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Post by bluetrain on Jul 19, 2010 5:40:52 GMT -8
Whatever happened to the Mills Equipment Company? Did they go out of business or get bought out by someone? No doubt some outfit in India acquired their machinery.
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johnt
New Member
Posts: 16
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Post by johnt on Jul 24, 2010 14:41:52 GMT -8
The Mills Equipment Company was purchased by the RFD Group in 1968. RFD had previously purchased GQ Parachute Company in 1963, and in 1970 the three companies merged to form RFD-GQ. In 1975, this company was reorganised and divided into RFD Inflatables Ltd., GQ Parachutes Ltd., RFD Systems Engineering Ltd., and RFD Mills Equipment Ltd. By the way, RFD Mills Equipment still start all of their design drawing numbers with "ME", just as M.E. Co. originally did.
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Post by bluetrain on Jul 26, 2010 3:19:39 GMT -8
Many thanks for the answer. I have an accumulation of Mills Equipment gear, some pre-WWI American, other British, mostly post-1940. But I don't recall seeing any obvious manufacturer's markings on the P-58 or current webbing that I have, which is not to say it isn't there. I've just taken no note of it.
The oldest webbing I have is American, which I just inherited from my father-in-law's estate, and is marked with an American address (don't have it in front of me). I was surprised to see that it was a pale olive green and in virtually new condition. It consists of a pistol belt (with a d-ring for a sword hanger) and a magazine pouch for a .45 auto, which still contained a single magazine. It was loaded, too, and it had the little lanyard loop on the bottom. I'm certain it had always been with the outfit because the lanyard loop produced a small rusty dimple on the underside of the flap. There was also a first aid pouch, which was not a Mills product, containing the original first aid dressing in a thin metal, not quite foil, box. It was marked on the back with the name of the original owner, who was a relative of a relative.
I also received a similiar set that had belonged to my father-in-law. Except for the first aid pouch, it was a WWII production and quite dirty and greasy. Obviously it had been well used, where the first one had obviously never been used much. The first aid pouch with my father-in-law's belt was actually a year older than the other set.
Family stuff. Now I have to keep it.
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Post by steved409 on Jul 27, 2010 4:52:50 GMT -8
Quite collectible. The lanyard ring mag is very sought after.
Interesting info on MEC.
SteveD
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Post by leighm25 on Dec 8, 2010 19:23:08 GMT -8
The Mills Equipment Company was purchased by the RFD Group in 1968. RFD had previously purchased GQ Parachute Company in 1963, and in 1970 the three companies merged to form RFD-GQ. In 1975, this company was reorganised and divided into RFD Inflatables Ltd., GQ Parachutes Ltd., RFD Systems Engineering Ltd., and RFD Mills Equipment Ltd. By the way, RFD Mills Equipment still start all of their design drawing numbers with "ME", just as M.E. Co. originally did. Thanks for the very imformative answer John.
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Post by eland90 on Mar 8, 2011 14:33:16 GMT -8
Twenty years´collecting and finally had my question answered! Thank you John.
The only P´58 webbing marked is the South African stuff made by Fram in Jo´burg. And they stopped marking with the introduction of the P´70 stuff.
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