C60 Service/Employment History Tracing

[Joe C]

Hi All,

As a rabid Signals collector I usually only lurk on this board but I now find I need assistance. Of course it's with a Sigs vehicle.

The Canadian Military Communications Museum is now refurbishing a C60 Command High Power that was recently 're-discovered' in a poor condition from being displayed outdoors. We are seeking to establish if at all possible what unit(s) the vehicle may have served with during the Second World War and even after that if at all possible. As this is a new area for those of us involved we're looking for assistance with any known details or suggestions on where we'd go look or otherwise go about finding answers.

What we know:
WD (as found painted): CL423707 (see pic)
no evidence of tac or formation signs

From the data plates (see pic)

On Plate 1
Chasis: C-60448-M
Cab: 13
Chassis Serial: 2844335554
Engine Serial: PR3868621
Order No: LV 327
Date of MFG: Dec 21-42

On Plate 2
Vehicle Model: C-60448-M-GS-9

On Plate 3 (pretty standard I would think)
Spare Parts List: 197
Maintenance Manual: MB-C1

So, if anyone can help us trace the path of this vehicle from factory to now I'd love to hear from you.

[cletrac (RIP)]

If CL423707 painted on the door is original then it saw service overseas. A home front unit would be something like 42-Z-****

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by cletrac

If CL423707 painted on the door is original then it saw service overseas. A home front unit would be something like 42-Z-****

It also has the Invasion regognition star on the door that looks original..what a beauty machine..an excellent restoration project..

Grant Bowker has the manuals you need for the project..both parts ..maintenance and the Field service updates..all for your vehicle..can be located here..

http://www.dana-nield.com/d32/Defaul....com/d32/blair

But the site was off line when I checked ..so Grant...get the lead out and fix your sight up..you have manuals customers..

Google the site and you will find your manuals here..as soon as Grant gets it up and working again..

Military Manuals by Mr. Manual > Home ( DNN 3.2.0 )
Military Manuals by Mr. Manual is committed to protecting your privacy and developing technology that gives you the most powerful and safe online experience ...
http://www.dana-nield.com/d32/blair/..../Default.aspx - Cached - Similar -



Here is the manuals you need from my personal files..

#1A:300+ pages No.197 Chevrolet Spare Parts List..1940-1942 For CMP Vehicles..8 hwt.4x2,15 hwt.4x2,15 hwt.4x4, 30 hwt.4x4,3 ton 4x4,F.A. Gun Tractor 4x4... Aug 1942



#3: 300+ pages MB-C2 Maintenance Manual, for GM CMP vehicles. 15 cwt 4x2, 15 cwt. 4x4, 30 cwt 4x4, 3 ton 4x4 HU 4x4, F.A.T. 4x4. Sept. 1943

#3A 300+ pages GM Service Bulletins Updates for MB-C2(May-November 1943).. ***These bulletins were issued to the field maintenance shops for upgrades to the CMP vehicles.. Many procedures in the bulletins and additions did not make the maintenance manuals.


Use the MB-C2 rather than the MB -C1..It is an up dated MB-C1 with all the early stuff in it from the MB-C1 plus the latest up to September '43 ..the service bulletins fill in the blanks of all the stuff that didn;t make the maintenance manuals..

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Joe C

What we know:
WD (as found painted): CL423707 (see pic)

From the data plates (see pic)

On Plate 1
Chasis: C-60448-M
Cab: 13
Chassis Serial: 2844335554
Engine Serial: PR3868621
Order No: LV 327
Date of MFG: Dec 21-42

On Plate 2
Vehicle Model: C-60448-M-GS-9

On Plate 3 (pretty standard I would think)
Spare Parts List: 197
Maintenance Manual: MB-C1

So, if anyone can help us trace the path of this vehicle from factory to now I'd love to hear from you.

The vehicle class L in the registration is for Lorry, and the vehicle configuration of GS is for General Service, so as it left the factory, this vehicle was configured as a common or garden load carrying truck, it did not have a radio house body fitted or any other specialist body. That has been installed at some later date, possibly much later.

[derk derin]

Joe,
Looking through my photo album of past vehicles that were on display at our past Winnipeg air shows,one of our members had your exact truck in restored condition and is now I believe part of the vehicle collection in C.F.B. Shilo at the museum.Your museum director should be able to get ahold of whoever is in charge of the vehicle collection in Shilo for photo's of the interior. What shape is your truck inside.Has it been gutted or are the tables and equipment still there?
Derk.

[david moore]

My understanding is that no vehicles were returned from Europe after the war. I'm sure that the CL number and star, and possibly the re-body are the result of a previous, not too long ago, restoration. It would be interesting to look carefully, maybe lightly sand down the doors, to look for the original census number. Being a late '42 vehicle, the number would be the later type of xx-xxxx ( the first pair of numbers relating to the owning unit not the year) probably with an L above. The past owner would presumably know its more recent history.

[cletrac (RIP)]

This page out of Gregg's Blueprint for Victory states that 15000 of the best vehicles were returned to Canada.

[Joe C]

Thanks all for your posts so far. A few responses:

- The inside of the cabin looks to be in good shape. I've attached a pic. It also has it's generator and the 53 set. The cab is another matter, it looks like the windows were left open and the weather did it's thing. Again, see attached pic.

- I understand the vehicle came from a CFB Petawawa display or compound. How it got there, I can't really say. Perhaps from Shilo but I'd have to check with them to see if they still had theirs. The pics I have show it on a vehicle pallet load system type sled.

- The website mentioned for the manuals, both links, don't work for me. Hopefully it comes up!! I'd love to have the manuals.

I take it then that without the census number (and perhaps even then) the vehicle can't really be traced to a unit? I will see if the light sanding idea leads anywhere. Any other info or suggestions on where to turn?