Milbro (Diana) .22 barrels

[CapitalBee]

Hi,
Just purchased a Diana (Milbro) model 27 in .22". Before it arrives, I was wondering if Milbro stuck with 5.5mm bores for their .22 rifles or went to 5.6mm, meaning I have to find some vintage pellets.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[junglie]

My late 70's G80 was 5.5 if thats any help?

[Geezer]

Interesting. Always assumed they'd be the bigger UK version of .22". Does that mean they also had the war reparation German Diana barrel-making machinery, or that (like e.g. Sussex Armoury/Jackal in the 70s) they bought in metric barrels from "the continent"?

[T 20]

Interesting. Always assumed they'd be the bigger UK version of .22". Does that mean they also had the war reparation German Diana barrel-making machinery, or that (like e.g. Sussex Armoury/Jackal in the 70s) they bought in metric barrels from "the continent"?

I always thought that the Allied forces confescated all the airgun designs and machinery from M&G and gave it to Milard Brothers on the understanding that they set up a production facility in a deprived area of the UK.
Which is why London based Milard Brothers (Milbro) ended up with an airgun manufactiring plant in Motherwell, Scotland.


I'm sure Danny will be along to correct me if I'm wrong.

[Geezer]

I always thought that the Allied forces confescated all the airgun designs and machinery from M&G and gave it to Milard Brothers on the understanding that they set up a production facility in a deprived area of the UK.
Which is why London based Milard Brothers (Milbro) ended up with an airgun manufactiring plant in Motherwell, Scotland.


I'm sure Danny will be along to correct me if I'm wrong.

I think that is absolutely right. But barrel-making machinery is big and expensive and many, many makers buy barrels in from specialists, as they do from stockmakers. This suggests that Milbro, as part of the confiscation, got that equipment.

[DSidelever]

I'm fairly certain ( ) that Millard Bros had ALL the production machinery from the M&G Rastatt works and they were keen on their sleeved smoothbores for a long time after most other makers decided they were 'non-sellers'. Most of Milbro's decisions seem to have been based on keeping prod. costs down (IMO).

For many years prior to WW II Millard Bros. were major customers of M&G - the best I can say about their "asset stripping" (of M&G) is 'if they hadn't, someone else would'.

None of which is any help in deciding if & when Milbro made the change to 'metric barrels'. Most other british makers changed in the mid-60's, I think.

[Garvin]

I always thought that the Allied forces confescated all the airgun designs and machinery from M&G and gave it to Milard Brothers on the understanding that they set up a production facility in a deprived area of the UK.
Which is why London based Milard Brothers (Milbro) ended up with an airgun manufactiring plant in Motherwell, Scotland.


I'm sure Danny will be along to correct me if I'm wrong.

From memory my understanding is that the M&G factory was in the French zone after the war, Mick, and that it was 'auctioned' under the reparations scheme. Millard Bros secured it with a higher bid than Webley's (IIRC from what Chris Thrale wrote). I also remember a story about why they set up the factory in Motherwell but I'm not sure if it was a condition of the purchase or whether there were government grants available?

[Josie & John]

I always thought that the Allied forces confescated all the airgun designs and machinery from M&G and gave it to Milard Brothers on the understanding that they set up a production facility in a deprived area of the UK.
Which is why London based Milard Brothers (Milbro) ended up with an airgun manufactiring plant in Motherwell, Scotland.


I'm sure Danny will be along to correct me if I'm wrong.

That's my understanding of the situation. I have a copy of the allied report into the M&G factory and my overview is scheduled for an article in Airgun World at some point. Just can't say when!

John

[DSidelever]

Please make sure you get the company name right (you know what Terry's like ).

Millard Brothers

They decided to look modern by reduction!

If you dont believe me...here's young Mr Grace -

"Millard Brothers
September 1902. Ploughs.
July 1907. Lawn mowers.
1945
1949. Diana air-guns.
1958.
1958.
March 1959. Abu-matic.
July 1962.
September 1962.

of 76 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2. Telephone: Bishopsgate 6841-6. Cables: "Milbro (Finsquare) London"

of Diana Works, Carfin, Motherwell

Millard Brothers has been distributing Hardware and Sporting Goods in the UK and Ireland since the early 1900s.

1937 Millard Brothers (Ireland) Ltd. was registered.

1947 British Industries Fair Advert for La-ze-li Luxury Hammock. Also advert for Sporting Goods of Distinction: "Milbro-Scout" Model G. 1 Airgun; Model Sailing Dinghy; "Milbro-Kay" Rink Roller Skate; "Milbro" Darts; also Fishing Tackle, Reels, Rods, Toboggans, "Adams" Dinghy Kits, "Milbro" Catapults etc. (Sports Goods Section - Olympia, 1st Floor, Stand No. F.1839) [1]

Millards focus narrowed over the years mainly to Fishing Tackle, Sporting Firearms, Ammunition and Security products.


See Also

1947 British Industries Fair


Sources of Information

1947 British Industries Fair Advert 422; and p186

Millard Brothers (Ireland)[1]

Categories:

Town - Motherwell
Retailer

And "young Mr Grace's" website can be viewed here -

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Millard_Brothers

[Lakey]

I do believe that there was a Major? Millard in the army board that recommended and approved the allocation and bidding on war reparations at the end of the war .... co-incidence

[Josie & John]

I do believe that there was a Major? Millard in the army board that recommended and approved the allocation and bidding on war reparations at the end of the war .... co-incidence

There was indeed a Mr Millard among the allied inspectors Lakey.

Kind regards,

John

[T 20]

That's my understanding of the situation. I have a copy of the allied report into the M&G factory and my overview is scheduled for an article in Airgun World at some point. Just can't say when!

John

Hi John.

My own understanding of Diana and Milbro history comes from a series of articles published in Airgunworld about twenty years ago on the history of Dianawerk.
This would have been after Milbro ceased production as the articles mentioned M&G reacquiring the rights to use the name Diana in the UK.



All the best Mick