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Vickers Shell Motor Spirit steam condensing can


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Need some help on this one. Picked this up today at a car swap meet. I would like to get an idea of how rare are these, and secondly how common is it to find one made in India? Note the top of the can says The Asiatic Petroleum Co (India) Ltd.

 

I was shocked to find it. The guy though it was a great rare European oil can. I don't have a copy of The Grand Ole Lady of No Man's Land so looking for some thoughts from the Vickers collectors. Is there such a thing as an Indian Vickers? Any of info in the book about why they used these cans instead of plain steel like the boring Brownings?

 

I can get some better pics but I am beat from a long weekend. Just wanted to get this out there.

 

Ron

 

Here's what I found on Indian Vickers. http://www.vickersmachinegun.org.uk/world-indiapakistan.htm

image.jpg

image.jpg

Edited by ron_brock
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There is a Vickers collectors page on Facebook you may try posting your question to.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vickersmg/

 

From what I have read and from what I have been told by collectors in the UK the reason these cans were used over something like that for the Browning is that these cans were so readily available.

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Vickers and Maxims were both used by the Brits in India but never manufactured there. Petrol cans were commonly used as water cans with the Vickers guns wherever they were employed, and for steam condensation to preserve water and prevent steam from giving away their position. Cans from GB, Ausstralia, India, and other places where the guns were issued or taken have showed up here. Values seem to be from $100-300 or so depending on condition and owners possessiveness.

As stamped on the can, Shell Corp is part of it all wherever the Vickers went and Shell cans were very common in GB. Brits were very good at saving money and production costs by using domestic products where they could.

Edited by Black River Militaria CII
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Some cans in use -

Vickers machine guns of 2nd Middlesex Regiment, British 3rd Division firing in support of troops crossing the Meuse-Escaut (Maas-Schelde) Canal at Lille-St. Hubert, Belgium, 20 Sep 1944.

http://i676.photobucket.com/albums/vv121/roscoeturner/Vickers/Vickers%20machine%20guns%20of%202nd%20Middlesex%20Regiment%20British%203rd%20Division%20firing%20in%20support%20of%20troops%20crossing%20the%20Meuse-Escaut%20Ma_zpsowyjwaw9.jpg

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