Archives: Gmedia Albums

We think this relic, welded to a heavy gauge H beam, may be a points switch for a railway line. But do you know what it is, and what it did? If you do, please tell us.

This part has a helicoid or screw shape, it seems that it might have been designed to screw into a pipe of some kind. But do you know what it really is, and what it did? If you do, please tell us.

We know this is a clampy-chainy-hooky thing – but do you know what it really is, and what it did? If you do, please tell us.

This is a close up of the mystery item, referred to on our Enigma page, found firmly anchored to the floor a few metres inside the east wall near aisle 20 of IW (near location of internal railway line).

This is another close up of the mystery item showing the mechanism in more detail. It can be found firmly anchored to the floor a few metres inside the east wall near aisle 20 of IW (near location of internal railway line). See map below for location.

Bomb damaged F1 factory 1945. The huge V2 rocket factory shown badly damaged by air attack at the end of the war in May 1945

Incomplete V2 missile on rail transporter. All 4 control compartments are well shown. The fuel tank connection pipe can be seen but not much else. All of the control equipment has been removed. Plainly visible is the chicken wire holding the fiber wool tank insulation in place. Today this would be called ‘Galvanised hexagonal network restraining matrix, and be supplied by a blue chip Aerospace company for $800 per square inch. In the 1940s, it was just chicken wire at a 2 dollars for a 100 ft roll.

Control compartments 1 (upper) & 4 (lower) Image copyright Imperial War Museum

Control compartments 3 showing gyro mounting platform with two gyros and DC motor driven 3 phase AC voltage generator. The alcohol tank pressurisation pipe is also shown running through the equipment bay (large silver coloured pipe). Image copyright Imperial War Museum

Control compartments 1. Image copyright Imperial War Museum

Control compartment 2 showing plywood separation panels, Oemig umformer (DC to 3 phase AC voltage generator), and voltage frequency control box. Towards the rear the ground connection plugs can just be seen and the mechanism of the cable release trap door (see cat flap!). Image copyright Imperial War Museum

Control compartment 1 top right, 2 top left, 3 bottom left, and 4 bottom right. The fuel tank pressurisation pipe upper connection point is well shown at about 6 o’clock (compartment 3) and just above and to the right the upper plate of the air (N) tank rack (tan colour). Image copyright Imperial War Museum
showing plywood separation panels, Oemig umform