Chevrolet C8A HUW reference thread

[mshackleton]

Hi guys
I'm new to this forum so forgive me if someone in the past has asked the same question.

I'm looking for interior photos - or drawings - of the rear of the wireless CMP. I'm particularly looking for the style of the cabinets either side, the generator and the battery installation under the radio table and the seat mountings. What was typically kept in the cabinets? I'm not an owner or restorer, but a keen fan and modeller. The only interior pictures I can find are in the two articles by Bart Vanderveen in the first two issues of Wheels & Tracks magazine.

Thanks in advance
Mike Shackleton

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Mike

Welcome aboard MLU we can always use another CMP enthusiast/collector, I'm sure pictures will be forth coming from our members. The search feature doesn't always work with some web browsers (I just tried HUW and got 0 hits) so perhaps one of our members who has better luck could try doing a search and pointing the way.

The question about the battery box is a good one I don't remember seeing a picture of one before for a HUW.

Also a question what part of the world are you located?

Cheers

Phil

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

Hi Mike

The search feature doesn't always work with some web browsers (I just tried HUW and got 0 hits) so perhaps one of our members who has better luck could try doing a search and pointing the way.
Cheers

Phil

The Search feature requires terms with 5 characters minimum. C8A, HUP, HUW, etc won't work, but be creative and try some lateral thinking with "Utility", "Wireless", "Radio table", "Personnel", "Oshawa" or "Chevrolet" and see what you get.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Here's some inside shots of a restored HUW. I'd love to tell you who it belongs to or who to credit the pictures to but I don't know.

If you want interior bin and seat details I can copy and send you the drawings I have for my HUW project. Basically there bins on either side, two crew seats on simple bases that face right and left and an operator's seat that is more complicated and faces forward just behind the wireless table. The seats and table are removable, held to to floor with wing nuts. The generator sits in a cabinet on the upper rear left side and is accessible from two outside doors and an inside sliding panel.

As for kit, I've never seen a stowage diagram but figure the following would have been carried:

- Wireless Set No.19, No.19HP (British), No.19 Amplified (Canadian) or No.29
- Switchboard No.5 (mounted under wireless table)
- 12V Johnson 'Chorehorse' generator
- A pair of Remote Control Units (RCU's)
- Satchel, Signals, several for headsets, mics, keys, dummy load ae's, etc.
- Leather aerial gear bag
- Guys, bases and insulators for the 20' and 34' telescopic masts
- 20' and 34' Telescopic masts (one of which mounts upright on the right running board)
- Spares box for the 12V generator set
- W/T Spare Parts and Spare Valves boxes
- Message pads
- First Aid kit
- Aerial elements (F and G sections)
- Reels of signal wire
- Telephone sets (Tele F or Tele D)
- Tool kit
- Control Unit No.2 (loudspeaker)
- Loudspeakers for above (pair)
- Test Set TS-26
- Set of horizontal wire aerials (on wood boards)
- Anti-gas satchel
- No.4 rifles (three in the back and two up front)

If there was any room left the crew might pack rations, coats, water bottles, personal items.

I think that would just about fill up a an HUW.

[r.morrison]

Hi Mike: Further to Bruce's help.... I am hoping to take delivery this month of one of the original surviving prototype HUW, weather permitting. I'm in Vancouver and the vehicle has to come from north of Winnipeg. Included in the sale is the original manual for the rear of the unit, printed by Chrysler Canada. More than willing to photo copy a set for you, when it gets here. I have a really bad photo copy here of the manual, but it sucks for quality!! The vehicle itself will be finished (99%) and I have to build out the back, so maybe we can share some info etc. etc. Let me know...Robert Morrison

[mshackleton]

First of all, a big thank you to Phil, Bruce, Robert and Tony for your various replies.

Phil - Thank you for your welcome! I am in England. I run The Tilly Register with a friend, so if you have any Tilly questions, feel free. I don't suppose you know of any in Canada or the States?

Bruce - Thanks for the shots. The cabinet on the left is different to what i was expecting. Any interior drawings would be very useful indeed. What is all that stuff under the radio table I wonder? Do you know where/how were the the two radio masts stored when not in use?

Robert - As with Bruce's drawings, a copy of the manual would be very useful indeed. Thanks very much for the offer.

Tony - Thanks for the tips about using the Search feature.

Cheers guys
Mike

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Mike

I've have see at least one Tilly at a show here in the states at one point in the 30 years of being in the MV hobby. I'll have to look back through my photos to see if I can find a picture of it.

[Rob Fast]

Hope they will help you out. These pics may be on past forum threads???

Right side back

Blackout curtains/table

Missing battery box's

High Power not installed on top of 19 set

[Rob Fast]

missing items... Blackout door switches... Only pic I have

Lub plate... One here in Manitoba but he won't give it up.

Fuse throw box... still looking...

[cliff]

Rob it appears you are not aware that you can post up to 5 photos per post now rather then one photo at a time which would make it easier to view them then opening individual posts. Or is it a good way to get your post numbers up?

[cmperry4]

Originally Posted by Rob Fast

missing items... Blackout door switches... Only pic I have

Lub plate... One here in Manitoba but he won't give it up.

Fuse throw box... still looking...

I recognize that lube plate, tried for that one, too. Plate on the other door, as well, wiring IIRC.

I think have a few snaps of Rob's HUW; I'll have a look later, but don't know if they would add to what's already been posted of the interior.

[Phil Waterman]

Originally Posted by Rob Fast

blackout curtains/table

Hi Rob

Thanks for posting the wonderfully detailed pictures, I knew someone would have good ones.

Have a question, notice that the rear floor looks to be the heavier floor plate as used in the front cab area, not the lighter stamped sheet metal floor as used in the HUPs I've seen. Is the floor plate removeable like the front and do you think it is original to the HUW?

[Rob Fast]

Bruce, I will PM you with measurements shortly. I used CMP window hinges for table hangers, so it is far from original. Phil, the back floor plate is a slightly thinner guage than the cab and is unremovable, both with the same pattern. I believe it is original floor plate to the truck. I sure would like to see a HUP/HUW/HUA etc...Wireless addition to this forum. Just a thought. Cheers Rob

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Mike, send me a PM with your address and I'll send you a copy of my interior drawings. The stuff under the W/T table (on the floor) is four 6 volt batteries in wooden boxes plus the clamping gear to hold them in place. Screwed to the underside of the table is a No.5 Charging Switchboard which is a Bakelite board with four porcelain switches that controls charging the batteries (from the chorehorse), power to the wireless set and the internal lighting (the internal lighting is also controlled from the switchbox on the forward face of the generator cabinet. I'm not sure what switch was actually used. Perhaps the Chrysler manual will sort at out?). The No.5 switchboard is fixed to the table so when the table was removed, it went with it. The 'wing nuts' that hold the table and seats to the floor are the same hand wheels that clamp the windshield arms that hold the cab windshields open.

One aerial mast was stored outside on a socket bolted to the RH running board and held vertically just behind the cab door (I was lucky enough to find NOS part for this installation). The second was secured by canvas straps to the inside of the roof on the right side just where it curves to meet the side panel (I think you can make this out on one of Rob's photos).

Rob, have you any info, photos, dimensions for the folding map table on the rear body door? Likewise, if you want any of my stuff, just holler.

Bruce

[Alex van de Wetering]

Mike,

If you are in need of any more pictures; I have some of a fairly complete, although a little beaten up example.

Just out of curiousity...which kit ae you using? Plusmodels? La Hoche? or a Scratch conversion......assuming it's 1/35.

Alex

[mshackleton]

Hi guys
First of all many thanks to Rob for posting all of those photos. Rob, where is the fuse box located? Presumably the smaller aerial is the one hung from the ceiling. Is the 34' one in the bag in the right rear corner?

Alex - I've sent you a private mail. Thanks for your help

Cheers
Mike

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by mshackleton

Hi guys
First of all many thanks to Rob for posting all of those photos. Rob, where is the fuse box located? Presumably the smaller aerial is the one hung from the ceiling. Is the 34' one in the bag in the right rear corner?

Alex - I've sent you a private mail. Thanks for your help

Cheers
Mike

It's on the forward face of the generator cabinet that's located in the rear left corner. The mast is hung from the ceiling. The small elements (F sections and G section for the No.19 B set) were stored in a canvas or vinyl bad and that was either loose, stuffed somewhere or strapped to the right roof along with the telescopic mast...I think. The Chrysler manual might say for sure.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Some reference pictures of a Dutch HUW.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Who owns this HUW?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

Who owns this HUW?

Al Tooes in the UK restored it - see C8A HUW restoration in England for his contact details. He may remember who he sold it to.

[Jordan Baker]

Couple of film stills from a British Pathe film of Canadians landing in Messina.

Some nice and not often seen views looking down onto the HUW.

[Bob Carriere]

Green arrow is the ashtray......

one red arrow is the antenneeeeee

What are the other arrows pointing to???

...and a load of waterproof sleeping bags....

[Jordan Baker]

Forgot the description of the arrows.

Red arrows are antennas. The one on the roof has an antenna guard as well. Blue arrow is the rear hatch for the Chorehorse compartment. Green arrow is the interior side of that compartment painted white. In the other pictures can just make out some writing on the compartment.