1953 m38a1 cdn

[wingnut]

Hi, these are the photos requested! Best regards Bernard.

[Frank v R]

Hi Ed , I do not have info on a 31 , just the other ones , found it in some of my early 60's paperwork , I need to talk to Eric on some of the photos he's had in CMP , and I'll take a look to see if there is a pattern for the "31" vehicles , I'm only going to look at the M-38A1cdn's

[BCA]

All M38CDN and M38A1's were stamped with a "Delivered Date" of the format MM-DD-YY or Month-Day-Year. Be warned that the Ford serial number sequence does not always match the date sequence. For example F-200445, 5-5-53 has delivered date much later than F-200459, 2-12-53. So do not interpolate missing dates by comparison with other documented jeeps.
Bernard: your serial number is stamped much more clearly than most however I can not make out the month of your delivered date. It is most likely a 2 , 3, 4 or 5 (Feb/Mar/Apr/May) but take note of my comments about out-of-sequence dates. Can you examine it closely to help identify the month?
The lower right corner has an inspector's stamp. I think it is the common "IS" over the logo with "E19" below the logo, although I have seen variations. Can you confirm? The inspector's logo is often referred to as the "Canadian Tire" logo due to its shape. Can anyone confirm the meaning of this logo or the use of this type of stamp: unique to the inspector at the Ford plant? Seen on other vehicles or army equipment like firearms etc.
Finally: the lowest CFR number that I have seen on an M38A1CDN is 53-32181. Ignoring the date (52 or 53) and the first "3" which is the 1/4-ton vehicle class this leaves only 4 more digits to identify the jeep series of vehicles. Considering these last 4 digits: I believe they started numbering M38's (roughly 2165 made) at 0001 and continued straight through into the M38A1's (roughly 700 vehicles). The highest M38A1 CFR number I have seen is 53-32908).
I propose that the a block of CFR numbers ending in 33XXX was set aside for US-purchased Willys vehicles, rebuilt vehicles, special equipment vehicles or for re-assigning a new CFR number at a later date. The date pre-fix is largely irrevelent: the army only used the last 5 digits of the CFR for assigning a license plate.
Comments welcome. there is lots to learn.
....Brian

[rob love]

I always considered the inspectors mark as a stylized broad arrow, and the IS to stand for "inspector services". The Alpha numeric underneath is would be the identifier for the technical inspector.

The arrow is, of course, found on everything from the 50s weapons, the 50s produced webbing, vehicles, and I believe aircraft parts. I am pretty sure I have seen that similar stamp on inspection tags from the 50s and 60s. Of course, by the 50s it meant the item was inspected, rather than as a property mark like the old C/l\.

[BCA]

CFR's have the format YY-X _ _ _ _. YY is the year that the number was assigned (not necessarily the factory date of delivery or manufacture). I have suggested previously that the "X'' is a digit that represents a class of vehicle. The following 4 digits allow a sequencial serial number to be assigned to each class of vehicle (0001-9999).
Can anyone confirm this from written documentation?
Based on my observation (vehicles I have inspected, Canadian Army Data Sheets or historical photographs) the following "X" digits were used for the following vehicles:
0: M38A1CDN2 and CDN3 jeeps, 1958 10-passenger bus, some M37's with winch.
1: Various 1956 4x2 trucks, 1956 1/2-ton panel truck, 1956 Ford C500 Fire truck, some 3/4-ton M37CDN.
3: M38CDN and M38A1CDN jeeps (1952-1953 Ford and also Willys M38 and M38A1's that were acquired by Canada).
4: M37CDN, M43 CDN, M152CDN.
5: M135CDN, M207CDN, M211CDN 6x6 2-1/2-ton trucks.
6: M26A1 Tank Transporter ("Pacific")
7: 1/4, 3/4 and 1-1/2-ton trailers (M100CDN, M101CDN, M104CDN)
9: R18 Bombardier snowmobile, 1958 "RAT" articulated snow machine.

Any candidates for "2" and "8"?

[BCA]

Bernard, I got curious about your serial plate; fortunately you posted a good photo. I find it quite unusual - but certainly not to question it's authenticity since it looks very original.
Frank v.R. and others may also notice that there are 3 different type faces used for stamping the serial number.
The most plates have a type face like your "53" date. Notice how delicate and lightly stamped it is. Most plates I have seen have this exact style for the serial number and the date, and are very uniform in spacing and pressure: i.e. machine stamped in one process.
I have looked closely and do not see a Month stamp. However the "2" which is in the space normally used for the Day is a heavy type face: As if it was an after-thought. Also there is a dash before and after the "2" suggesting the original intention of a MM-DD-YY format. One possibility is that the "53" was pre-stamped without a MM-DD. Later only the "2" was added, in which case it may mean either February or the 2nd day of an unknown month.
Finally the F-200578 is definitely a bolder typeface than normal M38CDN and M38A1 CDN serial numbers.
My guess is that the jeep had a problem on the assembly line, was pulled aside and not stamped until it was approved for delivery. At that point a different set of stamps was used and the stamper overlooked assigning a day and only stamped "2' for February.
If you PM me and give me your email address then me then I can send you an image of a typical serial plate.
A most interesting plate and thank you for sharing. .... Brian

[rob love]

Brian
I believe 8 was for the armour, like ferrets and centurians

[BCA]

Rob: thanks for the suggestion - so far all I have to go on is photos in various data sheets and none of them show CFR's for some of the armoured vehicles. I am sure there are lots of historical photos out there that will confirm or debunk the theory of blocking out particular CFR series for specific vehicles.

[Ed Storey]

What Brian outlined for CFR numbers was the intent when the system was first devised. Since the 1970s this well defined numbering system has changed a bit as older fleets of vehicles were retired and new ones brought into service.

As Rob stated Centurion and Ferret X digits began with 8

Looking at some of the other armoured vehicles:

Leopard X digits beginning with 1, 6, 7 and 8
Coyote X digits begin with 3
M113 Series X digits begin with 3
Lynx X digits begin with 3
LAV III digits beginning with 0, 3 and 4
AVGP Series X digits began with 3
RG-31 X digits beginning with 3 and 8

Softskin vehicles:

M151A2 X digits began with 0 and 2
Chevrolet CK20903 Series began with 2
MLVW Series X digits begin with 1, 3, 5 and 6
5 ton Series X digits began with 0, 1, 2 and 6

Maybe it is me, but it looks the original ordered system has changed.