PlU 700 x 700mm Map Table –Variations
Correct me if I am wrong.
Knew nothing of this table before my restoration.
Still not understand the meaning of ‘Planunterlage’.
From the postwar 1953 Norwegian manual translated as:
‘TABLE, PAINTING, FIRE CONTROL, 700 700 mm, w/accessories.‘
From the Geräteliste there are other sizes existing; the smaller PlU 440 x 680mm and the big cross leg PlU 1100 x 1170mm.
Also based on this list to learned that the correct size of my table is 700 x 700mm.
Let’s concentrate on this size as this is the most common version found by the collectors.
My brief research from available photos on internet showing that there are two versions of the PIU 700x700mm Map Table.
I call it the Version One and Version Two.
May also can be divide by EARLY version (pre war to early war) and LATE version (mid war to late war) to save raw material and simplify the production process by different manufacturers.
Version One— Brass Edges
The most distinguish feature is the heavy brass angle all round at four sides, gives a good protection to the wooden table top.
The table is extremely heavy even without canvas covers is around 15kg.
The 3mm thick brass angle itself is 2.5kg in weight already.
At the bottom side of the table has a small tag of the manufacturer: ‘FRANZ KUHLMANN werk i rüstringen i.o’ secured by two 10mm brass nails.
A Wehrmacht Waffenamt marking is punched near the tag, which indicated that it is after 1933.
A leather carrying handle is mounted at the middle center at the bottom side of the table.
A pair of light color thin webbing shoulder straps with heavy duty clips are secured by two steel plates at top side and clip to the D ring mounted on the side beams.
it is stenciled “Nicht magnetfrei” under the carrying handle.
There are four twist locks at both ends of the two cross beam for the square canvas cover.
And two snaps on the wood for secure the curve protractor pouch.
IMHO when war started brass became valuable it should be save for better usage.
Only few of this tables found on internet;
*A beautiful clean sample is on Hobbyhistorica’s blog.
https://www.hobbyhistorica.com/battlefield-finds/german-foldable-field-map-table
*Another table is on display in The Channel Island Military Museum.
*One more table was a lucky found in an old house in Poland, it is in privet collection now.
Base on the old marks on my table:
It has four twist locks for the square canvas cover.
And two snap buttons for the Protractor curve pouch.
Version Two— Aluminum straps
Pics: David Mallen
The table has four 30 x 3mm aluminum straps at the edges, no longer an angle straps to wrap around the wood.
The wooden table top changed to a reverse trapezoid shape to reduce the chance of damage.
The weight is substantially reduced to around 13kg.
The wooden covers of the screws are in different diameter than the Version One, the inside metal support plates are improved in sizes.
From this sample marked date is 1942.
The carrying handle is not in leather but canvas strap.
The shoulder straps are thicker and in green color.
Same as the version one there are two snaps to secure the protractor curve pouch.
Two metal loops replaced the twist locks for securing the square cover by leather straps.
Always welcome information and photos of full line of map tables in your collection.