Driver and Gunner/Observer Seat - cushion and cover
 

Ford of Canada produced basic driver and gunner seat cushions and covers for the universal carriers. Those basic “D” shape cushion/covers (TL7273) were eventually replaced with a spring/cushion/cover seat assembly similar to those found in CMP trucks.

Seat covers for carriers were made of a water repelling material. While the majority of examples are green colour, at least one example exists in black.

The permanent driver and gunner seat base provides four attaching points for the spring base seat assembly: two tabs at the rear that lock into the metal seat frame, and two straps with female Lift-the-Dot fasteners that attach on the mating studs located on the leading edge of the permanent frame. While all MK-II* seat frames are designed to hold the spring base, many MK-I* variants as found in Canada were not updated.

The former ‘square’ shape kneeling pads continued to be supplied for use in the rear compartment seat assemblies.

The seat cushions with a circular edge are shown in the FUC-03 manual illustration. Their image and part numbers are inconsistent with the part numbers provided as replacements in the 1944 dated parts book.

TL 7372 seat cushion covers
 

What I believe were early seat cushions for the universal carriers are produced without a means to secure them to the seat frames. The shape and style is published in the 1944 dated Illustrated Parts Manual, FUC-03. It appears the manufacture and supply of this seat cushion style may be British in origin. I question if the manufacture continued after 1945 with slight changes to the material type and the finish on the snap exteriors? I recall Ron P. had seats with similar looking material.

While other examples exist showing the part number, date and company, those covers can be observed with either black colour snap exteriors, or chrome.

Indeed I have the 'D' shaped cushions with brass press studs and packed with layers of some type of wading material. The green (faux leather) covers are 'Rexine'

They came with over half ton of carrier spares that I bought from a well known military vehicle enthusiast and film props guy. It was all part of a haul that was repatriated from the Falkland Isles after the filming of (I think) "Evita". I've never seen the film to comment on vehicles used? Ron

I too have a pair of these. Purchased in England and likely from the same batch

Ford Canada produced the ’D’ shape seat cushion, part number TL 7372. The earliest date observed is 1941. Given the first carrier to roll out of Ford Canada was February, 1941 . . .

I thought the marking on the 1941 cushion covers odd, where marked ‘SPARE PARTS’.

These Canadian 1941 dated covers have black finished dome fasteners.

Ross I've just squinted inside the flap of one of my 'D' cushions and it's definitely but faintly stamped with a TL number which looks like TL 552?. I'll look at the other cushion tomorrow. Ron