1944 C-15A-Wire-5 Restoration

[Dennis Cardy]

Bruce,
Processed and printed my own B&W film back then..Jeez…who could afford colour..

Very nice to see the 83-385 on the door of the radio van. Going to follow up on that for sure.

Never discovered that as I had done a quick repaint of the whole vehicle after the valve job...using Duck Hunters Brown paint purchased at the Canadian Tire store in Port Elgin. A surprisingly close match and semi-matt to boot.

The box was a bit Tatty after being rescued from a wrecking yard..and the cab and chassis was post war glossy green. So the quick repaint really tied things together.

Now it can be told…the paint was still wet the next morning for the Paisley Rally and Parade.

Here it is as found..about a half hour drive from Paisley. Parked out the back of a man's place.. after the engine died.

He told me it had come out of a Borden auction. He had thrown away the useless radio box and substituted a more useful one from a pick-up truck.
Plywood sides for hauling firewood and sections of galvanized culvert for rear fenders..

Totally stock ..still had the original tires and side curtains.. but the round canvas roof hatch cover was long gone.

That little boy is now in his mid 40's…and the father of two..

God help us.

Wonder where your jeep ended up.

Dennis.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

...I came across these pics I took of un-mucked with 2K1 bodies at the time I was restoring Dennis' old truck. I hope they can be of some assistance.

First is the inside of the generator 'fridge'. Note the two way exhaust fitting on the floor. Also of note is the rack on the mid rail for the 12V Johnson chorehorse. It's very similar to that in the HUW and consists of two rails made of 1" by 1/8" angle welded together with a gap big enough for a 1/8" in plate. The chorehorse was bolted to the plate and the plate slid into the rails. You can see a small pin and chain on the tops of the rails which were what keeps the plate and chorehorse in place. This arrangement allowed for 'quick release' of the generator to allow it to be operated at a distance from the vehicle.

There isn't a similar rail assembly on the bottom and I am of the opinion that's proof there was a 120V Onan in the lower part of the generator cabinet as standard in 2K1 bodies.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Here's the warning stencil on the generator cabinet door. Failing to heed this warning about keeping the outer doors open when operating the generators would of course kill you due to carbon monoxide filling the inside of the radio body.

Second is one of the many 2K1 bodies I found that had the lower half of the interior painted various shades of blue/green. I can't say whether this was done factory or in service to lessen the scruffy appearance of scuffs on the white, but it sure was military and not post war civilian applied.

[Jordan Baker]

Bruce.

Thanks for the pictures. I'm wondering if that sliding rail setup may have been used to some extent for the Wire-3 mounting?

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Thanks for the pictures. I'm wondering if that sliding rail setup may have been used to some extent for the Wire-3 mounting?

I have no idea. In both the similar and contemporary 2K1 and HUW trucks the chorehorse mount was set up for quick removal so it's reasonable to expect the WIRE-3 mount did too.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

A couple taken on the right side to show the wiring and terminal strips for the batteries and switch boxes. The first shows screw holes in the wood paneling above the rifle boots that I took as the mounting holes for the C5 Charging Panel. As I didn't have a panel at the time I couldn't test out this theory.

[David Dunlop]

Robert. You will not find any hidden nuts or retainers inside the roof rail holes. I can assure you, these items were all secured by lag bolts, through the aluminum skin and into the underlying 1/4-inch plywood. They relied on good, solid wood to provide a secure anchor. If Gord Falk reads this thread, he may be able to obtain one from his 2K1 box and provide exact dimensions and/or photos of these lag bolts. The roof structure consists of an outer steel frame. A set of curved steel channels, identical to those used in the wall framing, run from side to side. The ends of these channels line up to the tops of the side channels. A layer of 1/4-inch plywood was then fastened to the top of the roof channels. Sheet aluminium was then placed down over the plywood, folded up under the edges on all four sides and the corners neatly welded. A series of predrilled holes were around the perimeter. The roof was placed onto the box and the roof channels were welded to the tops of the wall channels. Aluminum rain gutters were then slid in place around the perimeter of the roof on the outside. Three inch long aluminum, truss head slotted screws were then inserted through all the perimeter holes and screwed into steel fasteners on the upper inside of the walls to secure the gutters in place. These steel fasteners are identical to the two Jordan has posted photos of on the Signal Buzzer thread. Once all that was done, the interior 1/4-inch plywood would have been installed, starting with the two ceiling pieces. So, long story short, there is only the depth of the steel channels to work with on the roof to fasten anything safely. If you try and pour anything into this cavity, it will just flow down to the walls. Gord is in the process of taking apart the roof on his 2K1 box to replace the upper plywood, which has rotted out on his Wire 5. It is a huge task.

Bruce. Fantastic photos of the Gen Box for a special reason. The upper framework shows the portable chorehorse setup perfectly. This was standard for all 2K1 and 2K2 Wireless Bodies. The standard setup on the floor of the Gen Box was a second, permanent chorehorse. This can be confirmed by the wiring diagram found inside the fuse panel on the wall of the wireless body between the two right side windows. The wiring for the 110V Onan Generator is denoted with dashed lines around it stating it is an optional installation. The 2K1 boxes all came from Wilson, however, fully wired for either installation.

I do not know how exactly the permanent chorehorse was mounted to the floor of the Gen Box. Of the dozens I looked at at Princess Auto, I could not make sense at all of the surviving hole patterns in relation to the mounting holes for the chorehorse. I did find three 2K1 boxes with the same heavy steel plate shown mounted to the floor in your photos. The one with the two big grab handles. Coincidentally, those three 2K1 boxes also had a steel bracket holding a metal shroud mounted to the upper right corner of the Gen Box, above the two rifle brackets. Next to one of these brackets was a paper notice advising the Onan Generator must never be operated before this shroud was clipped in place over the exhaust pipe. It mentioned the model number for the Onan Generator, but it was unclear what was actually being protected. The other odd thing was that the presence of this plate setup strongly suggested that if an Onan 110V Generator was installed in a 2K1 Wireless Box for whatever reason, it must have been portable. Must have been a damned brute to move as well.

Sorry for the long winded rant.

David

[David Dunlop]

Bruce. One more small rant.

I think you are right regarding the lower half wall painting. It showed up on a few boxes at Princess in a choice of ugly hospital green, bright blue or grey/black. Most boxes were still done in the original overall white, but I suspect as these vehicles became long in the tooth, rot became more and more evident in the lower wall sections. A darker paint to hide these stains was probably used at whatever unit level, to make do.

Interesting, the thought that went into the construction of the walls in these boxes. The inner ceiling was installed first, running fully side to side. The end and side walls went in next with a beaded gasket fitted to the top edges. This design meant that any water leaking into the roof would flow out past the top edges of the walls, and these edges would also be protected by the gasket. Water infiltration in the upper walls was thereby minimized. The walls were split at the midpoint horizontally and the seam covered by a trim strip. They probably expected any water getting in behind the walls would eventually accumulate at the floor level and cause problems in the lower portions. You will notice the lower wall sections of these boxes are basically solid. No fancy holes or cutouts. Nice and simple wood work if a lower wall section needed replacing. Remove the fiddly bits, unscrew the offending panel, cut and install a new piece of plywood. Paint it and reinstall the fiddly bits.

Done. Time for a drink.

David

[David Dunlop]

Here is a photo of the gasket bead that runs along the join of the 2K1/2K2 Upper Wall Plywood and ceiling plywood junction. Basically a very thin oilcloth fender welt tacked onto the upper plywood wall ends before installation of the panel.


David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Bruce. One more small rant.

I think you are right regarding the lower half wall painting. It showed up on a few boxes at Princess in a choice of ugly hospital green, bright blue or grey/black.

David

Throw in a pale blue green and I think you've got the range covered.

I'm soooo glad I have my HUW wireless to work on. Without it I'd be in a sorry nostalgic state with all this talk about 2K1 wireless bodies. The big difference between the two is one has a lot of wood and the other is almost all steel. I do better with steel.

[Jordan Baker]

Thats why I am enjoying the Wire-3 so much. Its all metal except for 3 pieces of wood. The down side is a huge lack of information and knowledge on this version.

[Larry Hayward]

Robert,

By chance do you have any scale plans for your Wireless body, as I'm looking to create a model of one?

[Robert Bergeron]

Sorry , no scale plans my friend . A model would look good .

[Robert Bergeron]

.

Completed the stand to put the HP units atop the No 19 Wireless.

Found some paint that closely matches the original .

Will put the HP units on top in the next few days.

Stay '' tuned '' ...

[Robert Bergeron]

Good evening friends.

With the final installation of the support tray for the No 19 HP set , this brings us to the end of major restorations for this project.

Still have to find some ancillery cables for the No 19 HP to make it operating . Meanwhile the no 19 set underneath is operatable in receive and transmit when i hook it all up.

The truck starts and runs great, stops on a dime and all gears are smooth as butter.

The box is restored better than new with the modern insulation in the walls . The generator compartment needs some wiring done to bring power to the Wireless batteries but that is easy . The lights in the box are nice and bright and work either on 12V or 110 V . I have a 110 V power supply cord running to an outlet near the Wireless table just as the original No 19 HP installation that could be run on either 12 V or 110V . Found an Onan generator for the gen box to feed 110V to the radio and power up a heater for those frosty Fall days coming up.

If you ever come across wires and cables specific to the No 19 HP set get in touch please.

I will post smaller improvements as they happen to keep the post alive.

Thanks Richard for starting this great project for me . Look where it is now ! I could not of done it without you my friend.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

As an impressionable young lad of about 16 years old (although I did own my MB already) it was the Paisley show that cemented my love of CMPs and carriers. At the show was Steve Alford's carrier, somebodies 13 cab F15A painted desert yellow with a dark green mickey mouse pattern and your C15A wireless that I ended up buying. Somewhere I still have photos of the event I'll try and dig out.

Originally Posted by Dennis Cardy

Bruce,
Processed and printed my own B&W film back then..Jeez…who could afford colour..

Very nice to see the 83-385 on the door of the radio van. Going to follow up on that for sure.

Never discovered that as I had done a quick repaint of the whole vehicle after the valve job...using Duck Hunters Brown paint purchased at the Canadian Tire store in Port Elgin. A surprisingly close match and semi-matt to boot.

The box was a bit Tatty after being rescued from a wrecking yard..and the cab and chassis was post war glossy green. So the quick repaint really tied things together.

Now it can be told…the paint was still wet the next morning for the Paisley Rally and Parade.

Here it is as found..about a half hour drive from Paisley. Parked out the back of a man's place.. after the engine died.

He told me it had come out of a Borden auction. He had thrown away the useless radio box and substituted a more useful one from a pick-up truck.
Plywood sides for hauling firewood and sections of galvanized culvert for rear fenders..

Totally stock ..still had the original tires and side curtains.. but the round canvas roof hatch cover was long gone.

That little boy is now in his mid 40's…and the father of two..

God help us.

Wonder where your jeep ended up.

Dennis.

[Dennis Cardy]

Bruce,
Would definitely like to see some photo's from the rally. Have a bunch buried somewhere.
Came across this newspaper shot from the Owen Sound Sun-Times. Do you recognize any of the people or the vehicles..??

Dennis.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Dennis Cardy

Bruce,
Would definitely like to see some photo's from the rally. Have a bunch buried somewhere.
Came across this newspaper shot from the Owen Sound Sun-Times. Do you recognize any of the people or the vehicles..??

Dennis.

Driver of the first M38A1 is the venerable Dennis Cardy. The M37's driver behind I think is Ted Dente. Brian Asbury is driving the M38 following.

[Dennis Cardy]

Yep…that's Ted and Brian……and yes...the Venerable Me….
Boy..are the family going to get a laugh out of that..Never been called that before.. (grin).

Think it's fair to say..that group could be considered the founding members of the organized military vehicle movement in Ontario.

What a great weekend that was.

Felt it was important to add this photo taken on that weekend..of the man I consider to be the God Father behind much of today's military restoration movement

Donald G. Smith…sitting on top of Carol….just after demolishing an abandoned shed.

A polarizing personality no doubt..But a good friend to me…and I honour his memory.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Boy, could we ever start a 'then and now thread'. And boy do I ever have stories about Don Smith and CAROL (most of which involve crushing things. Some times on purpose...some times not).

Here's CAROL as she currently exists. Alas Don passed away some years ago.

...also, I found my Paisley pics and will scan and post them...

[Dennis Cardy]

Yes..Don passed away a few years ago…brave to the end..

Can you tell me where your shot was taken..??
I note it has the white star on the hull side....ie Yankee markings..Seems to be inside some kind of a heritage fort.