*British, 1939, No.209 Mk II Anti-Aircraft Time Fuse, Aluminium Alloy, Broad Arrow Marked, Inert*
An early- World War II British No.209 Mk II mechanical time fuse, manufactured in December 1939 for use with heavy Anti-Aircraft (AA) high-explosive shells—most commonly the 3.7-inch AA gun. Produced in aluminium alloy with a two-piece outer casing, the fuze stands approximately 11 cm tall and 6.8 cm in diameter.
The upper section carries the graduated time ring, numbered 0–9 in seconds and additionally marked with black/red interval scale (-10 to 40), with the characteristic vent-holes in the nose. The time ring still rotates. The interior shows an inertised, non-functional mechanism. The fuse unscrews into its major components exactly as photographed.
Markings • “No.209 – II. T.G.Co. 12/39” — Fuze pattern No.209 Mk II, manufactured by The Thornycroft Gear Co., dated December 1939. • Broad Arrow — British government ownership mark. • “201150” — Serial/batch number. • “199” — Additional batch/inspection number. • “CY4/40” — Likely a secondary factory or inspection stamp, dated April 1940. • Additional alignment/setting marks engraved around the body.
These early aluminium-cased examples were produced in limited numbers prior to the shift to steel and zamak bodies later in the war, making them an interesting pre-Blitz AA artefact.
Historical Note The No.209 series was the standard British mechanical time fuse for heavy AA guns at the outbreak of the Second World War. When fitted to the 3.7-inch AA shell, it governed the timed air-burst required to engage high-altitude enemy aircraft—particularly during the 1939–40 “Phoney War” period and the 1940–41 Blitz. December 1939-dated examples represent some of the earliest fully wartime-issued AA fuses, produced during the rapid expansion of Britain’s anti-aircraft defences.
*Condition* Inert and fully free of explosive content. The aluminium casing shows age wear, abrasions, and oxidisation from storage and ground exposure. Stabiliser holes and setting ring are intact; rotating ring stiff but movable. Nose section removes and re-fits properly. Underside shows typical corrosion from burial or long-term outdoor exposure. Clear, legible markings as noted. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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