Strange fixture found in my mini

[sr001]

Hi all, I have only recently registered for this forum, although I have been lurking in the shadows for some time very much enjoying the threads and banter posted.

Anyway, a recent discovery found during the resto of my '60 mini minor has got me intrigued, and has prompted me to finally get on here in a hope finding out what it is.

I found it wedged in the top box section of the B post where the seat belt anchor points would normally be. After having the car blasted I was running the airline around the cant rail-roof gap to clean out any sand when I discovered it. It was well and truly wedged and it took about hour to remove, I even needed to bend back to inner rail. The fixture has over spray on it of the original clipper blue paint, which suggests to me it got there when the car was assembled. I am assuming this as the inside of the car is in its original paint and with the exception of one wing it has never had any major work done.

So the question from me is. Is it maybe part of the shell assembly jig or just a bit of some factory workers garden gate put there for a bit of fun?

[guru_1071]

id guess its part of a factory shell jig - you will have to watch that old colour film of tthem building the cars and see if you can spot it!

interesting little item though!

[mk1]

I agree with rich completely. It certainly does have the look of part of one of the fixtures used to move shells around the factory. The only person likely to be able to shed any light on it here is Prof Peach, who was a former Longbridge employee, not as far as I know on the Mini line though.

Whatever it turns out to be it's certainly a very interesting find.