Irish Vickers Machine Gun ‘Pram’ Handcart

This handcart was something only used by the Irish Army between the 1930s and the 1960s. It’s a bespoke item for the Vickers machine gun and carries the gun, tripod, 1,000 rounds, condenser can and spares.
The video talks you through the restored example in our collection along with some Pathe News clips from the period.
For more information on the restoration, go to: vickersmg.blog/2018/01/15/pro...
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[@hasdrubal121]

This is a fantastic piece of Irish Army History. I never heard of those "prams" before. I was in the FCA(TA) for two years in 96-97 and trained on the FN FAL 7.62, the Been .303 and the Steyr Aug 5.56.
The changeover from the German Style Bikers helmet to the English style "Tommie" helmet during the Second World War was about optics. I don't know if it's true but I heard that the vast majority of those pattern helmets were mercilessly destroyed and buried in pits in Army Barracks all over the country. I shudder to think of the waste.

[@vickersmg]

Thank you. Glad you liked the video. We’re really happy to have one of these in the collection and just need to finish restoring the other type.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

lovely piece of kit and a fantastic restoration job

[@vickersmg]

Thanks. I’m glad you like it. Hopefully you’ve clicked through to the post about restoration.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

@@vickersmg i did indeed, reminds me of my british signals MKIV line laying trolley, tho mine has austin 7 wheels and tyres with hub nut holes made offset so when one undos the nuts ,with a simple twist, the wheel and hub come off the body for ease of transporting in a vehicle.

[@vickersmg]

I know the one you mean. The other version of the handcart, with more tubular components looks quite similar too. I suppose there's only so many ways you can build a handcart.

[@heritage195]

Excellent. Well done. Superb piece of history. If memory serves me right the Irish Army also produced a 'Mortar Cart' variant which had a metal lattice body, further reducing the weight.

[@vickersmg]

Thanks. We have another design in the collection that may be the mortar cart. It’ll get restored and then probably be up for sale as it’s superfluous.

[@watchdog8891]

Excellent program, keep up the good work !!

[@vickersmg]

Thanks Nick. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@kevinofishero]

Another fantastic video. Keep em coming 😎

[@vickersmg]

Will do. I don’t think I’ll run out of things to ramble about anytime soon.