Shaw Loading Machine For Marlin Browning Links

Hello all,

I found this in one of my local haunts. There is scant information on it, but I did find the U.S. patent. There was a couple of paper tags pertaining to the RCAF in the box.

I am going to try and post a few pictures first, to see if it will load on my first post...







Brian

Ok, so that worked. I tried a post before this, but it must have been my link to the U.S. patent that was a no go for now. The patent for this is dated to 1918, but this was in a wooden box with tags dated December 1944. I understand that the Avro Lancaster bomber used .303 cartridges in their machine guns. I hope that some of you can shed some further light on it.



Cheers... :)

Brian

Hello again :)

Maybe I have this in the wrong forum... ?  Or is this item not considered a Canadian Military Collector's item? I do believe that these were used by ground crews between sorties to load machine gun belts, but this idea is from what little information that I have been able to find.

After taking the initial pictiures that I posted, and looking on the Net, I decided to go back and purchase the box of parts. I could see that there was at least two complete units, but wasn't sure what else was in there.

It turned out that there are 3 complete units and two extra handles...





So, am I on the right track as to what these were used for ?

Regards.... :)

Brian

Belted .303 ammo was used in some fighter aircraft as well as in some bomber turrets. That's a nice find.

I have to say, interesting item in deed. Way outside my area of medals, but it is made of metal. Sorry tired and poor attempt at humour.

I would think that the armourers would certainly have used this. I think more than a few of our aircraft were .303. Wonder what all it could have been used on.

Good morning, and thanks for the replies :)

It is interesting to note that an American firm came up with the idea. With a patent date of 1918, I would think that the experiences in WW1 would have been the impetus for coming up with it. The Vickers MK1 was a good example of a medium machine gun used in the European theater of WW1, which used .303 ammunition. Although the Americans were late to the war, they likely saw the effectiveness of the Vickers and how bullet proof" (pardon the pun :) ) it was. The Vickers MK1 was then adopted to all roles in WW2 as in fighters, bombers, infantry, trucks and, I believe, tanks as well.

I know one WW2 veteran that I have done work for in the last few years. I should go pay him a visit with one of these. Maybe he can shed some additional light on it. He was involved in the Itallian campaign.

Brian :)