Repro 15cwt GS box cover

[Stewart Loy]

Gents,

I am planning on having a copy made of the GS box canvas cover made for my C15a. I have located a fellow who is nice enough to allow me to copy an NOS tarp during the long northern winter to accomplish this.

I have had very good results working with a local canvas supplier. The canvas mudflaps were exact duplicates and even smelled like the WW2 era parts. The colour, weight, and preservation of the material was spot on.

Initial estimates look to be in the ballpark of $500 each - possibly a bit less. I expect to make nothing from this reproduction effort, so shipping from Beachville to where you are would be extra also.

I have had interest expressed by 2 local CMPers, and wonder if anyone else with a GS box would like a canvas cover for it?

Please get back to me in the next while with your interest. I suspect that the canvas supplier will only want to do this once, so speak now, or you might miss the boat.

Give me a jingle at loys[at]gdls.com, or a PM.

Best regards,


Stewart


PS - I am going to have to make myself some bows also, so if you need them for your truck please advise. I have no idea what they will be worth to manufacture, but the tarp looks funny without them - more like a pile of canvas that a box cover.


.

[chris vickery]

Stewart, just a sidenote here. I used 1" black gas pipe to make my bows for my 12 cab a few years back. I used an electrical bending hickey and a strong friend to help bend them up. If you have access to one of the power driven hickeys, even better.

[Gunner]

Hi Stu:

When are you going to production- cash flow drives the question!

Rope or springs and metal tabs for attaching to the box?

Mike

[cletrac (RIP)]

Perhaps you should clarify a few things here. First off, what model GS box are we talking about? They aren't all the same size. Next, there's two styles of covers, a flat one with no bows and a tall one with the bows. Each model of box seems to have different bows too. Just something to think about.

[Stewart Loy]

Mike,

I suspect that once I get the tarp and fiddle with it a bit it will likely be mid-October. I am trying to get a slow period in the canvas makers schedule to see if that helps out the cause.

The box cover sample has ropes on the outside perimeter, and some canvas straps inside.

Here is a picture of what it will likely look like.

My box measures 82.5 inches long by 78.38 inches long, all welded. Can I get a sampling of sizes of other boxes? Are the Ford one the same, or will the Chevy guys be the only ones with new tarps?



Stewart

Originally Posted by Gunner

Hi Stu:

When are you going to production- cash flow drives the question!

Rope or springs and metal tabs for attaching to the box?

Mike

[peter simundson]

Does Beachville have hydro now???
Where the hell is it anyway??
I wouldn't listen to Chris V about his electric hickey. They have long, cold winters where he is.

Simundson (who else)

[chris vickery]

Wow Stewart.

I feel a warm breeze blowing here on your post, kinda like hot air or something....

he he. Peter, don't go away mad, just go away.

[Stewart Loy]

Peter,

This vital canvas work will be done in Tillsonburg. I know, I know - your back still aches when you hear that word ( Sorry to all of the 'Stompin' Tom fans out there ).

I just bought a new snowblower - so I suspect that it will not snow a millimeter this winter around here!

Are we still on for an OMVA get together in Kingston in early October? I was T-16ing at a Legion park dedication in Bayfield on the day of the summer show, and missed you.


Stewart

Originally Posted by peter simundson

Does Beachville have hydro now???
Where the hell is it anyway??
I wouldn't listen to Chris V about his electric hickey. They have long, cold winters where he is.

Simundson (who else)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Stewart Loy

I have had interest expressed by 2 local CMPers, and wonder if anyone else with a GS box would like a canvas cover for it?

Stewart, while not local I would like a canvas cover for the 2C1 box on my F15A. I am looking for the "van" type which fits over the hoops. Technically speaking, a GS box is the one without the hoops.

Originally Posted by cletrac

Perhaps you should clarify a few things here. First off, what model GS box are we talking about? They aren't all the same size. Next, there's two styles of covers, a flat one with no bows and a tall one with the bows. Each model of box seems to have different bows too. Just something to think about.

Good point David. According to the Body Types listed by Gregg, my 2C1 body is 82-9/16 inch long, while the 2H1 and 2J1 are 80-3/8 inch long.

H.

[CWO (ret) Gilles Aubé]

I am interested but I need to know how to mesure the box and at what price.

[Stewart Loy]

Originally Posted by CWO (ret) Gilles Aubé

I am interested but I need to know how to mesure the box and at what price.

Gilles,

If you were to get a friend to help the measuring would be easier. Please measure at the top of the box - just where the bows slip into the sides. My box tapers a bit, so if we both measure at the same place we can compare notes.

Please take three measurements for me:

1) measure the length from outside front to the outside back, excluding the tailgate;

2) measure the width, at the front of the box, between the small rails for the front top bow, and;

3) measure the diagonal from left front to right rear of the box.

Send the numbers to me at: loys[at]gdls.com

The canvas maker looked at a few pictures of CMP trucks with tarps and gave me an approximate price of $500 Canadian. She is waiting for me to get the sample so she can look at the straps and I will offer a (nearly) firm price before production begins.

The sample I have available has no windows in the sides or end flaps. I have not seen a sample of the windows, so I think the tarps will get made without them. It will be easier to make them without windows as those could be added later. The factory pix I have show the windows on the early trucks, but without a sample I am hesitant to add them. ( This is where Jiffero should jump in and say that the tan cover with windows is available to view ... )

A fellow has asked for tan rather than green canvas. The last time I saw production military canvas goods being made ( in SK ) they piled up the cloth and cut it 20 layers at a time - and the machine did not care. I will ask her if she can make tan and green for the same money.

I guess that once the sample has been reviewed by the canvasmith and a firm price is set we can begin the (unpleasant) business of trying to get down payments, organize shipping, make bows, etc., etc. We have 6 cats here on the farm, and herding them will likely be easier ...

To date there are 9 tarps ordered.


Stewart

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Stew

If the canvass shop will cut a better price for a bunch of them I am in for a tarp cover for my cab 11 2B1 box... I measure the two sample boxes I have and they both come out at a shade under or over 80 inches long...... depending on the bends and the rust.

I have this theory that in real life when some poor very first class half a buck private when to the QM store to pick up a tarp for the motor pool..... they had one size for 15 CWT CMP trucks...... like the uniform they could be too small or too large..... but the guys made them fit. A two inch difference between the different model of boxes...divided by two... works out to one inch front and back.... factor in the bent bows.... stretch or shinkage in fabric.... war time quality control on size....... and voila... a perfect fit.....

Do the original tarp arangement include a seperate front/rear piece similar to Dodge power wagons....... or am I thinking to modern....?

BooBee

[rob love]

The originals were all one piece. This actually causes a problem in that the canvas will shrink (and drastically) if it is left folded up for the season. I made a few of these tarps when I was back in Moosejaw, and would try and make sure they were about 3" too long. But even so, they would shrink to the point of not wanting to go back onto the superstructure.

[Jon Skagfeld]

Originally Posted by Stewart Loy

The sample I have available has no windows in the sides or end flaps. I have not seen a sample of the windows, so I think the tarps will get made without them. It will be easier to make them without windows as those could be added later. The factory pix I have show the windows on the early trucks, but without a sample I am hesitant to add them. ( This is where Jiffero should jump in and say that the tan cover with windows is available to view ... )

Just FYI and assistance, the model tarp (C/\) 1944, perfectly fits a 2J1 GS box.

[Stewart Loy]

Originally Posted by Jon Skagfeld

Just FYI and assistance, the model tarp (C/\) 1944, perfectly fits a 2J1 GS box.

Hanno,

Does that mean that you will be 'short sheeted' for your truck?

Stewart