CDN M37 markings

[Kirk Armitage]

I'm doing a restoration on a 1952 CDN M37 that was surplused out of PET in 1977, CFR NO: 52-41058. I'm the second owner so it was pretty original ,untouched from when it left Petawawa , I know nothing about markings , there are a few, maybe someone can explain what they are.
Passenger door has 91E in black, none on the left as it has a spare tire carrier.
Rht front bumper yellow with the number 2 3 ? (or 8) in white.
Rht windshield has a Canadian Sport Parachuting Assoc sticker, (can't see the previous owner doing this ) , but who knows.
Possible a canadian flag on the right front lip of the hood and the usual antifreeze check on the top of the rad support.
It's a frame off , pretty much a sandblasting / priming funfest at this stage , it will be original except for a Ford Dorset diesel going in and 12v. Fear not the 251 motor from it has been in one of my Bombardiers for 20 plus years, still going strong ,after a recent overhaul.
Thanks K Armitage

[Dan Martel]

Originally Posted by Kirk Armitage

I'm doing a restoration on a 1952 CDN M37 that was surplused out of PET in 1977, CFR NO: 52-41058. I'm the second owner so it was pretty original ,untouched from when it left Petawawa, I know nothing about markings , there are a few, maybe someone can explain what they are.

Having had 25-years of service, your M37 would have been subject to full range of markings, from when the Army was organized as a Division, to the reorganization into Brigade Group and then into Combat Groups. Not to mention being transferred between individual units. So all the markings you can see might be from different eras.

The 91E is most likely the call sign for the vehicle. Without knowing the unit however, it may prove difficult to identify which call sign it is.

I don't believe the CSPA sticker would have been allowed on a military vehicle so may have been placed by the previous civilian owner.

No idea why a bumper would be painted yellow with white numbers. Maybe some one else would have knowledge of this.

The Canadian flag on the front hood lip? More than likely military from later in its career.

Hope this helps.

[Wayne Hingley]

The right side bumper would be where the yellow circle with a 4 bridge class would be located, but the traces of yellow on your bumper doesn't resemble a circular shape.

If there are more white numbers (ex: 2502 or 2503) that would be the ordinance code. M37 with winch is 2503 and without winch is 2502.

One thing I noticed while looking at many old photos and surviving original trucks to determine markings for my M37, is there was a lot of variety in markings, marking location, and paint patterns over the years, across the many different units and in different geographic regions of the country.

[Kirk Armitage]

Dan , Wayne , thanks for the info. I wasn't totally struck on this truck when I bought it in 1993 , but they grow on you. I've been plowing with another M37 for close to 30 yrs.
Regards K Armitage

[Kirk Armitage]

There is a stepped 1/8" plate mounted on the RHT front fender and head light guard , not sure what this mod was for.
Thanks K Armitage

[Wayne Hingley]

Hi Kirk. That would be the mounting plate for the PU-5008/U (chorehorse) generator.