Well the exciting news is that I came home to a DVD containing the photographs from the two Vickers Armstrong albums held by Beamish Museum.
My first impression was the quality of the photographs. There are also some "action" shots from the trials at Wool in February 1925 and February 1927, and from the Canberley demonstration to Dominion Premiers on Novemeber 13th 1926.
Some Pathe footage of this event can be viewed on YouTube:
Other impressions were how much they were giving half tracks a real go, and there are some very interesting photographs including bridging equipment. I can't remember seeing any of these photographs in print before.
So what next? I think I will set up a new blog for the photographs and encourage knowledgeable people to make comments which can be added to the posts.
This may take some work; my immediate need is to make sure I have all the original captions from the books, which I don't at the moment. I hope to spread a few interesting photographs around here and on suitable forums. I am quite keen on this so I expect to nake substantial progress quickly - if you remember how fast the Georland blog was done I have a similar commitment to this project.
Once I have a reasonable amount of material on line I will go live and then continue to add to it over time. I hope there will be a substantial amount of information made accessible soon.
6 comments:
That seems like a good plan... indeed a whole blog devoted to Vickers & subsidiaries has to be a winner... what a resource!
May I suggest that 'commenters' include their source(s)? A lot of good sites have been spoiled by opinion trumping fact. Obviously sometimes you have to guess or make an informed judgementl, but it should be a point to make it clear that you are.
Most people tend to do this, but others often speak authoritatively but without substance, either by omitting the sources (guilty here), or without actually having any evidence to support their 'thoughts'.
Well done and kudos for taking this on.
I loved the 18 pdrs on the okd wheels being towed and the early use of a bridgelsyer and sp arty as well as the 1/2 tracks. Not so sure about the 3 wheelers.
What splendid footage,thank you so much for posting.What terrible weather in the footage. It is amazing to see the real life counterparts of the Dinkies I loved as a boy in action.I really look forward to reading more. I cannot add any erudite comments like others but can enthuse with the best of them. I have 50+ 40mm semi flats of tin hatted,puteeed soldiers and one semi flat ww1 vintage tank. I think I will use them in some interwar gaming. I am looking for side views/line drawings of interwar tanks I can make into card tanks to use with them any suggestions for where to get some illustrations to use?
Looking forward to the new blog!
Alan
I'm really looking forward to seeing the pictures when you have everything sorted.
Alan there is a George Bradford book in the series World War II AFV plans, published by Stackpole Books and avaialable cheaply enough on ebay and/or Abebooks. The first three plans are the Carden Loyd Mk VI, Rolls Royce A/C 1924 pattern (but with the desert open topped turret), and the Medium MK II** which would give you a start.
Another source of plans would be old Tankette magazines - there is an index on the MAFVA site - but then you would need to track down individual issues.
Great video
Could not help but see the A12 Matilda II running gear's genesis in these early vehicles
Thanks for posting
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