Scott shared this link to a Watercolor painting by C. Baij. It shows American Soldier Uncle John 507 PIR; 82 ABN in France. He spotted it online at the Las Laguna Art Gallery.
July 1944 Water Color
2
Artists/Drawings Research Archives
William Edwin Pidgeon’s Jeep Train Illustrations
UPDATE: I thought this was a good post to revisit. I’ve added an obit to the post at the bottom.
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Originally Posted November 18, 2013: Australian Bill Pidgeon (Wikipedia) had a successful career as an illustrator, painter and correspondent from the 1920s through the 1970s. A three-time Archibald Prize winner, one of Bill’s descendants (Peter Pidgeon) has created a wonderful website devoted to Bill’s life. Among the items the site includes are drawings and photos of jeep trains encountered by Bill in the Pacific war-theatre during his trip as a war correspondent for The Australian Women’s Weekly. In his ‘war letters‘ are some detailed observations about daily life in Borneo following it’s release from Japanese control.
One of Bill’s more interesting observations was recorded in Borneo. On August 16th, 1945, he wrote:
From Labuan another four and a half hours of sitting on a barge like a redhot waffle iron will bring you to the area occupied by the 24th Bgde. This is the land of the celebrated jeep train. Steam engines used to haul the train from Weston to Jesselton but on their hurried way out the Nips did their best to incapacitate the locomotives and the RAAF filled the boilers full of holes. So the engineers put iron tyres on the jeeps and shoved them on the rails and hooked the trucks behind.
Here is an example of an illustration and photo published on the site. There are others from an August 4-6, 1945, letter:
An additional illustration sketched by Bill that might interest restorers includes a detailed look at designs and colors used to mark one jeep train.
Obituary from the February 18, 19i81, issue of The Age, out of Melbourne, Australia:
Creeper’s Jeep by Hardie Gramatky on eBay
UPDATE: I found this article that highlights the inspiration behind the book Creeper’s Jeep. It was published in the Bridgeport Post on August 22, 1948:
The book is still available on eBay, but they aren’t cheap: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=%22creeper%27s+jeep%22&_sacat=0
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Originally published May 18, 2016: This book was listed on eBay.
“This listing is for a vintage book entitled “Creeper’s Jeep” by Hardie Gramatky. It is a cute story about a guy who owns this jeep that wants to share it with his family. They do not take to the idea at first but after a few incidents decide to give it a try. Great illustrations: see pictures. Former library copy with some of the usual markings.”
Late 1948 America’s Most Useful Vehicles Brochure
UPDATE: There’s another of these brochures on eBay for $44.95 (plus $4.68 shipping).
View all the information on ebay
This 1948 jeep family brochure was likely produced in late 1948, as there’s a reference to an upcoming expectation “in early 1949” within the text. Outside of that reference, there’s no date stamp or form number. I’ve only seen few of these pop up for sale on eBay, so I snagged this one right away. I believe it represents the earliest and most complete (in pics and text) listing of the full line of jeep models for the civilian market (it lacks any military models and business-focused models, such as the Package Delivery Vans).
I especially like the illustrations. The discussion of the different factory divisions at the back was interesting, too. Including the covers, the brochure is 26 pages.
Cover of Colliers Magazine in 1946
UPDATE: I found an inexpensive issue of the February 2, 1946 Collier’s Magazine, so I scanned the cover. It has the Welcome Home Johnny sign celebrating’s soldiers homecoming as a farmer races his jeep down the road. I found no jeep related stuff on the inside.
Jeep’s Best Burlap Potato Sack
This potato sack sold for over $60, though I don’t know the exact selling price. Jevon Aasand (1921-2000) owned the Aasand Potato company, but I’m not sure who owned/managed the Jeep’s Best brand.
Joe Dope Slams on His Brakes
A good digital example of Joe Dope slamming on his brakes from the National Archives:
1942 Jeep Figment to Fact Article
This “Figment to Face” article about the jeep’s conception-to-reality story landed in a variety of newspapers across the US, though this is the best scan of it so far (which doesn’t speak too highly of the other scans, as it shouldn’t). I wondered how many other drawings were made that weren’t realized with the standardization of the jeep.
The article appeared in the Daily Reporter out of Greenfield, Indiana, on October 19, 1942:
1942 War Production Board Father’s Day Poster Bantam BRC-60
The War Production Board produced several different “Father’s Day” posters (other posters at the gov archives), including this one with an illustration of a Bantam BRC-60. It also included a letter, though it’s not clear to me how the letter and poster would have been displayed (newspaper? magazine?). Father’s Day fell on June 21st in 1942.
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/165318061
PHOTO CREDIT: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/165318061
James Sessions WWII Images on Menus
Bill shared an image of a menu from the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha. It was one of several hotels that featured James Sessions’ images on hotel menus. Anyone know the history behind why hotels were doing that?
For a complete overview of the Willys-Overland WWII (and post WWII) illustrations featuring jeeps, this page demonstrates how the illustrations unfolded over the years 1941-1946. For an analysis of how the changes in verbiage may have reflected changes as Willys-Overland during the war years, view this page.
I’m sure there are more examples than the ones gathered below. Here is what I have so far:
This is the Blackstone Hotel example that Bill shared:
This one is from the Lexington Hotel in New York City:
And this one is from the Hotel New Yorker:
This menu:
The Benjamin Franklin also ran this other menu with a different illustration:
Judy the Jeep Girl
In an effort to promote Bond drives during World War II, around 1944 Sgt. Jack Kreismer created “Judy the Jeep Girl”. The character, sometimes described as a paper doll, while other times described as a cartoon, has proved a difficult image to track down. To help raise bonds, July ‘traveled’ from California to Salt Lake City, then on to the Washington, D.C.
A photo of Jack and Judy appeared in the June 1, 1945, issue of Minute Man. It’s the best example of Judy the Jeep Girl that I could find:
You can see that Jack (on the left) and Allen Overby (on the right) are holding a booklet. Apparently it is a souvenir booklet that features Judy.
The only newspaper representation I could find for Judy is a less-than-perfect sketch that appeared in the Salt Lake Telegram on June 19, 1944. Judy is left to the man in the box (sauna?).
Later, on January 15, 1945, Elenor Roosevelt commented on Judy’s activities:
Alaska Road Trip Puzzle w/ Jeep
My wife thought this puzzle was too good to pass up, given our 2017 Alaska Or Rust trip, so she surprised me with it. This puzzle is available through a variety of sellers (one of which is Amazon). The illustration was done by Ken Zella.
March 1950 Dealer’s Day Booklet
As best as I can tell, this booklet was part of a Willys-Overland Motors Dealer Day presentation on March 30, 1950. This particular booklet came out of Canada, so I am not positive whether this was a Canadian event or a Brand-wide (US, Canada, and other?) celebration.
At 5″ x 7″ the booklet is smaller than I thought it would be.
Painting of Coffee Plantation CJ-5 on eBay
I’m not sure what this is worth. It is currently priced at a buy-it-now price of $92.
View all the information on eBay
“Wonderful artist rendering of CJ-5 Jeep. 1970s in a coffee plantation or cocoa plantation setting. (I’m thinking inspired by the popular TV icon Juan Valdez). Not sure if this was done for Ford Brazil or AMC given that Ford do Brasil built these for the South American market. In any event, this is a fantastic, original rendering on artist board of the era. You can see pencil lines underneath paint. I’m not an artist so I don’t know if it’s acrylic paint or watercolor or ???
Measures approx 16″ x 11″ and is in very good condition for its age. There Issa bit of very faint spotting in the yellow sky area but it’s barely noticeable; corners are bumped but framing will cover that. The blue strip at bottom of rendering appears to be painted tape.”
What I Saw At Willys Overland
UPDATE: Apparently, I never published all the pages in this circa 1947-1949 booklet. Also, there’s another one of these booklets on eBay right now: View all the information on eBay
This was originally posted October 23, 2014: Eddie Devlin of the Willys Overland Engineering Art Department sketched a variety of drawings of the factory. Some were published in a book called “WHAT I SAW AT WILLYS OVERLAND”. I’m not sure if the booklet was sold or used as a promotional device.
Dec. 1945 Outdoor Life Magazine Story on the Jeep
UPDATE: Originally Posted July 26, 2014. There is currently an issue for $7 on eBay.
The December 1945 Issue of Outdoor Life Magazine contained an article titled “A Jeep Will Get You There”. It is filled with photos of a VEC CJ-2A used for a fishing trip. The photos aren’t the best, but still an interesting article. Outdoor Life also featured the story on the front cover.
1945 Christmas Card w/ From Budapest, Hungary on eBay
Neat little unscripted and signed card with a jeep and Christmas tree from Hungary.
View all the information on eBay
“Original signed old Xmas card without envelope from Budapest 1945. Good condition, (please see scan). Dimensions are (folded): 108 X 155 mm.
I will send this item Worldwide. Shipping by registered Air-Mail only (Worldwide) is 4.20 $ for 1-3 Postcards.”
The Future of Electric Jeeps?
Bill shared this news. FCA held a sketch competition to solicit independent designs for electric jeeps. Three winners were selected. The first was a futuristic FC design; the second a buggy design; and the third an extreme buggy design.
This instagram page has more examples of these: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH0cVPJlned/
1945 Jeep for Junior Ads
Did all the Kool Kids get Jeep For Juniors for Christmas in 1945? Well, more likely Kool Boys as the Kool Girls were offered a tea party set. Hopefully, the aspiring Jeep Girls asked (and received) the jeep, too.
November 08, 1945, Arizona Republic.
November 10, 1945, Arizona Republic.
CJ-5 Glass Coasters
These two glass coasters popped up on eBay last week for a reasonable price. Strangely, the image of the jeep is reversed. The gas inlet and steering wheel appear to be on the passenger side in the image.
Willys of Indiana Matchbook Cover on eBay
The starting price on this matchbook is $49.99. Note the illustrative details of the jeep, including bows+holders and a rear pto.
View all the information on eBay
“Jeep Willys Matchbook Indianapolis Indiana Vintage Rare Dealership 40’s?. Condition is “Used”. Shipped with USPS First Class. This is old and used. The colors and advertising are beautiful! No matches. What you see is what you get.”
1971 Movie “Venga A Fare Ilsoldato Da Noi” Poster **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
This poster includes a jeep driven by soldiers looking as if they’d just driven from the Italian movie version of M*A*S*H. Given M*A*S*H was released the year before in 1970, maybe that wasn’t a coincidence?
As noted at IMDB, “A girl is drafted due to a misunderstanding and this gives her the occasion to check on her boy-friend, whom she believes to be a womanizer.”
“Original poster measures approximately 140 x 200 cm (78″x55″), in conditions as in the photo.”
1945 Christmas Card From Budapest on eBay
Portuguese Jeep Ads
I bought the following 5″x7″ Portuguese ads off of eBay for $2/ad plus shipping from Europe. The seller noted he had more ads, so sent me a link to 96 more (including lots of good early ads). He wanted to sell these outside of eBay, so I figured I’d get a better price, especially buying in bulk. Instead, he doubled the ads to $4/per ad. When I balked at the price, he claimed he was selling his ads for €6 on eBay ($7.09). Given I’d just bought them for $2, I was a bit confused by his claim. Maybe something was lost in translation, but, needless to say, I won’t be buying any ads from this seller outside of eBay.
These ads have some neat illustrative work.
June 1947
1948
1947
Here are pics showing 1/4 of his collection of ads:
Spanish Matchbook w/ Jeep on it on eBay
September 15, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Artists/Drawings, Features • TAGS: Lighter.
There are two vintage matchbooks in this auction, one from Peru and one possibly from Peru that has a jeep on it. The jeep matchbook is cool, but the asking price is $89.99 (at least they include with matches).
View all the information on eBay
“Rare WWII Era WILLYS ARMY JEEP Matchbooks Peru Indian Spanish
Incredibly rare
Great graphics and color
A few matches have been used
Books are in great shape
This auction is for both matchbooks, you get two!=
Feel free to ask questions”
