Early Mk.I* "TL13F", CB180

[Nech]

..and another.

[Lynn Eades]

Lots of great detail here. I see British throttle linkages and fuel change over valve, but of current interest is the kinked lower hoses that Rob has been talking about in another thread.

I imagine that the many parts that have changed from British to Canadian have done so because of supply and standardization reasons. The (under performing?)SolexCarb and maybe the Lucas generator are two of those items.

Were these early Canadian carriers fitted with the white faced CAV ammeters that the British carriers had?

[eddy8men]

lynn as far as I know the instruments were all british but I didn't know the ammeter had a white face

[eddy8men]

Taking yours to Normandy next June Rick ?

__________________

hi rich

not sure mate, I could really do with taking a year or two out of the hobby and focusing on making some money for a change

[Nech]

Can anyone help me what were those holes good for? Some kind of rifle mounting? I found something similar in the IWM archive.

[Lynn Eades]

The choke cable mounting bracket, mounts on those two holes.
The next two holes take the instruction plate.

[Nech]

Yes. Thank you Lynn.. just found it. Is anybody producing reproduction as I am completely missing the whole thing incl. choke control, instruction plate and the bracket?

[Michael R.]

The image of the crew washing the carrier shows a MK-I mortar carrier, the gunner side bracket on the divisional wall upper angle iron is one of two for mounting a rifle. A Forum search shows a few images posted by others over the past few years.

I believe you will find your carrier has been modified or updated to the standard MK-I* choke control cable routing installed to suit your Zenith carb. The cable conduit has the correct mounting bracket on the driver side engine head. If you follow the conduit back through the divisional wall you see it running along the right lower hull side, without the later retaining plate installed to keep the conduit against the hull wall. The issue here requiring the later retaining plate was the fact the choke control cable conduit does not travel under the cable cover at the driver right side track guard.

[Nech]

Absolutely true. Silly, I wasn't following the cable. Everything is present and well. Still much to learn. Thank you!

Another question - from what was told here, this early carrier was equipped with the headlights of the english manufacture - right? Any idea where to source them?
If not originals, are there any suitable reproductions, which can be fit to match the originals?

[Michael R.]

Originally Posted by Nech

"paraphrased"
Lynn what do you mean? The steps are swapped? The rear plate is very incomplete and I think it is not from this carrier at all.

Martin, notice on each rear step you can see four nuts and bolts showing on the bottom? The early C01UC used those bolts to retain the rubber step inserts. At least the steps are likely correct for the period of TL 13.

[Nech]

Originally Posted by Michael R.

Martin, notice on each rear step you can see four nuts and bolts showing on the bottom? The early C01UC used those bolts to retain the rubber step inserts. At least the steps are likely correct for the period of TL 13.

Will do some pictures later. Yes, from what I had studied I believe the steps are correct, one of them still has the original rubber.

[Nech]

Gentlemen, can anybody reveal, what headlights do I have to look for for this early carrier? From what was told here the early carriers were equipped with the lights of british manufacturers, but as I was searching through the forum, there were more subtypes. Any better clue please?

Thank you!

[RichardT10829]

Lucas I think, or CAV ?

Ben Hawkins carrier has them on, and Rick Wedlocks early Canadian Mk1 has them

[eddy8men]

they're CAV

[Nech]

Originally Posted by eddy8men

they're CAV

Cheers mate, what diameter are they please? I've found various sizes.. and they are f*****g expensive.

[Nech]

The tool plate is a bit crumpled, so will need a light loving hammer work. The steps are swapped, but the original rubber is still present so I have the pattern for the reproduction. Nice.

By the way, I assume the Ford's primer colour was red-brown?

[Nech]

Ok, time to move on.

Carrier is now under the roof in the expanded workshop. The progress is slow as I am splitting my time, effort and cash between my other vehicles, which are undergoing the restorations.. or just keeping them alive.

I managed to acquire some of the original boxes and the rifle rack, which are harder and harder to source. A bit pricy, but the beast deserves it. By the way, if anybody have some spares (especially the original Mk.I* internal equipment) please drop me a PM. Thanks.

[Nech]

Question for the experts please: I am in the hunt for the original dashboard instruments. They're all gone, perhaps the speedo would be repairable. Maybe.

Are there any rules for the manner which instruments were british and which were canadian made in those very early carriers? I wish to source the instruments, which were originally in my carrier when it was produced in 3/1941.

I can't vouch for the originality of my dashboard, but the speedo is Canadian Mk.I, the oil pressure gauge is (british?) Smiths, the temperature gauge is missing (should be british, don't know the manufacturer?) and I have a strong feeling the ammeter was replaced sometime later for the Ford ones.

The unusuall steel horn button seems very original (but I can always be wrong), and the all steel ignition box - I am sorry, but my knowledges are not so deep in this. Is it british, or the canadian type?

Thanks!

[RichardT10829]

Canadian mk1 speedo.... I have replacement dial faces for those..... early Canadian Mk1 ammeter. The oil gauge I do not recognise though

[Nech]

I am slowly getting deeper in this and it seems that the original gauges were as follows:

SPEEDO - original canadian MK.I*
IGNITION BOX - CAV British made
OIL PRESSURE - SMITHS British made (4 screws)
TEMPERATURE GAUGE - A.R.I.C. British made (4 screws)
AMMETER - a bit mystery: I'd presume the British CAV ammeter (3 screws) but I have 6 screws holes in the dashboard.

So IF my speedo was really originally fitted and it is not a later replacement, the rest of the dashboard seems to be for the early 41 carrier completely british made.

[Lynn Eades]

The first Canadian carriers were built with British components. That is why you see pictures of the early Canadian carriers with British style head lights. The Ammeter was most likely a white faced CAV one.
If I remember correctly the first carriers from Canada were built to fill a British order (for British use)

[Nech]

Thanks Lynn,

so.. is it possible this early dashboard was completely British? Even the speedo? I am in the hunt for the CAV lights for some time now but they are very rare to source.

Cheers!

[RichardT10829]

you need to remember through its service that things would have been changed or upgraded etc etc. if you pull the Canadian speedometer out you will notice a notch cut into the dash panel, this is for the slightly larger British speedometer.

if its Canadian built you would not be wrong to use the current ammeter and speedometer... you will need to change the oil gauge and water temp though.

[eddy8men]

i have hull cb 874 and all my instruments were british, also the steering box and headlights

[Lynn Eades]

Nech, to be 100% correct you will need to go by the serial number. it will take you to the contract, and the contract was built to a specification. Can one of you Canadian guys come in with the numbers of those Brit spec. first contract carriers (again)

[Nech]

Great info Lynn! Hope someone will put some light into this..

I was trying to do some research in the older threads over here, but without success.

Regarding my carrier - I have only the serial No. from the dataplate "TL 13 F" ( I am curious what this number really means), the month of manufacture 3/1941 and the hull number CB180. The front armour is sadly not original, but is the later 1942 Mk.I* replacement.

[Michael R.]

Tank, Light, Serial number 13, Ford
Canadian Built, upper hull serial number 180

[eddy8men]

unfortunately i can't up load my pic of the dash, maybe the file is too big. i will try again tomorrow

[Nech]

Thanks Rick! That would be fine! Yours hull No. is close. Anyway, can anyone helpe me with this particular contract of my carrier please?
Sadly I am still missing the Nigels books.

Cheers!

[Lynn Eades]

So, Michael R, this is a British contract carrier? First 1100 or so units? Correct!