Australia Mystery 15cwt - Page 2

Keith Webb · #31 02-09-07, 00:42

Quote:

Originally posted by cliff
Thanks Keith I should have remembered that. I see Tony has not told us yet if he is going to buy this one

Mouthwatering as it is, it already belongs to someone who doesn't want to sell as I understand. Be a different matter if it was up for grabs on a property somewhere!

Tony Smith · #32 02-09-07, 03:47

Crikey! I'm copping it from all directions!

This truck has just been acquired by it's new owner, who contacted me to help sort out a few identity questions. I think we've really got that ball rolling and have placed it in the middle of other trucks with similar features, all geunine, kosher F15s. It wasn't offered for sale (well maybe not yet [*fingers crossed emoticon*], first dibs if he does).

Keith Webb · #33 02-09-07, 12:10

I've been doing some research and have solved the mystery of the ARN for my (Swiss Chris' F15).

The ARN was missing it's final digit but I have found it has it's original engine and gearbox. Fortunately last time I was at the AWM looking at AWM126 I photographed a lot of pages including the one for this truck.

Engine number 99TF562428 which is also on the gearbox... which is a Canadian delivered engine number and the ARN is 54709.

What relevance here? I was also having a look at engine numbers for the ARN 132--- series of 1944 and there were a lot of '99TF5624--' engines all around this number, which I thought may indicate some stockpiling of CKD kits.

It's a pity the records don't indicate contract numbers or delivery dates. The F15 I have was taken on charge at Victoria Barracks and disposed of to the Ford Motor Co., no dates though.

Tony Smith · #34 02-09-07, 16:17

Quote:

Originally posted by Keith Webb
Engine number 99TF562428 which is also on the gearbox... which is a Canadian delivered engine number and the ARN is 54709.

What relevance here? I was also having a look at engine numbers for the ARN 132--- series of 1944 and there were a lot of '99TF5624--' engines all around this number, which I thought may indicate some stockpiling of CKD kits.

99TFxxxxx is an American built engine, supplied TO Ford Canada (or were they shipped staright to Ford Aust, Geelong?). There are also many 99TF engines appearing through the 555xx to 557xx ARNs. But how's this for odd? They only appear to have been fitted to F15s, although not every F15 has a 99TF.

Quote:

Originally posted by Keith Webb
The F15 I have was taken on charge at Victoria Barracks and disposed of to the Ford Motor Co., no dates though.

Would that be the Victoria Barracks in Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane?

Keith Webb · #35 02-09-07, 21:27

Quote:

Originally posted by Tony Smith
99TFxxxxx is an American built engine, supplied TO Ford Canada (or were they shipped staright to Ford Aust, Geelong?). There are also many 99TF engines appearing through the 555xx to 557xx ARNs. But how's this for odd? They only appear to have been fitted to F15s, although not every F15 has a 99TF.

Would that be the Victoria Barracks in Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane?

I think some of the No8 Ford Arty Tractors had 99TF engines. But generally this seems to be symptomatic of Canadian F15s as opposed to the F15s with Australian bodies.

David_Hayward (RIP) · #36 02-09-07, 22:13

I can imagine that Fords shipped engines direct from the US to Geelong...interesting that Windsor had to use US engines in addition to their own product.

It seems that the Mercury truck engines ran # 99T[F for rhd]-466,701 and up for 1942 onwards.

Tony Smith · #37 03-09-07, 01:41

I would think that with the lack of commercial ties between Ford US and Ford Aust, and the close proximity between Ford US's Dearborn plant and Ford Canada's Windsor/Walkerville plants that the engines (plus any other items supplied as supplementary stock) were simply just shipped across the river and fed into the Canadian "System".

Ken Hughes · #38 03-09-07, 08:48

my f30 engine no starts with 99TF,i did read somewhere that Canada sourced USA engines,just cant remember where at the moment though.
I presume that my f30 came direct to NZ,and there are a number of other fords with the same 99TF prefix.

Keith Webb · #39 03-09-07, 09:56

I can't recall seeing any cab 12s here with anything other than the usual '2G' prefixed numbers - I was wondering whether any of the CMP Fords in Canada have '99TF' engines?

David_Hayward (RIP) · #40 03-09-07, 10:38

We know that in summer 1945 in the UK there were threee concentrated Candian dumps of crates. Some of them had arrived in 1943, and were then shipped back to Canada so I can understand that chassis were often sitting around. Further, the DND papers say that in the 1942-3 period huge stockpiles of vehicles had built up in Canada awaiting shipping to the UK, and it is possible that the same thing happened in Vancouver or wherever the Australasia-bound crates were stored.

David Hardway · #41 16-09-07, 06:35

Hi Guys

Can someone please identify the bracket being held up on the left hand back corner of the cab my F15A has all the right holes but thats all

also mine has four bolt holes in the drivers side back corner of the cab two at floor level and another two about 10 inches up

and finally what information can be gained from the numbers stamped on the chassis of Ozzie Fords mine is prefixed 3G the same as this F15

Thanks

Dave

1941 3" Mortar Carrier
1941 Ford F30 LRDG Replica
1942 Ford F15A (Aust)
1942 NZ Pattern Wheeled Carrier

lynx42 · #42 16-09-07, 08:35

David,
It's the bracket for the Gallows Machine gun device. The .303 Bren gun hung from it like on a davit.
Rick

Tony Smith · #43 16-09-07, 15:40

Quote:

Originally posted by David Hardway
Hi Guys

Can someone please identify the bracket being held up on the left hand back corner of the cab my F15A has all the right holes but thats all

Thanks

Dave

The following pair of pics are of a nicely restored vehicle seen at Corowa '07. The AALMG bracket and gallows:

Tony Smith · #44 16-09-07, 15:42

Quote:

Originally posted by David Hardway
Hi Guys

also mine has four bolt holes in the drivers side back corner of the cab two at floor level and another two about 10 inches up.

Thanks

Dave

These could be for the Fire Extinguisher bracket?:

Tony Smith · #45 16-09-07, 15:46

Quote:

Originally posted by David Hardway
Hi Guys
... and finally what information can be gained from the numbers stamped on the chassis of Ozzie Fords mine is prefixed 3G the same as this F15

Thanks

Dave

Ford Aust often used the Engine Number as the vehicle identifying number, rather than a "Serial" or "Chassis" number. A 3G prefix means it was originally fitted with a 1942 model, Canadian built engine.
Do you have the complete number? We might be able to find the Aust Army Reg No and a little of it's history.

David Hardway · #46 24-09-07, 22:03

Thanks Tony and Rick

Those photos are spot on in both cases. The chassis no looks to be 3G 13792 so fingers crossed we may be able to find some history on this well travelled machine

I f i can finish with another question where did they stamp the chassis number in the larger Aussie Fords

Thanks

Dave

1941 3" Mortar Carrier
1941 Ford F30 LRDG Replica
1942 Ford F15A (Aust)
1942 NZ Pattern Wheeled Carrier