Diamond T 969

[jack neville]

I have a 1941 Diamond T 969 to restore when I get a few other things out of the way. In the meantime I have been hunting down parts. This gauge is eluding me so far. It is the multi gauge for Temperature, oil, fuel and amps. I havent pulled this one from the dash as yet so it possibly could be rebuilt but I'm hoping there is a NOS one about.

[jack neville]

I want one like this

[john piercey]

Gday Jack,do you know of any decent sites catering to the Diamond Ts specifically,as my son has a 980 tank transporter so will be looking for info and maybe parts suppliers.Cheers
john

[Lionelgee]

G'day John,

There is a Facebook page dedicated to Diamond T s and other stable-mates. It seems to be an international page with lots of contributions. It might be a good place to start to find out who is who...

Accessed December 6, 2016 from, https://www.facebook.com/REODiamondTandReoenthusiasts

There is also Merv Bergman's History of Diamond T trucks page Accessed December 6, 2016 from http://www.mervbergman.net/1940-diam...iamond-t-truck Apart from the "history" page it also has a restoration area as well - indexed to the left of the page.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[john piercey]

Lionel ,thanks for that will get him researching in these sites hopefully,he has a Reo and T of late 60s vintage he is already underway with,but the 980-981 was his "holy grail' of wanted tucks.
i owned a 71 round cab Reo with 160 cummins and a later 73 model with 8v92t Ex Cutts transport in WA ,and showed him photos of the wartime T i had found languishing at the then Kununarra speedway,bad move, as he has found he loves them,he never thought he would score one,quite by accident,it is a long term affair as they are such big heavy vehicles and he knows it is going to cost him plenty.
cheers
john

[Lionelgee]

G'day John,

Good to get interested in research. However like trucks it can be addictive. What REO does your son have? It is all capitalsafter the names of the founder - Ransome Eli Olds; so "REO". I am a member of REO Club of America I have a 1934/35 REO truck. Coach-built timber framed cabin with sheet metal tacked on to it.

I actually had Year 10 work experience at a truck repairers in Goulburn. I stripped down a Diamond REO cement truck. I would consider that sacrilege now - back in the 1970s it was fun.

Too far away from you and probably a later model as well, but back in 2015 Price Truck Parts were wrecking a Diamond T Accessed December 6th 2016 from, http://pricestruckparts.com.au/diamond-t-truck. I have no association with the seller.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[john piercey]

Lionel,i am still trying to get the hang of this pics thing so bear with me,and im not trying to hijack jacks thread.but heres a few photos of his gear'


Reo chassis work in progress at the moment

cab in very close foreground is for truck chassis in background

this is a "t" cab i think bit of a ratrod in the build on f100 chassis bonnet bottom chopped and guards narrowed and made to hinge forward

havent found actual ch number but is 1942- 45 either 980 or 981 with DXFE Hercules diesel

[john piercey]

The normal REOs chassis numbers we have found one on each ch (2 chassis) one on the L and 1 on the R side (i think Colin could tell u more) very lightly stamped ,but we were wondering if anyone has an idea where the 980 numbers would most likely be found.
John

[lendlease]

Definitely a 980...not a 981. Possibly a 1942 model. I used to own one the same. I also have a few NOS parts for sale. Just let me know if I can help out with anything. lendlease.

[john piercey]

Hi Lendlease,i take it the 981 is the later soft top cab version is it?
Do you have a list of what you,ve got,im sure Colin would be very interested in anything that may be useful.
We havent had a realy good look at all the dash gauges etc yet,the interior paint is really flaking and needs a tidy up just to assess whats what,the starter motor is missing and motor turns over a little bit but sounds like the generator might be locked up and stopping it,another thing we just have to investigate further.
John

[lendlease]

Well actually the main difference between the 980 and 981 is the provision for the winch cable to be played out through the front bumper. It has nothing to do with the cab type. I think I have a starter motor here...and a NOS in box generator. No list at present. Best to ask if you need something.

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Where has Jack gone? I think his posts have been swamped Oh and I am one of the culprits too.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[jack neville]

Yeah you blokes, if your going to hijack my thread then at least find my gauge.

[john piercey]

Sorry Jack,still looking for you!

[john piercey]

Lendlease will attempt to PM youJohn

[Sam Scholz]

Hi all,

Jack, your gauge is the earlier civilian type (I'm sure you know that).
The later gauges were, more or less, standard military issue. I don't know when the change happened.

John, if your 980 has the later gauges, then finding replacements will be significantly easier as they were used on many US WW2 trucks. They use the wide bezel (a.k.a. 'paint tin lid') type for the 2" gauges.

I'm building a DT969 (at Childers) that uses many of the same gauges.
Lionel, is your truck the one at the transport place in Bundy north? I've been there.
Sam.

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Sam Scholz

Hi all,

Jack, your gauge is the earlier civilian type (I'm sure you know that).
The later gauges were, more or less, standard military issue. I don't know when the change happened.

John, if your 980 has the later gauges, then finding replacements will be significantly easier as they were used on many US WW2 trucks. They use the wide bezel (a.k.a. 'paint tin lid') type for the 2" gauges.

I'm building a DT969 (at Childers) that uses many of the same gauges.
Lionel, is your truck the one at the transport place in Bundy north? I've been there.
Sam.

G'day Sam,

Wow another MLU person and so close to Bundaberg - hooray!

Ummm which transport place in Bundaberg North? Gee I have to get out more!

Kind Regards
Lionel

[jack neville]

Sam I looked a little further into the parts list (and managed a look under the dash) and this gauge is actually a cluster face with one gauge in the centre and the other three mounted around the edges, not in the body of the gauge. I have found someone who can reproduce the face and the separate units can probably be restored or replaced. Unless a NOS assembly turns up.

[Sam Scholz]

Hi Lionel,

It has been a while.

Hi Jack.

Lionel, it was a transport company indigenous to Bundaberg and they had two 1960s Diamond Reos, I think. Their workshop is in Bundy North, backing onto the river upstream from the railway bridge. It was a while ago.

I've been working in Bundaberg for the last month and a half. I should go and have a look again.

Sam.

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Sam Scholz

Hi Lionel,

It has been a while.

Hi Jack.

Lionel, it was a transport company indigenous to Bundaberg and they had two 1960s Diamond Reos, I think. Their workshop is in Bundy North, backing onto the river upstream from the railway bridge. It was a while ago.

I've been working in Bundaberg for the last month and a half. I should go and have a look again.

Sam.

G'day Sam,

Good to see you posting again Sam.

"A transport company indigenous to Bundaberg ... Backing onto the river upstream of the railway bridge".

Would that be Berajondo Earthmoving & Haulage? I drove past after office hours and it was shut up and it looked pretty unfriendly. Not a place where they seemed to invite passers by stopping to take a look at their stuff. In my slow drive-by I mostly saw their earthmoving side of things. It is a big yard though.

My REO Speed Wagon truck was made in 1935 - I would still like to see a pair of newer Diamond REOs though! Hopefully they are not razor blades now!

Kind Regards
Lionel