Re: WOW!
 

You said it, Howard, INSPIRATIONAL! :cheers: :thup2:

second that
 

Ill second that !!!
That is going to be one top shelf tractor when its finished
awesome work . :thup2: :thup2: :thup2:
definately something to be proud of

Those instruction and data plates are very impressive.

How does he get that good a restoration of the plates?

Regards
Doug

By reading MLU!

These are the plates for 11/12 Cab Fords:

Instrument Panel
 

Grant
Make me jealous and show me the panel. I'm always willing to learn. BTW beautiful workmanship.
Salesman Bob

HI :)


:eek: awesome work look very nice :thup:

make me jealous
 

It is a 3 hour trip each way, so I don't get up that way often. The next time I'm there I will make sure I get some pictures for you Bob.
Young Cliff is making a model for me and I'll be going up to pick it up when he has finished. I won't be until the New Year. I'll continue to update the forum with his progress.
Grant Fincher

F60L
 

Hi GT* Grant

If you can also note the ARN on the cab 12 F60L and data plate details that would be helpful too...

Thanks again for publishing the images.

Keith

*Gun Tractor

He is trying to sell the truck , but if is still there when I go up next, I will get some closer shots. The camo is still visible so hopefuly the ARN is also. I think the numbers run up and down the mudguard, don't they?
Grant

ARN
 

Usually it's in one of three places: The side of the cowl, the top of the cowl (that's what this one looks like) or the side of the bonnet. Sometimes it is also painted on the bumper.

Top of cowl as in Tony Elliott's F60L 7753

http://www.oldcmp.net/Images/collect...2/ARN_7753.jpg

Here's another on the side of the cowl:


http://www.oldcmp.net/Images/Kingaro...ab12/52022.jpg

arn
 

some are also found on the door

Re: arn
 

That bloke in the driver's seat would devalue that truck a bit wouldn't it Max?

Cheers
Rod

Re: Re: arn
 

The bugger drove it until it wouldn't go any more, then it took a while to convince him that the old girl had had it :doh:
Max

From the AWM Database, a pic of WD H4542325/ARN 50293:

Quote:"Cairns, Qld. Unidentified members, probably of the 10th Australian Light Anti Aircraft Battery, sitting on a Chevrolet 8440/CGT Field Artillery Tractor (H4542525 50293) used to tow a Bofors 40mm Anti Aircraft. (Donor D. Stokes)"

Anyone willing to wager it's not a Chev 8440?

Yes.
 

It is a small pic but I think I can see Ford vents and spring bumper.

You just wish you did. :)

They are right geoff
Definately the far more inferior ford version :devil: :devil: :devil: :D :D :D

Ford!
 

I love these photos...history re- written at a stroke I thought but in fact I already had the evidence in front of me! :doh:

Interesting photo! That proves that S/M 2020 Ford and probably Chevrolet CGTs were issued to the AIF. As they had domestic census numbers that means in turn that they were assembled in the UK, by Ford at Dagenham amd in the case of Chevrolets possibly by Lep Transport in Chiswick, west London, or GM Ltd in Bamber Bridge near Preston, and then shipped to the Mid-East. I assume that it was to the Mid-East and then it was shipped on to Australia for further service.

The FGT featured is a model EC011QF, from the batch H 4541694 to 542693 assembled in Dagenham under Contract V/4513. There is a photo of one in the IWM collection, photo KID 2340. I previously knew of # 2G17788F which was ARN 50315 and H4542132. :salute:

Appologies but long numbers confuse me..a sort of dyscalcula.

Here's some more info. Note that these vehicles are recorded as "Ex Refugee WD" and mostly dated arriving in NSW 27.5.42:

None of these vehicles are numbered AIF-H-454xxxx, just H-454xxxx, which does not prove they were on issue to the AIF. The question is just where they "sought refuge" in the arms of the AIF?

Where did you previously find the info on 2G17788F/aka 50315/aka H4542132?

Ex-refugee?
 

Does that mean that these were ex-British assembled, sent to Singapore or the Malay States then diverted to Australia after the fall? If that makes sense then history will have to be re-written yet again.

Interesting
 

And sold back through the Ford dealer network on disposal.

The Ford and Holden dealerships would have been an interesting places to shop in the early 50s. Imagine the sales pitch: "Yes sir, genuine low mileage, take the whole family anywhere in smooth comfort."

In the UK
 

We know that GM Limited exercised their rights under the 'SMMT Scheme' [i.e. thje Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders] negotiated in 1944 with the Ministry of Supply. This meant that from 1947 onwards to around 1950 the were able to acquire wholesale huge quantities of Chevrolets [Canadian and ex-US] and GMCs, plus huge quantities of parts. The latter they exported around the world, which made them a lot of essential foreign currency. GM Ltd then refurbished and resold on a 10-in and 9-out basis all their acquisitions which they then sold to appointed dealers at 20% below new vehicle prices. However as you probably could not get a Bedford at the time, as they were largely intended for export only, or had a long wait for a new one, then it was essentially 'Hobson's Choice'.

As regards Bedfords, I believe that Vauxhalls were not interested in any ex-WD stock as they were busy building new vehicles. I further believe that Vauxhalls therefor contracted with Marshalls of Cambridge to refurbish and re-sell ex-military Bedfords. In addition in both cases the MofS had auctions at which individuals could buy, or enterprising dealers could acquire large numbers which they then advertised refurbished or as seen.

With regards to ex-military Fords, obviously these were disposed of by auction, but I don't know of any evidence that Dagenham was in any way interested in refutbished vehicles. This I think led to dealers, including Sydney Allard's companies, to offer them as seen or rebuilt. The MofS contracted with several companies post-war to refurbish ex-military V-8 engines for further use, and Lincoln Cars Ltd the Ford subsidiary in Brentford carried on their wartime work therefore until this all dried up around 1950.

In these respects the British post-war situation contrasts slightly with the Aussie counterparts. As we know Holden's acquired GM vehicles and then resold them after rebuild, and as just mentioned Fords did the same.

However I should add a proviso to the above re GM: several DUKWs were delivered to GM Ltd Southampton, were rebuilt and then re-sold back to the Ministry of Supply.

I went up to Gympie again last week to pick up a FAT Quad Gun Tractor model from Cliff and called in on Lloyd McCarthy. He has now got all 3 sections of the body together on a jig and is in the process of panel beating replacing any rusted sections. Here are a few shots of the body and for Bob the instrument panel.

The chassis is basicly complete and Lloyd is now in the process of getting all the components together for the engine to be reconditioned.

Cab 12 Instrument Panel
 

Hi Grant - thanks for thinking of me with those images. Beautiful restoration of the panel but may I suggest that with the addition of my instrument decals and the repainting of the fascia plate coupled with my stripe decals, the panel would be perfect. I also notice that one of the switches is labelled "Dome". All the switch plates I have seen this is labelled "Dash". From where did Lloyd get the switch plates?

Bob

Ford Script
 

The other difference I can see is that all the Cab 12s I have seen have had the Ford script underneath the speedometer as opposed to the brass plate Lloyd has. If you study the image on my previous post you will see the locating holes for the script. Coincidentally, as these scripts seem to be impossible to find, I commissioned a contact to replicate them and I am awaiting the first consignment. Stay tuned.

Bob

Hello Bob
I believe he got them done localy in Gympie. I can't tell you any more than that. You will notice the brass V8 badge on the bonnet in one of photographs. Lloyd had the chrome version from a Model A hood badge from Macs Autos in the States and he had a brass cast made from it in a Gympie foundry to make it original. Very meticulous. He showed me how he spent time shrinking each of the panels back to their original shape after people had stood on the roof and dented them. I wish I had his patience and metalworking skills. Can't wait for the end result.

Bob, the 11/12 Cab GTs had an interior light, so have 1 switch marked "Dome" and another for the "Dash" lamps, as visible in the pic (note there are 5 switches in total). The early 11 cabs with push/pull switches had the switches arranged in a different order.

I Should Put My Glasses On
 

Thanks Tony - just about every time I look at an instrument panel or housing there is a new difference. And here again the housing is different with the extra switch hole and the brass plate where the Ford script is normally fitted. Was this peculiar to the 12 GTs and where you say "11/12 Cab GTs", was there an 11 GT?

Bob