Pre-war 15cwt trucks

[Dianaa]

When you turn the image to negative it does seem that the column is behind everything else.

At least the hand brake is to the right of the gear stick so I would hesitate its LHD.

[Tony Smith]

There is a shadow of an external rear vision mirror on the left hand side (but no mirror on the right side), so I would say it's LHD. All Ford trucks of the 30's and 40's had the handbrake lever mounted to the right side of the gearbox. Engine cowl looks too short to house a straight six and radiator.

[servicepub (RIP)]

My research has led me to understand the 1937 and 1939 purchases (delivered in 1938 by GM and 1940 by Ford respectively) but I have not yet uncovered a photo of the single pilot produced, in 1937, by Ford.
I wonder if this is it?

[Phil Waterman]

Hi All

I've seen this photo before in a higher resolution print, page 8 of Greggs Blueprint for Victory. From the background and staging of the photo I would say Ford archive. Bill had a lot of these photos at one time.

Also I have seen and printed hi-res versions of the Ford Pat 11 15CWT which was sitting with the same background. I have one version of the Pat 11 that I think Alex Giersch sent me 1500X985 Pixel versions, but I'm pretty sure I have seen an even high-res version will keep looking.

Cheers Phil

[Stew Robertson]

Many years ago when I was on a wee trip to Milton with Bill we found that same truck with a rear half track arrangement but no rear box or platform but was powered with a flattie
Not knowing if it was military or not and a lot of talk later we left it there to do some homework on ID ing what it was. we found no real information about it but went back a month or so later to see if we could acquire it but it was to late it had been squished!
After doing quite a bit of research later Bill had come to the conclusion that it was an early proto type for the military but That is the best that I can remember Weather there was any of that information went to Shilo or not I do not know

[servicepub (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Stew Robertson

Many years ago when I was on a wee trip to Milton with Bill we found that same truck with a rear half track arrangement but no rear box or platform but was powered with a flattie
Not knowing if it was military or not and a lot of talk later we left it there to do some homework on ID ing what it was. we found no real information about it but went back a month or so later to see if we could acquire it but it was to late it had been squished!
After doing quite a bit of research later Bill had come to the conclusion that it was an early proto type for the military but That is the best that I can remember Weather there was any of that information went to Shilo or not I do not know

Any photos?

[Robert Bergeron]

Clive,

Very well written and very interesting articles . Keep writing.

It is shocking and amazing that by the war's first year all we had were a mere 1000 vehicules in our inventory. Then it should be said that we had a mere 5000 Permanent Force soldiers in the inter-war years.

It is again amazing how GM and Ford stepped up to the plate by producing almost 800,000 trucks by war's end !

Cheers.

Robert