Yesterday I rescued a set of 75mm Pak 40 wheels which were due to go who knows where, but certainly not befitting of such items.
They are in excellent nick overall, albeit missing one of the bearing caps on one wheel. The rubber is well used either in combat or in its post war years as the front wheels of an old horse drawn cart.
Even after 60 odd years of dirt, rain, snow and insects both wheels spin perfectly!
It has definately seen combat as there are several scrapes and holes punched through by fragments.
One hole can be seen in the third picture directly above the bearing at about 1 o'clock.
I am unsure of the axle but it does fit the wheels perfectly. There is a square cut thread, just off centre, covering about one third of its section with a channel cut down its length.
I suspect that it was either fitted post war from some other military hardware or it is all that remains of an adhoc artillery piece e.g. French 75mm.
I'm thinking of stripping the whole lot down, sand blasting it and repainting.
I also need to do some weight training because it is bloody heavy!
They are in excellent nick overall, albeit missing one of the bearing caps on one wheel. The rubber is well used either in combat or in its post war years as the front wheels of an old horse drawn cart.
Even after 60 odd years of dirt, rain, snow and insects both wheels spin perfectly!
It has definately seen combat as there are several scrapes and holes punched through by fragments.
One hole can be seen in the third picture directly above the bearing at about 1 o'clock.
I am unsure of the axle but it does fit the wheels perfectly. There is a square cut thread, just off centre, covering about one third of its section with a channel cut down its length.
I suspect that it was either fitted post war from some other military hardware or it is all that remains of an adhoc artillery piece e.g. French 75mm.
I'm thinking of stripping the whole lot down, sand blasting it and repainting.
I also need to do some weight training because it is bloody heavy!
Glad these did not go to the scrapyards!
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