Fascinating info about prewar Diana factory

[Garvin]

https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....ory/#post-9323

[silva]

That was an interesting article. I wonder what happened to the Milbro and Diana tooling in Scotland more recently.

[45flint]

So few of the high end rifles exported, the 58 not even mentioned?

[greenwayjames]

Wonderful inside information. An amazing insight. You can picture a frustrated Mr Mayer being squeezed for the sort of information that rarely comes out of closed doors in a family owned company. He wasnt to know at the time of the money which would be pumped in by the US to rebuild the economy over the coming years and provide him with shiny new equipment. Thanks

[Garvin]

That was an interesting article. I wonder what happened to the Milbro and Diana tooling in Scotland more recently.

I vaguely remember reading that the machines were dumped in the Firth of Forth! Although I don't remember if it was supposition or based on anything factual. You'd think they'd be worth something as scrap?

[markH]

So the report was written by Col. Millard, and the machinery went to Milbro (Millard Brothers)??????? Must be a co-incidence I'm sure. OUCH!! Just bit my tongue in my cheek.

As an aside, when I worked for LH in the early 80s, there were loads of Dianas which had a grey finish on the metalwork. They were Meyer & Grammelspach. The finish was almost "Gritty" and someone told me it was phosphate. Can anyone cast further light?

[Garvin]

So the report was written by Col. Millard, and the machinery went to Milbro (Millard Brothers)??????? Must be a co-incidence I'm sure. OUCH!! Just bit my tongue in my cheek.

As an aside, when I worked for LH in the early 80s, there were loads of Dianas which had a grey finish on the metalwork. They were Meyer & Grammelspach. The finish was almost "Gritty" and someone told me it was phosphate. Can anyone cast further light?

I think Millard's presence is what's called a conflict of interest Mark.

Covering airguns with phosphate (cadmium?) is an anti-rust measure. Perhaps those M&G rifles were destined for tropical countries?

[Lakey]

I think Millard's presence is what's called a conflict of interest Mark.

Or another way of looking at it would be ----- if the the government was going to send a panel of people out to assess the worth of a gun manufacturers machinery, the delegation had better have some gun manufacturers in the team, to use their specialist knowledge. I think the Millard brother in question was a serving army officer in Germany at the time, so happened to be there anyway.

Doesn't Mr Thrale add to this story in his book on Webley Air Rifles ?

Lakey