ATW meaning on a WW2 Air Ministry Bell

[Reader123]

I caught sight of a WW2 ‘Scramble Bell’ for sale and saw it was stamped with ATW next to the broad-headed ‘Government Property’ arrow. A trawl of the internet shows that this ATW stamp is common on these bells Does anybody have any idea what this ATW stands for?

It’s not the bell-maker as that has a separate stamp on the other side. Nor is it the stores number as that is known.

Thanks in advance!
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1153x1095/img_4172_ff51ed7e34b9700b5e5321218567e15f330634d9.jpeg

[ORAC]

Observations (http://www.scramblebell.co.uk/page3.html)

7. Some of the bells have small stamped marks on the very top, two or three initials and sometimes an arrow. Note that this arrow head is often or always sideways, this is still to be confirmed.

It should be noted that some have markings that have become indecipherable and some bells have no markings at all .

Having now examined over a score of bells we see no sinister reason why some have them and some don’t. You can see some of these stampings in the PICTURE GALLERY section.

Of the bells that we have studied the following pattern has emerged, these we have seen clearly:-

FCO on a 1936, 1938, 1939 and most likely (but not so clear) on a 1937 bell

AHS on three 1940 bells

GB on two 1941 bells

S > T on a 1941, 1942 and 1943 bells.

GB (GB over this sort of arrow) recorded on a LARGE 1941 bell

- - >

R O ( RO above this sort of arrow) recorded on a LARGE 1942 bell

>>>-->

We wonder what these mean, do they represent inspection marks or different makers marks. Do you have any real knowledge?

ALSO -- ATW and G & J (for the company Gillet & Johnson) are other known ones but so far these appears to be associated with small-script bells only.


8. Quite some time ago my attention was drawn to two Air Ministry stores numbers and it seems most likely that these were as follows

The AM Stores no 21C/1434 = Standard sized bell

The AM Stores no 21C/696 = Large sized bell

It is not usual for these numbers to be marked on bells. One remarkable bell has turned up with the full stores number stamped on it, dated 1938, it also has FCO & a sideways arrow too, and this is the only such bell that we’ve seen. See it in the Picture Gallery section.

https://auctions.tennants.co.uk/auction/lot/113-a-second-world-war-air-ministry-raf-scramble-bell-the-crown-top-with-atw-foundry-mark-and-with/?lot=2148419&sd=1

A Second World War Air Ministry RAF Scramble Bell, the crown top with ATW foundry mark and with broad arrow.

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/16960/lot/335/

A.T.W. made all pre-war scramble bells for the Air Ministry.

[golfbananajam]

Could it be American Tool Works?

[cynicalint]

Dated 1945, it is most certainly NOT a Battle of Britain Scramble Bell!

[GeeRam]

I'd be inclined to say they were the accepting inspectors initials, hence being next to the small broad arrow mark, which was done by the acceptance inspector.

[Reader123]

Thanks. I’d read all those links before.

As mentioned, it’s not the foundry name. The bell is stamped G&J which as noted above is the foundry. The ATW comes adjacent to the broad headed arrow.

Anything written in a Bonhams Oxford catalogue is to be regarded with suspicion. Here they are clearly wrong to say that ATW were the foundry, Gillet & Johnson having proudly stamped a large G&J.

I like the idea of its being the inspector’s initials.

[Innominate]

Dated 1945, it is most certainly NOT a Battle of Britain Scramble Bell!

I've heard that they were originally imtended for use as fire alarms, and were then employed by some units to announce scambles - I wonder how widespread that practice was...

[DogTailRed2]

Change ringing glossary – A (jaharrison.me.uk) (https://jaharrison.me.uk/Ringing/Glossary/A.html#allthework)

ATW = All the works? Sounds a bit dubious.

[sycamore]

Ref #4,but there were still `Scrambles` well after 1945....