smaller letter size for the ones they punch out.

Richard

To me it looks like a machinist’s practice piece.

Practicing drilling & countersinking holes in soft sheet metal, practicing using a hammer & die stamp to place permanent letters on the sheet. Note the A, B, C next to the top 3 holes.

A magnet may be of some use ! I can see the verdigris which points to brass n copper but it looks like it may have rust on it, could be phosphor Bronze

Noughts and crosses marking is often shorthand for number as in number 3

Are you sure it is Brass ?

Not until I have a go at polishing it – which won’t be tonight!

I have, however, just learnt what a fly press is, so I’ve learnt something already.

Adrian

I would say it is a sheet used as a test piece for a fly press, I note that there is even a naughts n crosses etched into it. Very strange and very interesting.
Are you sure it is Brass ?

Don’t you just love this forum?

There will ALWAYS be someone out there who knows what even the most obscure object is….or….to put it another way, a sadder “rivet counter” than me!! :D:D

Thanks all, especially KIGAS and AIR MIN.

What makes this doubly interesting is that by a process of intelligent deduction (it was tough, but I got there in the end!!) I think I now know the specific aeroplane this probably came from. I need to rummage in my files now….

Is that a general bomb loading diagram Air Ministry?

It’s from the Blenheim IV Volume I.

Like with so much of this stuff, the key may be common to several types.

Whats in the end of the tube Tangmere ?

Is that a general bomb loading diagram Air Ministry?….that bomb bay cross section looks familiar !!

I think Kigas is on to something…

Yup I would go with smudge on that one,although it is similar to some old pin extractors they would not have any locking holes around the A55 end.

cheers baz

Smudge

That sounds to be the best suggestion so far….even if not the most original!:)

To answer Elliott….no part numbers at all that I can find.

It looks very much like the locking device that secured the bomb carriers in the Blenheim, which was a `T` handle the holes around the circumference would have taken the locking pin to stop it rotating. They had two of these and it picked up through holes in the top of the bomb bay. The gun pack carriers for the fighter variant was secured in the same way.

Smudge

I’m, sure you’re right Andy – especially as it’s green. Any part numbers?

Just thinking aloud…Beaching gear tool
or perhaps Depth Charge fuze setter :D:D:D