Dating CMP F15A
 

G,Day
I am trying to date my f15a.

I have seen 3 different types of cab fronts,under the head lights I have found.

{ FORD CANADA }
{ FORD }
{.........}

also 2 types of dash layouts {round gauges} and {rectangle/combination}.
Can anyone tell me the build dates of these features?
Thanks,Lyle

Approximate dates
 

Hi Lyle

In general terms, dating by the front shell:

No name under headlights - 1942

Just 'FORD' 1943

'FORD CANADA' 1944-5

Round guages is associated with 44-5 pattern as is (in Canada) the round type roof hatch. The very latest CMPs had a removable piece in the upper part of the front shell behind the grille to facilitate engine removal, and an even later feature was the vacuum wipers inverted with a relief stamped in the upper windcreen (windshield) frame to incorporate them. They also tended to have a lot of radio bonding straps.

Are there any numbers?
 

Are there any serial or data plate numbers evident? And does it have a pintle hook if so look on the back you may find the date stamped on the spring.

Of course engine number, serial numbers, details of construction changes are only a guide as 60+ years of modification parts swapping etc can make it hard to nail it down. If you are luck can do is narrow it down with each bit of information defining it a little more.

Of my three CMPs only the HUP do engine serial and all construction details match the manufactured data plate.

E Harmony?
 

Uh.... try a drive in?

In BeeCee....
 

.....Geez Harry do they still have drive-ins in your area.....???

BooBee


Comments on the instrument panel.....althgough early model cab 13 "usually" had the civvy restangular cluster they were again "usually" superceeded by the typical round military (i.e. USA style gauges)......However..... there are a number of living examples of cab 13 built in late 1944 that came off the line with left over civvy rectangular gauges..... so in my mind the type of guages is not a fool proof indicator of the build date......

BooBee

the devil made me do it.
 

No worries Lyle, I don't want to scare you off. :cheers:

and yes we do have a NEW drive in out in aldergrove. Pretty slick from what I hear.

Hey Harry......
 

..... did you not tell me you lost a couple of your relatives when they died of hyperthermia while sitting in an open convertable at a drive in...... they went to see the "Close for the Winter " movie........

BooB

Winter?
 

I think it's open all year out here. Sorry to have to tell you that. :devil:

Trying to narrow it down a bit further: my F15A was built Jan. 1943. Except for the missing toolbox it is totally original and does not have the name under the headlights, a square roof hatch and civilian instrument cluster.

HTH,
Hanno

And to show that all rules can be broken, David Hayward is certain that these F60B trucks were assembled by Pearson's of Liverpool in 1943. These feature "Ford Canada" cowls and sling-type hubs. In 1943! What month they left Canada and how long they remained crated is anybody's guess.

Good Point Tony.....
 

The issue of when they were built..... and when they were assembled in England. .....can be months apart.... using what parts were available when half the fleet got sunk on the way over... and what was on the front of the shelf on that particular rainy Wednesday morning... so many possibities/variations... not to mention the rebuild/repair centres who used what they had available or cannibalized.... look at all the left over Dirk as been collecting......

We can be a little more certain when we find them in Canada particularly the late contract such as the C60 for the Aussie contract built in late Summer 1944 and they have a civvy dash and a round gauge dash and built a week apart..... or was it a repair center modification.....??????? David mentioned how the serial numbers of engines were not sequential...... some will even support a great conspiracy to mix numbers to confuse the Germans...
I support the reality of lazyness...... when they needed an engine from stock they took the first one near the front of the pile.... even if it only came in that morning.... the ones at the back where eventually reached when production slowed down.... I really don't think that the FIFO and LILO inventory concept was very well known in those desperate years.....

BooBee

Nothing is certain.... except that they are CMP for sure !!!!!!

Bob C.

Dates
 

That's a curly one, although there must be someone with a list of the service bulletins which would indicate when items such as the slinging hubs were first introduced which would give an absolute 'not before' date.