Repro 15cwt GS box cover

[Mike K]

My 2 cents worth

The canvas made in the 1940's would be 100% cotton duck - it has a coarse weave compared to modern canvas which is nearly always a fine cotton/polyester mix. One of the last places left making pure cotton canvas is India/Pakistan .. I bought a pure COTTON 16oz canvas tarp from a on-line dealer here in Aust. 9'X12' for 60$ - MADE in Pakistan.... they sell bigger sizes too. Canvas has a bias and it shrinks more in one direction than the other-it is very important to allow for shrinkage ... some of the modern stuff is pre-shrunk. Upholsterers usually cut it diagonally cos its easier to shape it for curves if the bias is with you.. not against you .

Depending on the quality.. $500 for a repro 15 cwt van tarp is very good value .. it's a steal . The lady may not realise how much work is involved ... it looks easy in a photo ! She won't be making much profit at that price . If you can find an original 15 cwt WW2 tarp as a pattern .. then your cooking with gas.

Mike

[r.morrison]

Hi stewart: Robert here in Vancouver B.C. I've being following this page for some time. I was curious to inquire whether your source could make up a canvas unit for a Chev 30 cwt gs. box. I could provide the measements to you for a quote and or send you plans and measurements for my requirements. One large rectangular piece of canvas , with or without grommets. Don't know if there are any other interested parties out there, but it's worth a shot. Good luck in your venture.....regards....Robert

[Stewart Loy]

Gents,

The canvas place will copy or make anything that you can provide drawings of a sample of. I like the work they do, and recommend it. I have had mudflaps made, and am making more right now.

I plan to get the sample cover in a week and take it in for examination and final costing. At that time I will see how serious anybody is when I ask for down payments.

I got measurements of a tarp with windows, but have not seen the the plastic material. I hope the canvas lady can help us out with this. Otherwise the windows will be a DIY project for tarp buyers.

I understand that green and tan tarps will be about the same money, if anyone (else) wants a tan one. I suspect that they will look great on a stone coloured truck.

I will have fabric samples at the show in Kingston next weekend - see you there!



Stewart

[r.morrison]

Hi Stewart : Thanks for the info on the canvas. Being that my schedule dosen't allow me to be in Kingston, as I live in Vancouver, I would be willing to send you down a self addressed envelope for a sample of each color of fabric. If some of the locals are interested I can pass them around. Could you please provide me with a mailing address, if you can help. Many thanks...Robert P.S. NICE TO SEE SOME CANADIAN CONTENT IN THE CANVAS WORLD !

[Stewart Loy]

Gents,

I finally made it up to get collect the sample cover for the 15cwt truck box. It was suggested to me that I verify that it fits my truck well, then to bring it in for a repro of 1. If that cover fits, then we start mass production. I will get the cover to Tillsonburg this Friday to get things underway.

I also made contact with the guy on MLU who had the tan cover to look at windows. I got good measurements of where the windows should go, but don't know material of inner covering styles. I can ask the canvas lady regarding a rollable plastic, but I am stumped regarding how the window was covered inside.

DOES ANYONE HAVE PIX OF THE INSIDE OF THE COVER THAT SHOWS THE INNER FLAP COVER??? Please send them, or post them. If there are any at a museum I would be eager to get in and have a peek.

The timeframe looks like mid-November for getting the orders finalized. These tarps will make great stocking stuffers for the hard to shop for CMPer - tell you wife or girlfriend!


Stewart

PS - maybe pix later ...

[chris vickery]

Stewart, check around places that do convertable car tops, I( know the plastic is available from them.

[Stewart Loy]

Gents,

I made the trek down to Tillsonburg to see how the C15a tarp was progressing. The canvas place has a line on webbing for the straps that are pretty close, buckles that are very good, and even the metal ends that get squished onto the ends of the straps that are not exactly like the original, but better/easier than the resin dipping method used late in the war.

The latest hold up was the fabric. The sample that I was given looked OK to me, but when the canvas experts saw the real thing it 'would not do'. They located a richer coloured and ( more importantly ) heavier bolt for us. The #10 fabric, however, is not coated - and we need it to have that sticky, smelly waterproofing so that our spouses can enjoy teh tarp also. I asked her to proceed with the construction of a single tarp with fabric that she coats on site, after the pieces are cut. I hope to see that sample, and try it on my truck by the end of the month - 2 weeks from now.

After looking at buckles and straps, grommets and ropes I think that she will be able to get us a price, so don't waste all of your egg money on Xmas gifts for the kids - you will need to get a deposit to me some time soon.

I shall report back when I know more.


Stewart

[S LATHERON (RIP)]

If its of any use, many UK Producers of sports cars in the 60's 70's like MG used plastic rear windows,
Try
WOOLIES trim supplies,
Market Deeping
UK
sell a rollable plastic called VIBART? this was the stuff used in car hoods and is sold by the metre, Made great cab side screens on my 13 cab
steve