Features Research Archives

To Top

Photo of Woman and Pink Surrey on eBay

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

She sure seems happy. Anyone recognize the background?

View all the information on eBay

woman-pink-surrey-image

 
To Top

1969 Ad for the Boulder TowBarGuide

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

This ad from the September 1969 issue of Four Wheeler Magazine shows the Boulder TowBarGuid, a winch that wrests atop a towbar. The same issue included a story on the winch, though not much background was provided about the company. The winch was manufactured by the Hilmer Company out of Boulder, Colorado.

1969-09-fourwheeler-boulder-winch3

1969-09-fourwheeler-boulder-winch-pg6-ad

1969-09-fourwheeler-boulder-winch4 1969-09-fourwheeler-boulder-winch2

 
To Top

M-151 Pencil Sharpener on eBay

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

This is pretty cool. An M-151 Pencil sharpener.

View all the information on eBay

“Vintage Miniature Enesco Die Cast Military Jeep Willys Pencil Sharpener”

m151-pencil-sharpner1 m151-pencil-sharpner2 m151-pencil-sharpner3 m151-pencil-sharpner4

 
To Top

Road Trip Starting Monday

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

Longtime readers remember that we purchased a DJ-3A that we named Rusty in September of 2016 in anticipation of our Alaska trip in the summer of 2017. A buyer on the East Coast recently purchased that DJ-3A and has paid us to trailer it to him. He’s getting a good deal on Rusty, while we are getting our costs for a road trip covered. It’s a win-win.

Unlike our normal tours, we plan to drive straight to our destination, then pretty much turn around and head back, though our return route will take us north with a goal of stopping at Glacier National Park, a place I’ve yet to see. Our goal is only to be gone about two weeks (rather than our usual 6-8 weeks).

2016-09-06-1956-dj3a-pics-on-trailer-1

Rusty right after we picked him up in Montana in 2016.

 
To Top

Ramsey Company & Brochures

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

Claude Ramsey and his brother, Rayburn, originally founded Ramsey Winch Company as Ramsey Brothers Tool and Die in July 1944 to manufacture aircraft parts, tools and dies for Douglas Aircraft Company. Claude, realizing the need for a front-mounted winch for passenger cars and pickups, designed a crankshaft-operated winch (Model 101) to pull vehicles out of mud and snow. Demand for the Ramsey Winch increased to the point that the name of the company was changed to Ramsey Brothers Winch Manufacturing Company in 1947. In 1950, the company changed its name to Ramsey Winch Company when Claude bought out his brother’s share of the company.

Here’s a two-page brochure for the dual PTO units: DP-1 (for the Jeep Universal), DP-2 (for 4WD trucks and wagons), DP1-150 (for FC-150s), DP2-FY (for FC-170s).

ramsey-pto-dual-lever-brochure1 ramsey-pto-dual-lever-brochure2

This twelve-page Ramsey winch brochure from 1959 covers a variety of products. I have three of these brochures, so if you’d like to purchase one for $10, let me know.

1959-ramsey-winch-pto-brochure05 1959-ramsey-winch-pto-brochure06 1959-ramsey-winch-pto-brochure07

Continue reading

 
To Top

Three Blue Surrey Slides on eBay

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

These slides feature a blue and white Surrey.

View all the information on eBay

“60’S – 70’S Amateur Color Slide Lot Photo Old Jeep Blue Chrome Pictures 03
Normal wear. Great shape.”

surrey-slide-photo-blue-white1 surrey-slide-photo-blue-white2 surrey-slide-photo-blue-white3 surrey-slide-photo-blue-white4

 
To Top

The Errislannan’s Metamet Jeep

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

The Errislannan family of Western Ireland purchased a jeep from Metamet in September of 1959. You can read the story and see all the pics here (thanks to Barry Thomas from Farm Jeep).

https://www.farmjeep.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/THE_ERRISLANNAN_JEEP_ver_2007_a.pdf

metamet-jeep

 
To Top

1953 Photo of M-170 Test on eBay

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

This old newspaper photo captured the testing of an M-170 at the Aberdeen Testing Grounds. Theres’ a description on the back fo the photo, but it’s not easy to ready.

View all the information on eBay

“8×10 inches with minor variation”

1953-02-testing-m170-1 1953-02-testing-m170-2

 
To Top

Modified Canadian MB

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

This Canadian jeep has some unusual modifications. The image was featured at https://captainstevens.com/military/mv/mvmarkings/, which takes a look at Canadian Military Vehicle marketings.

4th-canadian-armored-odd-body-jeep

Photo Credit: http://Captainstevens.com W-LU GOC_4th Canadian Armoured Division (Canadian Army PA211629_jpeg) This appears to the the same jeep as in the colour photo above, just after it was customized for the General Officer Commanding 4 Canadian Armoured Division. They added roof, doors, flag staff and light and extension on rear of vehicle. It is carrying at least one wireless set.

It’s believed that this is the front of the above jeep. As you can see, a rounded topper has been added to the windshield. It appears to be a nice bit of work.  The windshield has also been converted into a vertical windshield.

4th-canadian-armored-odd-body-jeep3

Photo Credit: Major-General Worthington in the 4th Armoured Division GOC’s jeep Late 1943 or January 1944 L&AC

 
To Top

Brazilian Rural Wagon Video

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

This Brazilian tutorial about the Willys Rural Wagon and Truck was spotted by Carl. Portuguese speakers might find it interesting.

I hadn’t noticed it before, but some of the Rural wagons and Jeepsters have a “Parkette”-looking fiberglass stripe along the sides. Maybe that’s where Paul Parker got the idea?

parkett-rural-side-stripes

 
To Top

December 1942 Article About a Modified Bantam

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

This news clipping from the December 30, 1942, issue of Yank: The Army Weekly shares the story of a Bantam (no 1687) that was pieced together by the Ordinance Depot.

1942-12-army-weekly-bantam-jeep-customized

 
To Top

Koenig Standard Cabs Model 330 Full & 335 Half Cab

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

The Koenig Standard Cabs Model 330 Full and 335 Half fit CJ-3As, CJ-3Bs, DJ-3As and possibly others.

1959-12-01-koenig-standard-cabs-cj3a-3b-dj3a-1 1959-12-01-koenig-standard-cabs-cj3a-3b-dj3a-2 1959-12-01-koenig-standard-cabs-cj3a-3b-dj3a-3 1959-12-01-koenig-standard-cabs-cj3a-3b-dj3a-4

 
To Top

Ramsey Winch Zippo Lighter on eBay

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

The price on this seems high, but it’s a unique lighter branded by Ramsey Winches.

View all the information on ebay

“Zippo Ramsey Winch Tulsa Ok. RARE RARE RARE”

ramsey-lighter-0

ramsey-lighter-1

ramsey-lighter-2

ramsey-lighter-3

ramsey-lighter-4

 
To Top

WANTED: Gates Commando Tires

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

Rich is hoping to find a set of vintage Gates Commando Tires. He’s open to different 15″ sizes from G70 to 10-15 or whatever someone might have. You can email him at squareweave @ shaw.ca if you have something.

Here’s a photo of what the XTs look like:

Gates-Commando-xt

1969-gates-tire-ad

Mickey Thompson has reproduced a set of 27″ Gates for the dune buggy folks, but I’ve not had much luck finding any other vintage Gates-like tires.

 
To Top

Filip Rosz and Metamet

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

UPDATE: Barry Thomas from Farm Jeep shared this story of a family who purchased a Metamet Jeep.

1950s-metamet-filip-rosz6

Filip is seated in the passenger seat.

Anita Long was kind of enough to share some photos and stories about her father, Filip Rosz. He worked for years at the British firm of Metamet, which in the late 1940s and 1950s specialized in refurbishing jeeps into a wide range of specialty models.

Filip came to the UK the hard way. According to Anita, he was originally from Lwow and in the Polish Home Army at the outbreak of World War II. During the autumn campaign of 1939, he was taken prisoner by the Soviets. Deported to a POW camp in Siberia, after two years he was released as a result of the negotiations of the Polish Government in London with the authorities in Moscow.

He travelled a long way to enlist in the 2 Polish Corps that was forming in the west, the 8th British Army. He went through a combat route to Iran and Egypt to Monte Cassino in Italy. He served in 3PU in the West as a mechanic and driver in the 2nd Warsaw Panzer Division.

After the war he was a displaced person, since his home town was now in Russia. He ended up in London and started working at Metamet, as it was owned and run by Poles in similar circumstances.  Though listed as a Panel Beater, Anita says her father was the best welder at Metamet.

One Metamet employee Anita wanted to also mention was General Julian Zdzislaw Starosteck who, for a brief time, was the production engineer at Metamet before going to America and working on the Patriot Missile.

Anita tells me that Metamet was well known to a lot of Poles who came to settle in London. In fact, her Polish Step-father worked there briefly before he joined the Merchant Navy. He was too young for the war but did join the Polish Navy as a Submariner with the express purpose to ‘jump ship’, which did happen when his first pert of call outside of Poland was Edinburgh. He made his way down to London and hooked up with the Metamet guys.

Metamet not only rebuilt and sold jeeps, but also provided transportation for Film Garden Parties,  events where British and American film and stage actors mingled with everyday folks. Filip was one of the employees that would chauffeur the stars in Metamet jeeps. At some point, he met his future wife Joan at one of the events.

Joan loved the Garden Parties and was an avid collector of autographs. She also would bring along her box Brownie camera to snap photos. For Joan, it was love at first site when she met Filip. They married in 1952. Only eight years later, in 1960, Anita’s father Filip passed away.

Anita labeled her father in each of these rarely-seen photos. A big thanks to Anita for sharing them.
1950s-metamet-filip-rosz5 1950s-metamet-filip-rosz4 1950s-metamet-filip-rosz3

Continue reading

 
To Top

Metamet and Garden Parties

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
garden-parties-metamet3

Metamet employees driving jeeps for a Garden Party

Thanks to Anita Long for these images and for introducing me to Garden Parties. I had no idea such events had taken place. It was at one of these events that her parents met.

She wrote, “As a teenager my Mum was an avid film goer and her main interest was writing to movie stars and studios for autographs. In the summer time she would attend the Sunday Pictorial Garden Parties at Morden Hall Park in Surrey to see more film stars and hopefully ‘get’ their autographs.

The staff at Metamet would drive to the Movie Stars hotels and take them to the Garden Parties. I don’t think they drove them around at the park as my photo shows them at the temporary fencing where they parked them. The jeeps were the best way to chauffeur the stars to all their scheduled meet and greets for the fans on the day. Everyone got to see them as there were definitely no open top limos in those days! The boys at Metamet must have really enjoyed those days and I thank fate for the opportunity given to my Dad. If he hadn’t met my Mum there then I wouldn’t be here now!”

Anita shared this video from Youtube. At the 40sec mark you’ll see a couple jeeps behind Bette Davis:

Here are some photos:

garden-parties-metamet6 garden-parties-metamet5 garden-parties-metamet4

garden-parties-metamet2

You can learn more about Garden Parties and see some more jeeps here:

https://alondoninheritance.com/eventsandceremonies/the-sunday-pictorial-film-garden-party/

The site includes this photo, which gives a good look at the side of the 5-in-1 Jeep. It has a little bit of a Holden Ambulance look.

 
To Top

1943 GPW Metamet Saloon Body £14,995

• CATEGORIES: Features, GPW (Ford MB) • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s a rare Metamet Saloon body jeep for sale in the UK.

http://www.milweb.net/webvert/78018

“Just one owner since military release, genuine 28,400 miles.
Metamet Saloon body fitted early 1950`s.
A very unique vehicle, chassis no gpp82293, supplied to a Mr HJ Odell the on 30/04/1952 and the only owner since.
Trade advert.”

1943-gpw-metamet-saloon-body0 1943-gpw-metamet-saloon-body1 1943-gpw-metamet-saloon-body3 1943-gpw-metamet-saloon-body4 1943-gpw-metamet-saloon-body5 1943-gpw-metamet-saloon-body6

 
To Top

Vintage Jeeping on the Barrett Lake Trail

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

This video circa 1969 shows a Contra Costa Jeepers trip on the Barrett Lake Trail in California.

 
To Top

“The Oregon Trail” by Rinker Buck

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

My son bought me The Oregon Trailer: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck for my birthday. I just finished reading it and really enjoyed it.

The book’s author, Rinker Buck, is a New England columnist who decided he wanted to do a crazyass (his description) thing: drive the Oregon trail in a covered wagon. To my surprise, it turns out that, despite all the Oregon Trail re-enactments, there had been no documented drive of a wagon from Missouri to Oregon since 1910 when Ezra Meeker did it at the age of 80 (Ezra’s credited with igniting interest in saving the trail back in the early 1900s). So, in 2011, Rinker and his brother Nick (along with Nick’s Jack Russel Terrier Olive Oyl) set out for Oregon with a 3-mule team, a wagon, and a trailer.

As Rinker shares the success and failures of his adventure, he also delves into the history of wagons, pioneer emigrants, famous landmarks, and important events that have shaped the trail.

oregon-trailer-rinker-buck

 
To Top

Twenty-Nine 1960s Four Wheeler Magazines **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $28.

Here’s a good price on some 1960s Four Wheeler magazines (currently $28.49 w/ free shipping). I’d buy the lot myself, but it appears I have all of them.

“All of these magazines have been 3-hole punched, previously stored in a binder. The magazines show to be used with edge and corner wear. Some of the covers exhibit crinkling and all of them show some degree of age wear. Several of the magazines have address labels. Some of the magazines are curled at the binding edge from being in a notebook binder for years. The insides look to be clean without markings.”

four-wheeler-magazines

 
To Top

Jamie Farr & Jeeps

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

I didn’t know much about Jamie Farr (Klinger on the show M*A*S*H) and his connection with jeeps. Here’s an interesting story about him in Motor Authority.

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1123867_a-life-during-wartime-jamie-farr-the-most-famous-jeep-driver-in-history

Jamie-farr-jeep

 
To Top

A Different “Super” Jeep

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

This vehicle, dubbed a “Super” Jeep, was featured on the cover of Mechanic Illustrated magazine in April of 1968. Unfortunately, the article provides very little information. Hopefully, this is still sitting in someones garage, somewhere.

1968-04-mechanix-illustrated-super-jeep10hires 1968-04-mechanix-illustrated-super-jeep-hires

 
To Top

1946 Testimonial for the CJ-2A

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

Charles Bachman wrote a testimonial for Willys-Overland for his Parkhurst Motors company out of Syracuse, New York. The accompanying photo is interesting as it has a mid-mounted spare tire.

Scan10054-parkhurst-testimonial Scan10055-parkhurst-testimonial

 
To Top

Instructions for Koenig Bed Extender 3J90

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

Another installment of my series on how to assemble Koenig stuff. These instructions help guide the installation of a Koenig 3J90 bed extender.

koenig-bed-extension-3J90-instructions1
koenig-bed-extension-3J90-instructions2

 
To Top

Circa 1950 Wagon Foldout Ad

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

I spotted this circa-1950 foldout-wagon ad for a good price on eBay. The wagon folds out horizontally to reveal the interior of a wagon.

It starts like this:

1950-wagon-brochure-foldout1
1950-wagon-brochure-foldout4

The wagon then flips horizontally to reveal the wagon interior and more text.

1950-wagon-brochure-foldout3

The backside of the image shows the exterior of the wagon:

1950-wagon-brochure-foldout2