14 replies to this topic

[koldt]

OK, Walter asked for it, so here ya go. This is a WW2 Canadian recruiting poster with the subject carrying a Bren Gun in each hand and a Thompson under his left arm.
Hopefully have the poster mounted and on the wall shortly.



I also have a shameless shot of my Bridgeport on it for size comparison.
Brad

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

Brad,
It appeard the artist's depiction of a Thompson is rather cartoonish compared to the Bren Gun illustrations. It probably has to do with parochial considerations since the Bren is a British/Commonwealth creation.

[Walter63a]

Brad, thank-you very much for sharing an important historical doument. Arthur, most WWII recruiting posters were 'cartoonish', since they were intended to influence the average guy, not an art critic.

[koldt]

Arthur, I think it has a bit to do with the angle of the pic. Here's a close up. The flash kinda fades the pic on the left side in this pic, but shows the Tommy Gun better.
I think it is proportionate to the rest of the artist's drawing.
Brits/Commonwealth were the first to use TSMG's during WWII, right from the onset of 1939.
Our govt did a series of these "Men of Valor" recruiting/propaganda posters.
They usually had a Francais equivalent as well, ever though they didn't get conscripted, but that is another story. Same photo but the wording translated.
I believe all were posters of VC winners.

[Walter63a]

Brad, thanks again. Also, stay in touch. I think most of the members of this board consider themselves members of a large extended family of Thompson aficionados and buddies, even though we don't always see eye to eye. Best regards, Walter

[Sgt]

Koldt--
Absolutely wonderful poster and there does appear to be a strong dynamic perspective. I'd love to have one hanging over my gun collection. Looks really good with the Bridgeport. Thanks for sharing!

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

Koldt,
You are right. The different perspective does improve the image of the TSMG.

Walter,
I never considered the WWI & WWII recruitment posters "cartoonish". In fact they are considered art by collectors today. Some of them are actually representative of surreal, and even cubist styles.

[Murray]

Arthur,
I know you are a "stickler" for accuracy so I hope you don't mind but the Bren
was not a British or Commonweath "creation" but rather a Czechoslovakian
"creation" developed from the model ZB26 at Bruno in Chechoslovakia and developed by the "poms" at the Royal Enfield Arsenal hence the name BREN
BR for Bruno and EN for Enfield.
Not with standing it certainly served our Commonweath Armies very well when it came to getting the "poms" out of trouble at ..well,....just about every where !!
Kind regards
Murray

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

Murray,
Yes of course you are quit right. My misuse of the word "creation" would suggest the Bren was "developed" by the Brits exclusively. I even own a Bren Ten made by Dornaus & Dixon who co-opted the name. You know I sometimes refer to MP-40's as Schmeisser's just because it sounds cool even though Hugo did not design the machine psitol. Who could fault being corrected by a collector who possesses those "Irish Swords". Now that is owning true history, unlike a certain piece of eye candy perpetrated by Curtis Earl.

[Bisley45]

Wonderful poster, the close up pic helped it's a bit dificult to get detail and perspective in the same photograph or at least for me. I just wish it was on my wall with an M1 does my talking poster.

BB

[koldt]

Arthur, maybe we should start a Thompson & Bren Ten board. I have owned 3 since 1985, all Standard Models. ... I was working in a small town in the interior of the Province of British Columbia with a population of about 25,000 back then. The small sporting good store up there brought in 5 Bren Tens, with each one having 2 mags! I heard stories of guns being sold in the US without any mags and this really small guy up here got 10 mags..
I now have 5 mags and actually shoot mine a bit. I also picked up some spare parts for it from Tim Lafrance. He was in San Diego then, don't know if he is still there. He had bought all of D&D's old stock, so I picked up extractor, firing pin, etc.

Speaking of 10mm, has anybody heard anything of the FBI's conversion of some TSMG to 10mm a few years ago?

Thanks guys for the good words on the poster and transit box!!!

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

Koldt,
Oh yah! I got a standard model 14 years ago from the original buyer. It is true that Dornaus & Dixon sent these guns out without mags back in 84/85. What a business! The company must have been kinder to our neighbors up north considering two mags accompanied your Brens'. The San Diego dealer sold out of those parts a dozen years ago. I did manage to get the Jeff Cooper grips though, but not through him. How do you feel about [/BSig P-210's?

[LIONHART]

Thats funny, I had talked about a Bren Ten last month to a fellow member. Never really hear about those anymore. I'm one of those who do refer to the MP40 as a Schmeisser. Just my .02. By the way, nice Poster, and thanks for sharing!

[Bisley45]

Thompson SMG's in 10mm ?

I've seen MP5's in 10mm, I also remember the cartrage beating up on one of my goverment models if I didn't keep the spring changed out religiously and still have my Glock 20. 10mm has it all over the 40S&W except you need a large frame not a 9milli. When it come to bullets I don't want to choose, I want big and fast.

Anone see any TSMG photos for 10mm conversion please let me know. What did they do to the mags to feed them ? I remember auto ordince had 38super sales literature but those have to be scarcer than hens teeth. they'd have to reform the lips and posibly reduce the diamiter of the magazine body and redo the folower.......

BB

[Murray]

Arthur,
I know you are a "stickler" for accuracy so I hope you don't mind but the Irish
sword count just went up to four!!!
Watch this space.
Kindest regards
Murray
PS, if anyone could tell me how to post some photos I could show them to you all.