Dan McCaw's Yard Cleared

Robert Dabkowski · #1 12-10-05, 19:40

For those in central Ontario, Canada, I must report the clearing of Dan McCaw's Coe Hill CMP "wrecking yard". I witnessed 6 CMPs crushed and loaded onto trailers for the trip to the smelter along with a Dodge APT carcass or two. There are still a couple of boxes, a water truck tank, a restorable Bren Carrier and 3/4 of a Diamond "T" wrecker as well as several of Dan's restored MVs for sale but don't wait for long if interested.

Dan is just cleaning up the place for his retirement and as a "thank you" to his wife for putting up with the olive drab rust for all these past years.

Robert Dabkowski

Keith Webb · #2 12-10-05, 21:43

Did you have your video camera handy? Even a still camera?

Reminds me of the Hughes Trading yard in 2001.

Robert Dabkowski · #3 12-10-05, 21:55

Sorry, no camera at the time.

I had no warning. Was there to pick-up a tri-axle trailer when the grapple trailers (2) arrived and started loading.

Very depressing. Vehicles had been used as logging trucks, were picked over and had been out in the rain since the war ended but there was still lots of good sheet metal. running gear etc.

Dan claims to have been trying to sell for two years with no response so he called in the scrappers.

Robert in Toronto

chris vickery · #4 13-10-05, 00:34

Maybe I'm getting old and cranky at 34, but, I feel that I must comment on this one Robert.
As far as I know, Mr Mc Caw is full of crap as far as I know.
For a fellow so "involved" in the MV hobby, I certainly find it funny that I never heard of it, even once, mentioned that he was "cleaning up" or trying to get rid of his items.
You should know me by now Robert, that I'm pretty involved in this hobby and the MV community here in Ontario. I really try to keep abreast of things, and anyone who knows me knows that I pass stuff on.
This is a first for sure. Where were Dan's adverts? I never saw anything in the OMVA newsletter, CMP mag, Convoy, Army Motors or Supply Line, the MLU forum, G503 forum etc etc.
All free for subscribers...
Certainly a shame to see stuff like this go to the scrapper...Especially by a fellow MV "enthusiast".

Alex Blair (RIP) · #5 13-10-05, 01:47

Quote:

Originally posted by chris vickery
Maybe I'm getting old and cranky at 34, but, I feel that I must comment on this one Robert.
As far as I know, Mr Mc Caw is full of crap as far as I know.
For a fellow so "involved" in the MV hobby, I certainly find it funny that I never heard of it, even once, mentioned that he was "cleaning up" or trying to get rid of his items.
You should know me by now Robert, that I'm pretty involved in this hobby and the MV community here in Ontario. I really try to keep abreast of things, and anyone who knows me knows that I pass stuff on.
This is a first for sure. Where were Dan's adverts? I never saw anything in the OMVA newsletter, CMP mag, Convoy, Army Motors or Supply Line, the MLU forum, G503 forum etc etc.
All free for subscribers...
Certainly a shame to see stuff like this go to the scrapper...Especially by a fellow MV "enthusiast".

Chris
I agree with you..Never heard a word..
I spent quite a while in Coe Hill the long weekend in Sept talking to Dan and taking pictures,for three days at warrior days and even talked to him about the history of warrior days for an up coming article in Convoy magazine..
He certainly mentioned nothing to me or advertising any stuff in Convoy..
I know he is not on the internet but he certainly has friends that are..Maybe we can get some more info from someone in the area..Is there anything left?????

peter simundson · #6 13-10-05, 03:15

Chris Vickery! What a confession. And here I thought I was the only one in the hobby who was old and cranky. Hey...two of us. Let's start a Club.

chris vickery · #7 13-10-05, 03:33

Peter, I thought you were just old... Cranky, no way!
LOL

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #8 13-10-05, 04:16

If you're talking Old & Cranky, I reserve the right to be President of our association!

I never heard a thing either. Unfortunate. But listen SOMEONE has to save that water tank... it's immaculate. I've seen it with my own eyes (yes, with my bifocals on!). Original and immaculate.

Push comes to shove, call Bruce Parker whom Dan seems to trust... just get the damned thing. SOMEONE will want it SOMETIME.

End of sermon.

Now let's get back to cranky, you old bastards.

peter simundson · #9 13-10-05, 17:07

Maybe some really brave member (Chris V.) could phone
him and make a list of what he's got, what the prices are, and
post it on MLU. (Chris V.) Then we can all get more rusty metal and be happier. Or IF that brave (but cranky) member (Chris V.)
is too busy he could E mail me and I'll take the plunge.

Robert Dabkowski · #10 13-10-05, 18:33

First of all, "please don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger".

Second. if you'd all be so kind as to turn to the second last page of CMP magazine, issue #36, just recently mailed, you would see Dan's ad, third from the bottom, left side column. There have been others in previous issues, I believe.

As for what is left, my first posting listed the large items, I'm sure that there are many smaller ones as well.

Its been the story of my life, for sure. "A day late and a dollar short". Or expressed another way, "You snooze, you lose".

Just how long did you expect Dan to store all of that "junk" for free ? Dan has devoted decades to this hobby and I think it deplorable of you to run him down for wanting to devote his retirement years to an ill wife and the rest of his family.

Now that he has your attention, maybe he can sell off the remainder of his assetts ?

peter simundson · #11 13-10-05, 22:16

So there...Now do you all feel guilty????

peter simundson · #12 13-10-05, 22:18

And he is right. There it is on page 36. I mean no flashing lights but it's there.

Paul Heise · #13 14-10-05, 00:55

Never heard of this magazine, where is it available???

Robert Dabkowski · #14 14-10-05, 01:12

Paul, CMP is the club magazine of the Ontario Military Vehicle Association (OMVA). Available only to members of the club.

And it just so happens that I am the membership secretary for that very same organization. For the princely sum of Cdn$25 per year you'll get 4 issues of our fine publication containing all of the Ontario MV news that is fit to print (and some of it isn't). Plus whatever info that we can drag out of Quebec and upper New York state. Should you travel east you will also receive free admission to the three MV shows/meets that we organize each year.

Robert in Toronto

chris vickery · #15 14-10-05, 01:58

I must retort, as one ad does not a clearance sale make...
Like previously mentioned, I surely do not know everything, but try to keep informed of the current situation with regard to whats what in the hobby.
For a member so bent on liquidating his spares as well as his collection and for no one to seem to know, other than you Robert, well...
CMP mag and OMVA are not the only avenues in the world to spread the word.
Is this just a lot of hype, taken out of context by us true enthusiasts, or were the residuals just piles of junk?
As far as Dan's "collection", what is in it? Prices, details etc?
I stand steadfast in my opinions, as I had nothing but the brush off and his indifferent attitude towards young collectors by Mr Mc Caw with his treasure trove....
Our hobby needs more individuals to welcome the newcomers and embrace their enthusiasm, afterall, not all the old guys will be around forever.
Peter, you can call him, I surely won't.
BTW guys, I have heard of a source for many cmp vehs that may be available for restoration in the near future. Will check out the tip and be back to report my findings...

Rob Fast · #16 14-10-05, 02:30

although we here in Manitoba are far removed from the MV Club politics you have out East. Perhaps Dan would have had more of a response to his sales with an ad in out National CMP mag Convoy. We in Canada all need to make sure that everyone here is aware of sales of vintage military vehicles to the scrap dealers, or deals made abroad "FOX", so we all can have a good chance at doing the deal. Cheers Rob Fast Manitoba

peter simundson · #17 14-10-05, 04:03

Chris V. If you're going to retort...leave the fan on.
I will phone him tomorrow and report back.
Just to make things clear I get the impression Rob just walked in when this was happening. Like he says he's only the messenger.

Bruce Parker (RIP) · #18 14-10-05, 04:10

I had a long chat with Dan McCaw tonight. If he had wrecked half a dozen useful CMP's, under the circumstances, even I'd think it was justified. As it is, not much of value was lost. I took a stearing box off one of the earmarked 15cwt's a few months ago. Having free range to take anything else of value, I declined. There was nothing. Before the wrecker came, Dan took off things like rad spring guards and tow shackles. What went was a bunch of broken frames, beyond hope body parts
and driven out axles. Dan knows what is of value.

As to Dan himself, he has a wealth of knowlege about mechanics and CMP's that is second to none. He was, and remains, willing to help anyone seriously interested in these sorts of things. But be warned: he has no patience for tire kickers or talkers. Talk to him about politics and you will be forever enlightened, changed and
cynical.

He advertised in CMP magazine and had no takers. Never crossed his mind to advertise further as in a community such as ours that should have been enough. Bottom line, the time had come to realize what he still wanted to do, and what was surplus.

What's left is a C60L GS and a 1-1/2 Chev tractor (American) restored and running, a Mk.II (mortar) carrier, a 1942 C15A with a water tank (nice!! Full istruction plates and I nabbed the water filter units from a wreck myself), a 1942 HUP with a full body, an M-37, a WW2 Diamond T wrecker, others I can't recall and an assortment of salvaged CMP parts. He also has an 11 cab C8 and a 12 cab C15A that are tired but un-mucked with and original (please don't even consider these until I've decided if I want one or both of them). Word is getting around. If any of this is interesting, I'd get in touch with Dan quickly.

Alex Blair (RIP) · #19 14-10-05, 14:02

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Parker
I had a long chat with Dan McCaw tonight. If he had wrecked half a dozen useful CMP's, under the circumstances, even I'd think it was justified. As it is, not much of value was lost. I took a stearing box off one of the earmarked 15cwt's a few months ago. Having free range to take anything else of value, I declined. There was nothing. Before the wrecker came, Dan took off things like rad spring guards and tow shackles. What went was a bunch of broken frames, beyond hope body parts
and driven out axles. Dan knows what is of value.

As to Dan himself, he has a wealth of knowlege about mechanics and CMP's that is second to none. He was, and remains, willing to help anyone seriously interested in these sorts of things. But be warned: he has no patience for tire kickers or talkers. Talk to him about politics and you will be forever enlightened, changed and
cynical.

He advertised in CMP magazine and had no takers. Never crossed his mind to advertise further as in a community such as ours that should have been enough. Bottom line, the time had come to realize what he still wanted to do, and what was surplus.

What's left is a C60L GS and a 1-1/2 Chev tractor (American) restored and running, a Mk.II (mortar) carrier, a 1942 C15A with a water tank (nice!! Full istruction plates and I nabbed the water filter units from a wreck myself), a 1942 HUP with a full body, an M-37, a WW2 Diamond T wrecker, others I can't recall and an assortment of salvaged CMP parts. He also has an 11 cab C8 and a 12 cab C15A that are tired but un-mucked with and original (please don't even consider these until I've decided if I want one or both of them). Word is getting around. If any of this is interesting, I'd get in touch with Dan quickly.

Bruce
I agree with you on Dan McCaw..
Hell of a knowlegable and helpfull guy..Started up these Warrior Days and knows his stuff..
He is a mechanic himself and has a couple of others working for him in his garage..
If Dan scrapped it ,it was scrap..
He has the cadets up every year and has them in the vehicles,around the vehicles and they even do the security and guard duty around the clock for the four days at Coe Hill..He ,at his own expense puts on the corn and hamburgers for the cadets,vehicle people and anyone else around on the Saturday night at Warrior days..His whole family pitches in..
He was more than helpful to me when I asked to do pix for an upcoming article in Convoy magazine and he was more than happy to help out..
Although he said nothing of scrapping his scrap,I don't think it may have occurred to him..
Now that I look at my CMP #33 issue ,I see his add..that he has stuff for sale..
So Dan has added lots to the Military Vehicle preservation over the years and there is still stuff there..So what if he is a little impatient at times with looters and tire kickers..He is a serious business and family guy and one of us..
Any support I can give him I will..
Chris..You got the makin's of a crusty,crankey old bastard... I like that...just like some of the rest of us...you are just not there yet...time will fix that...

greg anderson (RIP) · #20 16-10-05, 02:42

I was somewhat surprised to see this topic on this forum.I see or hear from Dan weekly and I was not aware that he was clearing up his yard until I stopped by.Dan has operated a vehicle repair business in Coe Hill for years and has accumulated a lot of old vehicles and parts of all descriptions and these were lying around the garage as is typical.Dan is pretty well retired and having just completed a first class restoration of an APT ,his next project seems to be to clean up his yard.Anything I saw going for srap was SCRAP.I have personally restored some vehicles including MVs and I certainly would not want to tackle anything that Dan has scrappedand I know that Dan with his great interest in this hobby would not scrap anything of value.Dan has never been in this hobby to make money.Dan on his own started the annual Warriors Day event in Coe Hill which has now grown to the point of greatly stretching Dans resourcesThis major event is free to all participants because Dan has expended so much of his own money and time and goodwill to bring it about --lets hear it for Dan -Greg

Barry Churcher · #21 16-10-05, 06:31

I am in full agreement with Greg. I have bought two lumps from Dan that may have been scrap to other fellas. One was an APT that I just wanted some parts from and he ended up selling me the whole thing for what I would probably have paid other collectors for the parts. Now I have a spare motor, tranny etc. Dan wouldn't do you wrong or in fact do the hobby wrong. Rob was just the messenger and the message is "Dan cleaned out some junk". One thing for sure is that this has been good advertising for the Coe Hill event.
Cheers
Barry

RHClarke · #22 16-10-05, 21:58

So great, that a bunch of us Ottawa ROT types made the trip to Coe Hill this morning. Bob Carriere, Jim Mackie and myself took the highway 7 leaf tour (no blue "leafs" seen) and spent the balance of the morning with Dan. Note that the Perth snowplow CMP is still sitting outside of the Harley dealer's garage...

Some deals were struck, but what struck me the most was that Dan's yard is still full of "stuff". We got the royal tour and Dan outlined his plan for scrapping - it seems that he will be scrapping junked cars/trucks and useless/twisted metal.

Dan told us that he wanted to "thin the herd" of his military vehicle collection, so here is an opportunity for those interested and worried CMP types to visit Coe Hill and strike a deal.

alleramilitaria · #23 17-10-05, 05:47

whats his phone number and where is his place?

RHClarke · #24 17-10-05, 21:25

Since his number is in the public domain:

McCaw, Dan
Coe Hill, ON K0L 1P0
(613) 337-5705

Give Mapquest a try ...

Bruce Parker (RIP) · #25 18-10-05, 02:06

I'm in delicate negosh-hiashins fur dat C8, soes bak of befor'en I haf ta hurt ya.

(or, according to my wife, get Dan to sell it to you for anything over what I'm prepared to pay and save my marriage)

#26 18-10-05, 08:57

Quote:

Originally posted by RHClarke
So great, that a bunch of us Ottawa ROT types made the trip to Coe Hill this morning. Bob Carriere, Jim Mackie

You should ask our Jim, of no relation to the pilot of the Mont Blanc, about the revolver from the Carpathia. . . . . . . . . . .

R.

alleramilitaria · #27 18-10-05, 23:33

to who ever bought the carrier %$##@, LOL
just kidding
happy restoration
dave

Bob Carriere · #28 20-10-05, 05:18

One at a time as usual....

The infamous C8..... would need a lot of TLC.......

....tire kicker not included.....

Bob Carriere · #29 20-10-05, 05:21

....of particular interest...inside the C8... the original lettering for the switches is still very legible....

If any one needs a high resolution image send me a seperate PM with your home address and will forward for enlargement.

Bob Carriere · #30 20-10-05, 05:22

....again would need a lot of TLC.....but you could recover the cost of the truck if you sold all the extra non CMP steel welded to it...