Recent Find – First World War Turnbuckles!

It’s always nice to turn things up, especially when they’re really old.

Here’s part of a small stash of turnbuckles I picked up recently. Some are American but the majority are British AGS patterns.

Besides the later types AGS 490, AGS 493, AGS 506, there are quite a few of the AGS 141 and 142 patterns, as found on many WW1 aeroplanes.

Can anyone tell me when the later patterns were introduced? I’ve always assumed that it was post WW1 but I’ve seen a reference which claims they were in the Spare Parts list for the Sopwith Snipe.

As I understand it, the earlier patterns used HT steel for the eye/fork ends whereas the later ones used mild steel. I’ve seen an Air Ministry Notice from 1930 confirming that the old patterns were still permissable on civilan aeroplanes but can anyone confirm when they became “verboten”?

Thanks as always for any assistance! 🙂