I don’t know when this was produced, I imagine it is more modern than vintage.
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“Jeep knife. Condition is Used.”
I don’t know when this was produced, I imagine it is more modern than vintage.
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“Jeep knife. Condition is Used.”
Adrian provided some details on a 1/3 scale jeep model he built from Toylander plans. He bought the plans in 2008.
https://www.adriantuckwell.co.uk/2017/03/11/i-built-an-electric-car/
The jeep now pictured on the Toylander website appears to be an improved version, as Toylander’s MB43 looks like it is more jeep-like. Prices vary depending on how complete you want the jeep to be.
This was on eBay. I’d say it was published between 1948 and 1950.
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“Up tonight I have the beginning of a collection of literature I just acquired. Here I have a Genuine original 1950? Willys Sales brochure. This is about 4 by 9 and 1/4 inches with around 22 pages. Fair shape with some wear and deterioration to the covers as shown. This is a neat piece of Advertising to display with your classic. As with all my parts, if you feel it has an issue once you receive it, please contact me to have it resolved.
I value my reputation and try to provide hard to find parts at great if not down right cheap prices to keep our old cars on the road. . Keeping NOS Affordable. You can buy directly from me at sometimes down right cheap prices or buy from one of the many dealers I ship to weekly for a much higher price. Remember the government is still printing Money but this is decades Old. A nice finishing touch to your Authentic restoration. These little parts really make your restoration stand out. The part number on this is not available. Remember always use genuine parts in your restoration. Don’t miss out!!!”
The other day someone asked me about headlight bezels (or if you prefer, headlight ‘heads’) and how they changed through the years. I did not have a good answer to that reader’s question, so this working thread about bezels is the result. Along the way, I learned that some folks call these parts “heads”, but perhaps that is more military related?
1. 1945-1946 Early Painted Bezels on CJ-2As
Early CJ-2A bezels were painted, not chromed, until approximately #38687, according to the CJ-2A page. As far as my research indicates, only Walcks carries new, unpainted bezels. This is the flatter style of bezel without the tab.
2. 1946-1953 Later CJ-2As, CJ-3As and 1956-1959 DJ-3As
After roughly CJ-2A #38687 the bezels were chromed, but their shape was the same. They lasted through the end of the CJ-3A production run and into the early DJ-3A production run (1956-1959). These example images are from Kaiser Willys.
3. 1950-1952 M-38s, 1953-1971 M-38A1s, and M-170s:
I didn’t realize that M-38 and M-38A1 bezels were the same. It’s on the M-38a1 site that I encountered the alternative term “head” for the bezel. Peter Debella has NOS rings.
4. 1950 USMC CJ-V35 Blackout Lights ‘bezels’
Thanks to Mike Wixom for helping me out with these rare blackout lights.
This type of headlight bezel, or more correctly blackout ring (although not that effective), was used only on Marine Corps Radio Jeeps as far as I know. Specifically on the CJV35/U and possibly on the MZ-2 and MZ-3 Radio Jeeps from Late WW2. They were installed at the factory on all 1000 CJV35/U Jeeps built in May of 1950. These were eventually replaced by the actual blackout lights found on the M-38.
Because these aren’t readily available, someone posted this writeup on how to inexpensively recreate them:
Here is a different, larger version of a CJ-V35 bezel. Mike believes the ones shown below may have been fabricated and not original, but perhaps the owner can offer input on this.
As I interpret it, the envelope and stamp are real, but the seller has added the pinup girl and Jeep-Truck illustrations. The seller has created a variety of similar “retro-like” envelopes, even creating signatures such as this Miracle On 34th envelope.
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“Up for sale is a limited edition collector’s reprint envelope. The postage stamp is a genuine old USA postage stamp. Since genuine postage stamps were used the stamp may vary in design on your envelope.”
Here’s an unusual item being sold out of Austria. It’s a 1998 stamp of a 1948 CJ-2A fire jeep.
This photo shows soldiers ducking from snipers.
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“1943 Press Photo Soldiers and jeeps, Bizerte, Tunisia. This is an original press photo. World War II – Africa. As these years rolled into Bizerte in their jeeps to capture the city, snipers opened fire and the Yanks took over behind the jeeps and a handy well. Official Signal Corps Radiophoto. Photo measures 8.5 x 6.25 inches. Photo is dated 5-12-1943.”
Richard’s got a crankshaft pulley. He’s going to be selling it, but in trying to determine a fair price, there are a couple questions we could not answer. So, we are hoping someone can educate us.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
A strike grounded these jeeps before they could be loaded onto ships.
“1952 Press Photo U.S. Army Jeeps at Caven Point pier in Newark, New Jersey. This is an original press photo. Trucks – United State. Newark, New Jersey. Walkout yesterday of longshoreman on Jersey City waterfront brought loading of these jeeps at Army-leased pier at nearby Caven Point to standstill. Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 3-13-1952.”
UPDATE: Still Available. The caption and date are slightly different between this current pic on eBay and its predecessor from 2013 (at bottom).
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“1942 Press Photo U.S. Army Soldiers ride down London street in Military Jeep. .This is an original press photo. Four American doughboys ride down a London street in a peculiarly American vehicle, one of Uncle Sammy’s jeeps. Note how they are overshadowed by the familiar London double-deck bus. U.S. Army in London Photo measures 6.25 x 9.5 inches. Photo is dated 03-15-1942.”
This version of the photo was auctioned in 2013 on eBay. It has the date of March 13, 1942. The caption includes the verbiage, “A ‘Jeep’ comes to London Town”.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $400.
Dave shared this PTO powered saw mill. It even includes a guard … almost looks safe!
“Older yankee pro portable sawmill”
As often is the case with these company bios, I rarely know the full story, so this is a working draft. (note, I have seen Bestop as BesTop and BESTOP, but I feel Bestop is easier to read for our purposes). If you have other interpretations, thoughts, or corrections, don’t hesitate to comment below.
Bestop Launches:
In the early 1950s, Tom Bradley ran an auto upholstery shop in Boulder, Colorado. After some customers came to him wanting repairs to their soft jeep tops, Tom decided he could build a better top, so he launched Bestop on a part-time basis in 1954. According to the Bestop website, “Working out of an old brick schoolhouse with seven employees, Bestop quickly developed a reputation for quality and the word spread.” And, from 4wd.com, “To [Tom’s] surprise, the Jeep replacement tops began making more profit than the upholstery projects. It wasn’t long before Bradley decided to sell his upholstery business and focus on designing and manufacturing tops.”
Here’s a look at some early brochures. Note the “Vinalette” top, an attempt at branding that didn’t last very long. These brochures are likely mid to late 1950s (these pics came from this eBay auction):
The Bestop site notes that the business continued to grow for ten years under Tom. At that point, the story on the company’s website advances to the mid-eighties, but skips additional history in the process.
Bestop Expands Product Line:
The only evidence I could find that Bestop expanded it’s produced line under Tom was this 1961 brochure introducing rear seats. The seats have a flat, simple design.
The Stengel’s Obtain Control:
In September of 1966, forty-year-old James (Jim) Joseph Stengel filed a patent for a plastic tab that, when placed on the front edge of a soft top, allowed it to hook into the down-facing channel that is attached to most vintage 1/4 ton jeep windshields. This improved the speed at which a top could be mounted to a jeep. What Jim’s relationship to Bestop was at that point isn’t clear to me yet.
As of the 1966 patent filing, there was no assignment to any company, just to Jim himself. In the meantime, at some point between 1964 and 1968, Jim and his wife Marj acquired Bestop (from Tom?) and began operating it, as her obituary notes “Marj and Jim ran their business, Bestop Mfg., which grew to be a leading manufacturer of cloth “tops” for Jeeps and other recreational vehicles”.
One bit of evidence that the Stengels were connected to Bestop by 1966 was that Jim filed the above 1966 patent under the address “P.O. Box 318, Boulder, Colorado”, the same address that appears in this May 1968 brochure published by Bestop.
Two years later, in 1968, Bestop Manufacturing filed for a Trademark on the name Bestop, again under the same PO Box 318 address :
Now, this is where it becomes a little confusing. At some point in 1968, Bestop acquired or expanded into several lines of additional products and, around the same time period, Husky Products appears to have dropped a similar type of products.
Below is a visual comparison of a 1966 Husky brochure and the 1968 Bestop brochure. The first three pages of the Bestop brochure kind of look like reworked versions of the 1966 Husky brochure (it’s this comparison that started my dive into this topic). And, yes, I realize the tops are somewhat different, especially at the back (Husky continued to advertise the full top into the 1970s, but dropped advertising for the half tops, the multiple doors, and other items).
Not many photos (that I have seen) of M-38A1s coming off of a transport ship.
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“1960 Press Photo United States Army Transportation Corps Jeep and Carrier. This is an original press photo. United States Army Transportation Corps Jeep and Carrier. Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches. Photo is dated 08-25-1960.”
Maury shared this unusual can featured the rear of a jeep. I’m guessing the beer has been consumed?
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“HERE ARE 2 BRAND NEW, CRAFT BREWERY BEER CANS FROM THE CRAFT BREWERY IN NANTUCKET MASSACHUSETTS. GETAWAY IPA WITH A COOL JEEP CJ-5 ON THE BEACH LOGO AND CRAN-TUCKET WITH A CRANBERRY FARMER. COOL PAINTED LABEL CANS. BOTH IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.”
The Summer 2019 issue of Dispatcher Magazine is out, along with the Holy Toledo 2020 calendar, just in time for Christmas!
I can’t remember how I obtained this photo of a Dutch jeep book cover, but I see no evidence that I ever posted it (found it on my old computer). So, here it is. The publishing date appears to be 1949.
This December 1954 Volume I, Issue I was the first issue of the ‘new’ KW Booster News, a monthly newspaper designed to inform employees. Updates would include the newest announcements, company updates, employee updates (such as the new profit sharing model), and intra-company events (such as intramural bowling teams). This first issue introduces the brand new CJ-5, among other announcements.
I’m not sure how many issues of the KW Booster were published. The only other issue of this newspaper on eWillys is the June 1958, Vol. 2, No. 1.
Roger spotted this sign. I can’t tell how large it is, but it looks like a good price.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/571612383646378/
“Nice Jeep light up decor”
Just some wagon and truck ads this morning. I’ve got the inaugural December 1954 KW Booster News almost ready for Tuesday morning.
Mario shared this article, published on March 25, 1944, in the Courier-Journal out of Louisville, Kentucky. a while ago on Facebook. It shares the news about a Bantam BRC-60 that was sent to the Smithsonian.
There’s a newsreel about the capture of Goch, which credits the Canadian fighters. The photo seen at the bottom includes a medic and jeep ferrying wounded surrounded by destruction.
Chris has these extra items for auction on eBay.
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“Vintage Jeep Willys matchbook lot & lighter dealerships and service station set. Matchbooks are in good condition. Lighter does not work.”
Don’t forget about the Mason-Dixon Jeep Gathering this Sunday, October 20th, in Union Mills, Maryland.
https://www.facebook.com/events/union-mills-homestead/mason-dixon-jeep-gathering/209218449654048/
Here’s a pic from the 2014 event posted a few years ago as part of a Baltimore Sun article:
I found this Roamin’ Chariots jacket club patch on eBay (purchased out of Kansas). The Roamin’ Charios Jeep Club appears to have been originally based in the Tri-Cities area of Washington (hence the design includes Mt. Rainier in the background and the desert-scrub-looking plants in the foreground). Now, the club’s contact is in Spanaway (near Tacoma) on the west side of the state. So, I’m not sure how active or how many folks are involved in the club at this point.
The patch is 9″ wide and 10″ tall. I’ve included a roll of electrical tape to better appreciate the size.
I figured at the very least that the church still existed. So, I made some guesses and determined where I think the photo at the bottom was taken.
The church is in the town of Gela, Italy. The church still looks about the same, but the building to the left has seen some changes.
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“1943 Press Photo Soldiers in jeeps park outside of building & old church, Sicily. This is an original press photo. World War II – Sicily. … glory flies from a building in Gela in southern Sicily after the city fell … invading Americans. A column of jeeps pauses near an ornate old church which looks out of place beside modern military machines. Photo measures 7.5 x 7 inches. Photo is dated 7-24-1943.”