New Fred Cox facts

[ptdunk]

I recently got this comment left on my Britannia youtube video:

@ptdunk "Great video, thank you. My wife is part of the "Cox Family". Fred Cox was her great uncle and often spoken about at family gatherings. We have one of his air rifles.

Hello Michael, great to hear that members, or extended members of the Cox family may have seen this video. The fantastic photo of the Cox brothers was originally supplied by Fred's nephew, Mr Colin Reid, (your wife's uncle?) and Mr Bernard Hinchley spoke to Fred Cox about his air rifle and passed that knowledge on to others.
I was shooting another Britannia I have today at an airgun club and several people commented on what a beautiful, clever design it was, and how nice it is to shoot. I have many vintage air rifles now and the Britannia is still my favourite.
I have since found out that BSA's of the time had a max power of about 5.5ftlbs, so the 7.5 ftlbs of the Britannia really is a marvel.
If your wife has any info or documentation about Fred Cox she would like to share please let me know as their is precious little surviving as the records for C.G Bonehill were destroyed in the 1960's.
And may I ask, is the rifle you have one that was featured in the photo of Fred and his brothers? ie; with nickel plated sections or the finger spur protruding from the grip? Someone is planning to write a book about the Britannia air rifle so any new info would be very welcome.
Many thanks for saying hello.
Matt

@ptdunk Colin Reid was indeed my wife's uncle. Sadly he passed away some years ago. Did you know he worked for the Secret Service during the Cold War? He was the original "Q" as in the Bond films, at least that was his role, he was not named "Q". My wife was fascinated by your video and I think she might well have more stuff. I'll get it to you if she has. You commented on the power of the Cox's patent. I can tell you that it was nicknamed "Cox's Cannon". Kind regards. Mike.

Hi Mike, Great to hear that Fred Cox’s great niece found the video of interest, that is very gratifying. Learning it was called the ‘Cox Cannon’ is already very good info! Thank you. Please feel free to contact me via email and I would be very happy to pass information on to the gentleman who is writing the book, and also incorporate it into an upcoming video I’m planning on my other Britannia with peep sights.
Kind regards,
Matt"



So an interesting developement, and a fun fact for you John M, the Britannia was nicknamed 'Cox's Cannon'! And it seems ingenious design was a family trait.

I'll share any further info that comes out of this.

Cheers,
Matt

[Garvin]

I recently got this comment left on my Britannia youtube video:

@ptdunk "Great video, thank you. My wife is part of the "Cox Family". Fred Cox was her great uncle and often spoken about at family gatherings. We have one of his air rifles.

Hello Michael, great to hear that members, or extended members of the Cox family may have seen this video. The fantastic photo of the Cox brothers was originally supplied by Fred's nephew, Mr Colin Reid, (your wife's uncle?) and Mr Bernard Hinchley spoke to Fred Cox about his air rifle and passed that knowledge on to others.
I was shooting another Britannia I have today at an airgun club and several people commented on what a beautiful, clever design it was, and how nice it is to shoot. I have many vintage air rifles now and the Britannia is still my favourite.
I have since found out that BSA's of the time had a max power of about 5.5ftlbs, so the 7.5 ftlbs of the Britannia really is a marvel.
If your wife has any info or documentation about Fred Cox she would like to share please let me know as their is precious little surviving as the records for C.G Bonehill were destroyed in the 1960's.
And may I ask, is the rifle you have one that was featured in the photo of Fred and his brothers? ie; with nickel plated sections or the finger spur protruding from the grip? Someone is planning to write a book about the Britannia air rifle so any new info would be very welcome.
Many thanks for saying hello.
Matt

@ptdunk Colin Reid was indeed my wife's uncle. Sadly he passed away some years ago. Did you know he worked for the Secret Service during the Cold War? He was the original "Q" as in the Bond films, at least that was his role, he was not named "Q". My wife was fascinated by your video and I think she might well have more stuff. I'll get it to you if she has. You commented on the power of the Cox's patent. I can tell you that it was nicknamed "Cox's Cannon". Kind regards. Mike.

Hi Mike, Great to hear that Fred Cox’s great niece found the video of interest, that is very gratifying. Learning it was called the ‘Cox Cannon’ is already very good info! Thank you. Please feel free to contact me via email and I would be very happy to pass information on to the gentleman who is writing the book, and also incorporate it into an upcoming video I’m planning on my other Britannia with peep sights.
Kind regards,
Matt"



So an interesting developement, and a fun fact for you John M, the Britannia was nicknamed 'Cox's Cannon'! And it seems ingenious design was a family trait.

I'll share any further info that comes out of this.

Cheers,
Matt

Thanks Matt. You may want to remove your email address above...

[ptdunk]

Thanks Matt. You may want to remove your email address above...

Good point, thanks

[micky2]

Very interesting indeed, watch this space as they say.

[Josie & John]

Thank you Matt - that is a good find.

I wonder if the family have or know what happened to the brothers' rifles in the photo?

'Cox's Cannon' - I love it!

Kind regards,

John

[rapidresponse1]

yes very interesting

[Geezer]

Whatever Fred Cox did, I thought the inspiration for “Q” was Geoffrey Boothroyd. He wrote to Fleming suggesting Bond upgrade from a .25” Beretta to a PPK and a .38” Smith and Wesson revolver. Which suggestions Fleming accepted.

[ptdunk]

Whatever Fred Cox did, I thought the inspiration for “Q” was Geoffrey Boothroyd. He wrote to Fleming suggesting Bond upgrade from a .25” Beretta to a PPK and a .38” Smith and Wesson revolver. Which suggestions Fleming accepted.

I don’t think Mike was suggesting Colin Reid (Fred’s nephew) was the inspiration for the character of ‘Q’, just that he held a similar position during the Cold War in the secret service. Maybe before casino royal in 1954?

Who knows…

Cheers,
Matt

[Geezer]

I don’t think Mike was suggesting Colin Reid (Fred’s nephew) was the inspiration for the character of ‘Q’, just that he held a similar position during the Cold War in the secret service. Maybe before casino royal in 1954?

Who knows…

Cheers,
Matt

Could well be.

Equally, there were a fair number of such roles back in the day across the various MI entities, SOE, SAS, SBS, FRU, 14 Int etc.

Anyway, kudos to him for whatever grey/black thing he did IHMS in the past.

[Garvin]

Could well be.

Equally, there were a fair number of such roles back in the day across the various MI entities, SOE, SAS, SBS, FRU, 14 Int etc.

Anyway, kudos to him for whatever grey/black thing he did IHMS in the past.

Sounds like he was the Q before Q. P?

[cinechap9]

Cigarettes(of course!)

[ptdunk]

Cigarettes(of course!)

Probably quartermaster