A small Cigarette Case three and a quarter inches long x two and one eighths inches wide and three eighths inches deep. Marked inside is "N U Detonator- British Made- Assembled in England". The mechanism is present and has no signs of any explosive having been present. It is possible that it was an SOE item, or another similar organization and would be interested to know if anyone has seen one before, also when it was made and used by? It seems probable that it would be left lying around to be picked up, opened and presumably it would then explode. It is also possible that it was made for another country, perhaps America? Regards, Clive.
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Images 5 & 6Comment
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Images 7 & 8 - FinalComment
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I think it is something else, not a demolition devise but rather a joke. You set the spring loaded arm and someone goes to get a cigarette and when they open it the arm flies closed and makes a "bang" and scares them. Granted not the most sophisticated joke but once popular. I have seen the same sort of thing done with books. Also the figure on the cover appears to be an American football player.Comment
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I agree that it's probably a joke device and that might even explain the stamp, added when it was made or later, to drive home the 'point'. I may be wrong but I would think it was taking the military mania for labelling everything a bit far to stamp the inside of an explosive booby trap. Presumably whether it worked or not the label would be superfluous.Comment
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Many thanks for the comments. Definitely an item I am unsure about and could well be a joke item. Checking Google I did find one reference and an image from the Museum of World War 11 Boston. The caption states " British Cigarette Case which explodes upon opening". It is quite possible of course that this is incorrect. Regards, Clive.Comment
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Also could of been used as training item (We had a similar home made one back in my day) for booby traps.
Nothing teaches a young solder a lesson quicker than a good crack on the hand.Comment
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That's a possibility too, Byterock. if it was issued as a training aid that might explain the markings - 'We'll want that back when you're done with it, soldier.'Comment
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