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Carson’s “CarCraft” Hardtop

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: This post started out as a post about Koenig hardtops, but that lead to updates on the Car Craft and Blue Star hardtops. I should have the Koenig post done for Saturday morning.

This updated post provides more info on the CARCRAFT hardtop. An early Special Equipment catalog contained two different versions of the Carson Machine & Supply Company’s Car Craft brochure. I’ve added a third brochure at the bottom which I’d found off of eBay years ago. Here are two real-world examples: one jeep and another jeep.

This brochure was published back in 2017. It features a CJ-2A and does not have the stylized CARCRAFT branding. Instead, it shows a plain “Car Craft” brand with a space added.

1948-equipbook-carson-carcraft-hardtops1 1948-equipbook-carson-carcraft-hardtops2

This is the first time I’ve published this brochure. It includes the new CARCRAFT branding and used a CJ-3A jeep:

Scanned Document Scanned Document

 

This brochure was available on eBay in 2013.  It appears to be the company’s signature brochure for the hardtop. I haven’t tracked down another copy:

1949-carcraft-top-carson-supply-brochure8

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Blue Star Aluminum Tops

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
blue-star-hardtop1

Rooney77’s Blue Star Top for sale

UPDATE: This post from 2014 has been updated with additional brochure examples. See all the Blue Star hardtops documented thus far:

(From 2014) This Blue Star aluminum top was built by the Blue Manufacturing Company, founded in Kansas by Max Blue circa 1946. ‘Blue Star’ was the brand name used on several products he produced.  There’s some conflicting information, but it appears In 1946 Blue Manufacturing was building aluminum airline parts. About that time, as a hobby, Max began building aluminum boats. He also tried manufacturing and selling jeep hard tops.

Demand was so great for the boats that in 1948 he leased space and built boats full-time. Meanwhile, he either sold or abandoned the jeep top business altogether. Given only a few Blue Star tops have surfaced over the last few years, I imagine he didn’t sell too many of them.

However, Max was able to sell boats. By 1953 the company was building 1,000 boats a year. In July of 1953 he moved the company from Goddard, Kansas, to Miami, Oklahoma. There are various articles into 1960 that talk about the Blue Manufacturing Company. However, the company appears to have ceased boat production in 1964.

This brochure featuring a CJ-2A is the earliest example I have of this top. It was part of an early industrial equipment book.

1946-blue-star-hardtop-brochure

Here’s another example, this time with a CJ-3A:

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Here’s an ad that was featured on eBay.

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Here’s an example of the logo badge:

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Here is an example of the half tops:

blue-star-brochure-full-half-cabs2-lores

Actual top:

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Here are some photos of actual full hardtops:

blue-star-hardtop3 blue-star-hardtop2 blue-star-hardtop4During the summer of 2013 a seller on eBay had two jeeps with Blue Star tops for sale:

Jeep 1)

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Jeep 2)

1951-cj3a-twinvalley-mn01 1951-cj3a-twinvalley-mn02

 
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1941 Photo of Bantam BRC-40 in Longview, WA **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.

Good photo of a Bantam BRC-40 laying in wait during some war games in Longview, Washington.

“This is an original press photo. Trucks – United States. One of the army’s newest and most lethal weapon carriers is this tiny “jeep” or 1/4 ton truck, mounting a machine gun. Behind the gun is Private Earl Bever and at the wheel is Corporal Anton Stefanski, of the 32nd Infantry of Fort Ord’s 7th Division, now engaged with the defending/Blue forces in resisting the “Red” attack in southwestern Washington. Longview. Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches. Photo is dated 8-21-1941.”

1964-08-14-longview-wa-bantam-brc40-1 1964-08-14-longview-wa-bantam-brc40-2

 
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Photo of Jeep Being Carried by Cable Car on Ebay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This photo shows a jeep being carried up to the remote city of Valais, Switzerland.

View all the information on ebay

“This is an original press photo. Air Lift: Iserables, a mountain village with a population of 1500 located in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland, is so completely isolated that it must depend on this aerial cable car to get supplies from the rest of the world. In addition to the jeep, the special attachment under the aerial car has carried everything from a baby carriage to a cow. Photo measures 8.25 x 10.25 inches. Photo is dated –none.”

year-cj-being-carried-by-tram-switzerland1 year-cj-being-carried-by-tram-switzerland2

 
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Kermath Sea Engine w/ Hydro Jet Seven Valleys, PA **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Engine, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $500.

Jordan spotted this unusual combo. This package creates an early jet powered boat using a Kermath modified L-134 and a Hanley Hydrojet. I’ve included a Kermath brochure and links to the development of the Hydrojet by Keenan Hanley at the bottom of the post.

“Willys Jeep engine block casting number 804380, and Hanley Kermath HydroJet. I’ve never attempted to start. $500”
kermath-hanley-engine-hydrojet0 kermath-hanley-engine-hydrojet1 kermath-hanley-engine-hydrojet2

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W-O Canvas Soldenized Duck Soft Top

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Rear view of the W-O Canvas Top on a VEC CJ-2A. The PTO pump looks to my untrained eye to be an MP Universal Jeep Packaged Pump Model 12M-WJ.

UPDATE II: I’ve added a second version of the W-O Canvas Top brochure (tan brochures). they come from a Willys-Overland Equipment Book that, based on other brochures contained in that book, was likely published earlier than the brochures that appeared in the original version of the post.

This jeep brochure from an early Willys-Overland Special Equipment catalog highlights the first production soft top for the CJ-2A. It was labeled a W-O Canvas Top. The material used wasn’t your average canvas, at least according to the brochure. Instead, it was 10oz soldenized duck. That description meant nothing to me, so I attempted to decipher it.

Scanned Document

Scanned Document

These two brochures were published in a Willys Industrial Equipment book. It appears Willys-Overland changed up the name slightly to the Willys Canvas Top, though in the text the W-O Canvas Top name remains the same as above.

willys-overland-soft-top2-Scan10051-lores

willys-overland-soft-top-Scan10050-lores

The biggest mystery was the term “soldenized”. Not even the internet knows what “soldenized” means. The fact that the term probably describes a means of mildew or waterproofing makes sense, and Robert Ackerson described it similarly in his jeep book, but that’s more a description of the result of the process, not a description of the process itself.

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May 1957 FC-170 Postcard on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This appears to be an introductory mailer for the FC-170.

View all the information on eBay

“Hello, You are looking at an ORIGINAL bi-fold Postcard
1957 Forward Control JEEP FC-170
Eccher’s Jeep, Ferndale, Pa.”

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Smithsonian Article on the Zamboni Company

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I suppose the timing of this article is appropriate, given those of us in the north half of the blue ball are plunging into winter quickly (at least the weather in Washington State feels wintery), as a recent Smithsonian Magazine article on the Zamboni Company featured several photos I hadn’t seen of Jeep-based Zamboni vehicles. Here’s the article: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-zamboni-changed-game-ice-rinks-180973352/

The article also included this ad featuring the CJ-3B as Model D from the Zamboni Company’s archives:

zamboni-ice-resurfacer-ad-lores

If you are not familiar with the use of jeeps as early Zambonis, check out my post about the various jeep models that were used for which Zamboni machines. The CJ-3B Page also has background information about the Zamboni Ice Resurfacers.

If you really like pics of Zamboni machines, check out the Zamboni: The Coolest Machines on Ice.

zamboni-coolest-book

 
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Jim Beam Decanter With Box **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.

This mid 1980s Decanter looks to be in great condition and includes the box, also in really nice condition.

jim-beam-decantor2 jim-beam-decantor3 jim-beam-decantor4

“THIS JIM BEAM REGAL CHINA DECANTER IS IN GOOD CONDITION FOR ITS AGE. IT WAS PRODUCED IN 1986.
NO CHIPS OR CRACKS AND THE DECANTER
IS STILL MINT IN THE ORIGINAL BOX.
IN LIKE NEW CONDITION…..”

 
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1951 Photo Shows Casualty Evac Demonstration on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

What I like best about these images is that the eBay seller takes the time to include the names of the soldiers. You never know when some offspring will search and find the photo and write in the comments, “Hey, that’s my [insert relative affiliation]”.

View all the information on EBay

“1951 Press Photo Jeep driver and soldier show how jeep can evacuate casualties. This is an original press photo. A jeep can go where an ambulance can’t. Sometimes the large army ambulance cannot be brought in close enough for litter bearers to load a casualty right in the field. In that case, a jeep is used to evacuate the patient. Here 1st Lieutenant Lawrence a. Doherty, Cincinnati, Ohio, and driver Bill Farrell, Houston, Texas, demonstrate the jeep method of removal, with Leonard Bell, Jr., Pigott, Arkansas playing “casualty” for the occasion.Photo measures 10 x 8.25inches. Photo is dated 05-24-1951.”

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1951-05-24-jeep-demonstration-injured2

 
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The Clara Rose Ice Cream Truck

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Florida’s Tampa Bay Times published an article about local mobile businesses a couple weeks ago. One of those businesses included a beautiful 1964 FJ-3A ice cream truck, run by Carlos Velez: The Clara Rose Ice Cream Truck.

Before he opened his business, Carlos worked as a Sheriff’s deputy at a maximum security jail. Wanting a change of life, he decided to open an ice cream business, but one that was of a better quality than the standard ice cream distributors. That led him to search for an FJ. He found the perfect one and it’s a beautiful rig as you can see below.

Learn more about his FJ in the article: https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/fun/shopping/2019/10/22/9-mobile-businesses-wheeling-around-tampa-bay/

clara-rose-fj3a-ice-cream-truck2 clara-rose-fj3a-ice-cream-truck01 clara-rose-fj3a-ice-cream-truck0 clara-rose-fj3a-ice-cream-truck1

clara-rose-fj3a-ice-cream-truck02

 

 
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Historic Registry For Vehicles?

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

There’s a proposal to create a national registry for unique or historically significant vehicles (and boats and planes) with documented stories. Importantly, such a registry would not keep the owners of such vehicles from being sold, driven or even modified. The Library of Congress would be the keeper of the documents, specs, photos, and other information.

If the national registry becomes a law, twenty-six vehicles already listed by the Historic Vehicle Association (HVA) would be the first vehicles added to the registry. Two of the vehicles are jeeps: The Ford Pygmy (currently at the U.S. Veteran’s Museum in Huntsville, Alabama) and Ronald Reagan’s 1962 CJ-6 (along with one of my personal favorites, the Tucker prototype).

 
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1950s M-38A Heater Kit Instructions

• CATEGORIES: Documents, Features, M-38A1 This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I found this M-38A1 Installation Instructions Conversion Power Plant Heater Kit 32 page manual on eBay. It seems a well done and detailed look at how to install the heater kit. Hopefully, someone can use the information.

m38a1-installation-instructions-conversion-power-plant-heater-kit01 m38a1-installation-instructions-conversion-power-plant-heater-kit02 m38a1-installation-instructions-conversion-power-plant-heater-kit03 m38a1-installation-instructions-conversion-power-plant-heater-kit04 m38a1-installation-instructions-conversion-power-plant-heater-kit05

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Early 1950s Photo of Centralia, WA, Willys Dealer on ebay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: As Mark notes, and I missed, the truck pictured is a 1954 at the earliest, so the pic must have been taken after that.

This is likely a reprint, but it’s still a neat photo. It also show the early “J” logo sign. I’m not a Packard expert, but I’d say based on the grille on the car in the window of the auto shop that this photo must have been taken circa 1954-56.

View all the information on eBay

1940s-willys-packard-dealership-J-centralia-wa

 
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1940s Postcard of Jeeps in Rocky Ford Parade on ebay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Postcards This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This is the cheapest of several postcards showing this parade in Rocky Ford, Colorado.

View all the information on eBay

“1940s E. C. Kropp Linen postcard: “Street Scene, Rocky Ford Colorado. North Main Street showing part of the main business district. Crowds of people watching the big parade on Fair Day. Rocky Ford is one of the leading towns in the Arkansas Valley.” Jeeps and tanks (in background further down the street) are in the view. Never mailed.”

1940s-rocky-ford-parade-postcard1

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Jeepster Door Mechanical Parts

• CATEGORIES: Features, Jeepster This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

 UPDATE: In his search for Jeepster door mechanicals, George learned that the parts used in a 1952 Dodge Truck were nearly identical to the Jeepster, just shorter. However, since he was able to eventually source a set of Jeepster doors, he didn’t try out this possibility. So, I thought in case someone else needed these parts that I’d let folks know that NOS parts are available for the Dodge Truck.

“A restorer messaged with a picture of one mech from the Jeepster and one from a 1952 Dodge truck this afternoon. They were identical except for the length of the connector between inside/outside handles. They can be found for $90 nos.”

jeepster-dodge-door-mechanism-comparison-lores

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Original Post: George is nearly done with a 1949 Jeepster restoration, but needs to locate the mechanical parts for both doors. If you think you have the parts he needs, contact him at gjasek @ yahoo.com (remove spaces around the @).

And, yes, he has looked for the parts at the Jeepsterman, WO Jeepster club, and other places on the web, but with no luck so far.

 
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1942 Photos of Soldiers, Jeeps, and a C-46 on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Below you’ll find several press photos showing two different angles of the same loading event from 1942.

This press photo shows less of the original picture than the two images further below:

View all the information on eBay

1942-07-31-jeeps-soliders-c46-1 1942-07-31-jeeps-soliders-c46-2

=========================

This version of the press photo appeared in mid-2014:

1942-dc3-jeeps-1 1942-dc3-jeeps-2

This version of the press photo was put on eBay in early 2014:

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Warn 800G Gasoline & 400E Electric Winch Brochure

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Maury spotted a collection of brochures and parts booklets on eBay that I was lucky enough to win. One of the brochures describes the portable, gasoline-powered Model 800G Warn Winch. On the other side of the brochure is an Electric Marine Model 400E Winch. A post from 2017 about the 800G includes pics of it.

The Model 800G Gasoline Warn winch:

According to Warn Industries, the Model 800G ad below is from 1969. 
warn-marine-winch-warn-portable-winch-brochure1-lores
Between February 1970 and April 1970, Warn also included the winch in a Four Wheeler inner-cover, full-page advertisement. Given the importance of the company’s hubs and vehicle winches to Warn’s profit margins, I’m surprised the company included the 800G in this full color ad. Perhaps management had high hopes for the product? Whatever the hopes, I can find no evidence that Warn advertised the 800G ever again after April 1970.

1970-02-fourwheeler-warn-ad-lores

Real-world example from the Warn website, There are also pics on Warn’s Facebook Fan page.

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The Warn Marine Model 400E Electric Winch: 

This brochure appears on the back of the 800G brochure. I could find no other information about it online.

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Nearly Identical Catalogs?

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Catalogs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

As part of the collection of brochures/booklets I received yesterday from my eBay win, I also received three jeep parts catalogs: a 1963 Montgomery Ward, a 1964 Sears, and a 1966-1967 Bergs catalog. I was surprised to discover that the Sears and Berg catalogs are nearly identical. Maury confirmed that his 1968 Sears catalog is also nearly identical. So, if you are bidding/buying late 1960s jeep parts catalogs, I felt folks should be aware of this. Below are some comparison pages.

The covers are customized.

bergs-sears-comparison-front-cover

Sears is shown on the top and Bergs on the bottom. The inner cover and first page (labeled page 3) are custom:
bergs-sears-comparison-pages-02-03

Interior pages 4-5 begin the identical part of the catalogs:

bergs-sears-comparison-pages-04-05

Interior pages 18-19:bergs-sears-comparison-pages-18-19

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1976 Matchbox Flattie, Glider and Trailer **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Features, toys This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: After pondering it a while, I decided to get this set for Christmas … better late than never??

I would have been 11 when this jeep and glider set was released by Matchbox. I don’t remember seeing this combo in my 1976 Christmas Sears Wish Book. I’m feeling a bit cheated!

“Original 1976 Lesney England Matchbox Jeep and Glider
Transporter / Gliding Club.

This is a complete set; Condition C-6 due to numerous light marks
mostly on jeep. Not readily noticeable due to color, but can be easily seen under
magnification”

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Here a set that’s in the original package (for $69) on eBay:

1976-flat-fender-jeep-glider-matchbox-in-package

 
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1949 Wagon Painting by Rex Brandt on ebay

• CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The painting is noted and signed by Rex. As you can see here, other originals by Rex Brandt aren’ t quite priced so high on eBay, but most don’t have notes on them.

View all the information on eBay

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“riginal 1949 REX BRANDT watercolor painting depicting a Willys Wagon kicking up sand in the desert (beach?). This is a CLASSIC California Scene Painting by one of California’s most famous artists. Painting comes directly from the estate of a close personal friend of Brandt’s. It is signed, dated and inscribed “To Jay – XMAS 1949 – with memories of many fine trips – REX”. Painting measures 10″ x 14″, is in pristine condition and has been professionally framed (frame is in good condition). You won’t find another one like this! Please call or email ANY time with questions. Acquired directly from friend of the artist.”

 
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Bestop Tigertop Deal on Amazon **Sold Out**

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Looks like this deal is not longer valid.

Jon shared the news the Amazon is currently offering a CJ-3A Bestop Tigertop for only $609.88. It’s part of their “Warehouse deals” program. He bought one of the tops and he says it fit his jeep perfectly.

https://www.amazon.com/Bestop-51403-01-Tigertop-Replacement-1948-1953/dp/B0002SA25I/

cj3a-bestop-tigertop-amazon-deal

 
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Overlanders Jeep Club Badge (in Australia)

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This item looks unique, but I can’t get a sense of how large this is. Looks more like an Austin Champ than a jeep.

View all the information on eBay

“For auction is a Jeep club badge ( overlander)  It seems to be cast from alloy. Post free Australia, International $25”

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2013 Book La jeep dans l’armée française Tome 1

• CATEGORIES: Books, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: I received my copy of this book. Published in French, the book is full of French-specific photos (over two hundred). Most are from WWII, but some are from later years other areas around the world. Besides jeeps, photos of GPAs during the war years appear and, from later years photos, a few military CJ-3As along with a five-star Jeepster.

The author also explores the inscriptions/markings of French WWII jeeps in-depth, but lacking any background in that information, I can’t say how accurate (or not) the information is.

On the downside, the book promotes the phrase “General Purpose” and “Government purpose” as the words behind “GP” in GPW. The book also only recognizes some prototypes, but not others in it’s brief chart of production numbers (pg 16). 

This book is written by Paul Gaujac. It’s a 144 page book that you can purchase on Amazon (I’m sure it is available elsewhere, too).

616YAIRKJRL._SX418_BO1,204,203,200_

 

 
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1975 AMC Jeep Cover-Ups Brochure

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Barney corrected me. The tops in the first brochure were Whitco tops.

I bought this hoping for more Bestop info (thinking they were Bestop tops), but Bestop isn’t mentioned in this brochure at all.  I’m guessing the date of 1975 based on the fact that I don’t see any later dates on ‘the facts’ list.

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