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Cutlas Manufacturing History

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

wUPDATE 3: Time to recycle this older post. 

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Originally Posted April 28th, 2017:

UPDATE 2: Niels shared a photo of his rare Cutlas key that can be used to spin the screws of the Power-Lock Hub.

UPDATE: 1) Well, it seems I forgot to read through this and edit it (I murdered the title for example) 2) The ending of the post has changed, thanks to Paul spotting an ad in the 1976 issue of Four Wheeler Magazine.

cutlas-power-lock-brochure-lores

This is a Cutlas brochure for the company’s first hub, the Power-Lock.

In January of 1958, James Russell Lloyd, who up to that point had been president of the Free-Lock Company in Denver, filed a patent for a new type of hub on behalf of a company called the Cutlas Tool and Manufacturing Company out of Lyons, Illinois. At the time, Lloyd was still based in Denver (according to the patent filing), so what his relationship was with the Cutlas and Free-Lock companies at that time isn’t clear.

cutlass-power-lock-hub-patent

Patent was awarded in January of 1962.

Unlike the Free-Lock hubs, which relied on a rotating center piece to engage and disengage the hubs, the Cutlas hub had two rotating screws that had to be spun to engage and disengage the hubs.

In May of 1958, Lloyd copyrighted the term Power-Lock Free Wheeling Hub, a name which the hubs would be known as from then onward. Here are some photos:

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BestLok and EasyLok Hubs

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

UPDATE II: This post was originally posted August 29, 2018:

Information about Husky and Dualmatic has been updated and more closely examined here.

Maury and I have been trying to determine how BestLok and EasyLok hubs are connected and how they are connected to Warn, Husky, and Dualmatic. The short answer is that we don’t quite know yet. But, below is what we do know. (Note, while Husky and Dualmatic are mentioned, it’s not a full history of either hub, histories I do need to address at some point).

In January of 1972, Richard Williams filed a patent, assigned to Warn-Belleview, for a new type of hub. Below is the image of that hub.

1972-patent-image-warn-belleview-patent-easylok

What’s curious is that there’s no documentation that Warn ever sold these hubs.

Even more curious, by July of 1972 this exact hub was produced and sold under the brand EasyLok, as advertised here, in the July issue of Four Wheeler Magazine:

1972-07-easylok-hub-fourwheeler-mag-ad-better

Why these hubs weren’t sold nor branded under any traditional seller of the time is a mystery to us.

Earlier this year, Maury spotted a set of hubs with the Warn patented design that were manufactured in 1982. Maury managed to get ahold of photos that show the hubs were manufactured and warranteed by BestopDualmatic (a joined company formed when Wynn industries combined the companies around 1974).
easylok-hub-dualmatic

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1957 Canvas Dealer Sign on eBay

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

The seller of this sign has listed it at $250, but will consider lower offers. It likely is the only one of its kind.

View all the information on eBay

“Very cool canvas dealer sign. 46” x 24” Appears to be hand painted. This was found mounted to a board. There is some damage to one corner. Tape has been applied to help hold its position. Very cool piece. You will NOT find another

Vintage Canvas Banner Dealer Wall Hanging 1957 57 Willis Jeep RARE Hand Painted.”

1957-canvas-banner-sign

 
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Las Brisas Postcard with DJ-5 Gala/Surreys on eBay

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

This postcard from the Las Brisas resort in Mexico may have been taken in the late 1960s as it appears to show multiple DJ-5 Galas/Surreys.

View all the information on eBay

“3.5 x 5.5 inch standard size vintage postcard”

las-brisas-postcard-dj3a-dj5s-1 las-brisas-postcard-dj3a-dj5s-2

 
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1963 Land Rover FC Photo on eBay

• CATEGORIES: FC150-FC170-M677, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I was surprised to see this Jeep FC-looking vehicle by Land Rover (check out a brochure here). The company also made a 4 door version, which kind of echoes the M-677.

View all the information on ebay

“s listing is for a Vintage Forward Control Land Rover Photo. This photograph is possibly a dealer print with load capacity. . This press photo is 9” x 8”.”

1963-land-rover-fc8 1963-land-rover-fc9

 
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F. E. G. Hubs

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

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Bill Falconer scored a set of extremely rare “summer”-type hubs that are stamped F.E.G. Even better, he was able to get the original box that accompanied them, which included some additional information.

When I first published the post about the various Summer Hub models, I included a photo of an F.E.G. hub, but the only reference I had was that photo. I could finding nothing else about them. Thankfully, the New Hampshire Fish and Game, which owned these hubs originally, bought from a Willys dealership in Colebrook, New Hampshire (which has since been bulldozed), kept the information it had. So, now we know a little more.

FEG-hubs-bill-6

According to the Box’s information, these summer hubs were $20. F.E.G also offered a locking type for $65. Unfortunately, the part showing how to order the hubs was torn from the box.

So, what does “F.E.G.” mean? In researching these, I found a company called F.E.G. out of Mexico that has a subsidiary parts maker, HOWEVER it appears the company wasn’t around in the 1950s. Thus, I am at a dead-end on the company’s history. I suppose it’s possible that F.E.G. are just someone’s initials.

FEG-hubs-bill-5

 
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Yakima Ridge Runners Early Jeeping Videos

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

UPDATE: I first posted this March 29, 2011. It includes a dialogue with my late mother, where she explains that the Naches Trail was my first jeeping excursion (it was likely 1966 and I would have been around 1 year old).

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JPZombie has posted several vintage videos on Youtube. Here are a few showing the club in the Naches Trail area west of Yakima in Washington State.

 
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Fake LandRover-looking Jeep Wichita, KS $1000

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

Seller calls this a jeep, but it looks more like a Landrover (which didn’t appear in Jurassic Park, according to both my memory and this website). But, you never know when something this unusual will appeal to someone.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1263825204506531

“Jurassic Park jeep replica no drive train built more as a prop/yard art or as a kids toy would make a great prop for photography”

jurassic-park-fake-landrover7 jurassic-park-fake-landrover8 jurassic-park-fake-landrover9

 
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Farmcraft Limited Jeeps

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

Jan was kind enough to share this rare brochure from Farmcraft, LTD, another seller of refurbished WWII jeeps. I’ve seen the Burleigh in another ad from 1949, but the text (as best as I could read) did not mention Farmcraft. A Hemmings article shared a pic of the Burleigh, and mentioned Farmcraft. I suspect Farmcraft partnered with, bought out or evolved from Burleigh.

farmcraft-uk-british-jeep-burleigh1 farmcraft-uk-british-jeep-burleigh2 farmcraft-uk-british-jeep-burleigh3 farmcraft-uk-british-jeep-burleigh4

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Orange You Glad I Painted It?

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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It is a little more orangey in person. These pics are pulling more red.

Over the past two days I put four coats of rattle-can Kubota Orange paint on the front clip and body (inside a temporary paint booth in the shop). Normally when I paint I use the proper tools, get proper paints, etc. But, the last time I sprayed a jeep was about 14 years ago. I thought, just maybe, naively optimistically, spray can paint tech had improved….

Moreover, one of the upsides of spray can tech is that if there is damage, you can easily get a can to cover up any issues. Since this was to be a temporary paint job, I figured I’d be a guinea pig and see how it turns out.

Well, I can assure you the paint job sucks. While I really like the color, the shine is uneven, there are several runs (despite trying to achieve light coats), and still I can see a slight bit of background color behind the orange. In fact, I found it more difficult, more messy, and stickier to use the cans than paint with a spray gun. Lesson learned!

Thankfully, spectators are usually 30 feet or more away from the track, so I’m sure no one will notice (except when lined up in the rare queue).

 
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Germany’s Salzgitter’s Line of Jeeps

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

UPDATE II: Here’s another 1950 Salgittzer brochure from Germany, but it is only four pages. Thanks to Jan for sharing it! This makes three different 1950 brochures.

1950-salgitter-brochure-4page-1 1950-salgitter-brochure-4page-2 1950-salgitter-brochure-4page-3 1950-salgitter-brochure-4page-4

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July 12th UPDATE: I received both of the Salzgitter brochures I purchased out of Germany. The 1950 brochure is a version lacks several of the pages shown in the brochure at the very bottom. The 1949 brochure is a tiny (1/4 sheet-size) one-page brochure.
1949-salzgitter-jeep-brochure1

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“Boom Jeep” @ The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

• CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Tracy spotted this jeep that’s helping the restoration at The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. The photos appear on the church’s Facebook page. The jeep was there through the end of last week (ending July 14th).

It appears the fronts springs have been removed. And, it looks like the front end is a Dana 25 or 27. That’s about all I can make from it.
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catheral-basilica-stlouis-boom-jeep0 catheral-basilica-stlouis-boom-jeep2

 
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Video Reviving a 1965 CJ-5

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

Mike shared this video of Davin and Jeff working to revive this 1966 CJ-5 with a Meyer Cab. Made in Canada, the serial number places the production of this jeep at the end of December.

 
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Ogelsby Jeep on eBay

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

The buy-it-now price is $50 and shipping is only $15. The gold appears to be added over the original red. But, looks like a fine buy.

View all the information on eBay

“This is a oglesby jeep selling as is do not know any thing about them cast aluminum”

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The Trado Offroad Idea

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

Bill shared this interesting story from Hemmings about a pre-war dual rear wheel semi-independent drive system that allowed for a relatively inexpensive way to modify consumer vehicles for wartime.

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/daf-trado-ford-articulation/

trado-system-hemmings

 
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Perkins Willys Conversion Brochure

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

Jan out of the Netherlands shared this unique Perkins Brochure that highlights. I don’t have a date for it. I found one of these brochures for sale out of the UK and another one here, though it is priced higher. And, here is an M-38 for sale in the UK with that conversion.

perkins-conversion-brochure1 perkins-conversion-brochure2

 
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Out West Adventures Tour Jeep Wagon

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

Tom Rives posted the below photo on Facebook of an extended Willys Wagon used by the “Adventures Out West” as part of their jeep tours out of Colorado Springs. It looks like they may have several different types of jeeps in service.

adventures-out-west-extended-wagon

 
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Wagon @ Magnolia Silos in Waco, TX

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

Mike shared this photo with me a few weeks ago during this trip through Texas. The wagon looked familiar, but I couldn’t place it, so I’d planned to circle back when I had some time for research.

I finally discovered why I recognized it. Tim Evans and his wife had their photos taken in front of it during their visit in 2017, which I posted at that time. Tim noted in his email to me that Magnolia Silos had been featured on HGTV, and those folks who know of the Silos are also familiar with ChIp and Jo Gaines (my mother was a big fan). The wagon is a popular photo op and you can see some of those photos here. Given we were in Waco in 2017, I’m not sure how we missed doing our own photo op there.

waco-wagon-mike-lores

I also found a video online:

 
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1959 Santa Jeep Salt and Pepper Shakers **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** These sold for $137! I seriously underestimated how high the bidding would go.

This is an unusual jeep-related item. Santa (the salt shaker) sits on his sleigh (the pepper shaker).

“Vintage 1959 NAPCO SANTA CLAUS JEEP Salt & Pepper Shakers Set Japan In BOX RARE . Both Shakers Are In Very Good Condition, They May Have Been Displayed For A Short Time, But Have Not Been Filled For Use. National Potteries Co.”

1959-salt-pepper-jeep-santa3-lores

1959-salt-pepper-jeep-santa4-lores

1959-salt-pepper-jeep-santa6-lores

1959-salt-pepper-jeep-santa7-lores Continue reading

 
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Body Progress

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

With the roof repaired, I was able to return to the body on Wednesday. From sanding the body, I can see this isn’t the first time it’s been repaired (fiberglass patches and some bondo). Below are pics after applying the fiberglass filler and applying some sandable primer, but before any bondo. I’ve since applied some bondo to fill in some holes, nicks, and cracks.

2023-07-12-parkette-body-primer-filler1 2023-07-12-parkette-body-primer-filler2 2023-07-12-parkette-body-primer-filler3

 
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If Not For The Mosquitos …

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

2023-07-11-fixing-leak1
After several days of near 100 temps, on Monday morning we had a storm blow through that brought a refreshing rain storm, during which I opened the sliding glass door in our bedroom, but neglected to close the screen door …

On Monday night we went to bed. Before falling asleep, I read some news on my phone. Strangely, a mosquito began buzzing me. I swiped at it and it went away, but soon followed by another mosquito.

Ann was still awake and as annoyed at the buzzing as I was. So, I turned on the lights. Looking up to our sloped, vaulted white ceiling, it was clear that there were more than two mosquitos, more like 20+. Thus began 20 minutes of me hopping on the bed and furniture attempting to kill as many mosquitos as I could.

During the process, I spotted a mosquito against the outside wall above the door. That’s when I saw it. Not the mosquito, but a bulge in the paint near the ceiling, like an upside down hotdog half. I gently pressed on the bulge and it felt like bulging paint, but not drywall. Ugh … given no rain was expected and many mosquitos were dispensed, I went to sleep knowing what the morning project would be … find the leak!

I was on the roof by 6:30am, but the source of the leak wasn’t readily visible. I started at roof peak, then worked my way down the roof. It wasn’t until I was right over it that I saw a broken branch barely protruding from the roof. In fact, it was almost even with roof, which is why I hadn’t ‘t seen it. I reached down to pull it out and the piece as about 3″ in diameter, but only 4″ long. My guess is that the branch got blown off our back trees, impaled the roof, then broke off, leaving the embedded piece. The fix isn’t difficult, but it’s still time consuming.

Next, I was about to go inside to investigate the wall damage when Ann called me over to examine our Polaris Ranger’s spray motor. It had stopped working. One multi-meter later, I tracked the problem down to a blown fuse.

As Ann went to go spray, I went inside to make some Dutch Babies, prep some lamb for the Trager. I was just finished with all that when Ann called me on the phone. “Quick,” she said, “get out to the pasture, two calves have caught them selves up in the hotwire!” .

2023-07-11-cows-in-wire

By the time I made it to the pasture, the calves were freed. So, we removed the wire (and will upgrade to larger wire).

Some mornings just aren’t easy! The good news is that I tore out some of the dry wall and it appears there wasn’t too much damage. The pierced-roof must have happened recently, I saw no indications of long-term moisture damage nor any mold. We’ll let it dry/air out for a few days before I patch it up.

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Funny thing is, if not for the annoying mosquitos, we might not have spotted the damage!

 
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Odd Jeep Printers Block on eBay

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

This block depicts an oddly shaped jeep (?). It almost looks like a jeepney.

View all the information on eBay

“Vintage Printing Letterpress Block
The block of wood is approximately 4 inches by 1.6 inches. 0.9 inch thick wood.
If you need exact measurements, please let me know.
Subject matter is:
Jeep or similar vehicle with things on the roof.
There is a sign also that shows which way Canada is.
I haven’t tried to polish this up or anything but it probably could become shinier if somebody decided to do that.
Some of the pictures where it’s clearer or shinier is because of how I positioned the lighting in the room.”

jeep-printers-block

 
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No updates Tuesday

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

Well, I’d planned to do updates, but the weather was perfect for sanding and patching the race body’s big holes with fiberglass (and smaller holes with fiberglass putty), so that took priority. I might be able to have all the body prep done by tomorrow evening.

With the highs around 90 degrees, it’s not too hot, so this week is perfect for prepping and painting the body and front clip.

 

 
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Initial Color: Kubota Orange

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

After one of the nicest April, May and June I think I’ve ever experienced, our summer highs in the 90s have finally arrived. However, work goes on when it can.

We have settled on a temporary color, Kubota Orange. It’s the rattle can color that we think looked the best. I don’t want to do a nicer paint job just yet, because I don’t want to take the time right now to get the body and front clip completely smooth (in case I want to do the mounts differently). Instead, I want to get the jeep running, so that I can test the anchor points to make sure they hold like I hope they will and that the front clip doesn’t rub on the body.

Yesterday I made four of the six front clip mounts, with the final ones to be made today. Here’s the orange on the fender (only two coats). It’s a little darker in person.

2023-07-08-orange

 
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Zombie Kittens

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

When we first got the new kittens last March, we couldn’t get them fixed due to both of them having respiratory issues. Unfortunately, once better, we couldn’t book their spay appointments until July 6th. This wasn’t ideal, but what we didn’t know was how unideal it would be, because for the last month one or the other kittens has been in heat, and meowing, and wanting to go outside, and just little terrors in general.

So, we’ve been counting down the days until the spaying would occur. Finally, on Thursday, we took the girls into the vet.

At day’s end, we expected to receive weary cats ready for sleep and rest (we both have had cats in the past). According to the vet, we needed to keep the cats quiet, keep their cones on their heads (so they can lick their sutures), and limit their food. We were even optimistic when picking them up at the vets, because the techs said how loving the two cats were … hmm … yeah … right.

Instead, as soon as we arrived home and let the cats out of their travel, they became little hellions. We struggled, but successfully got the cones on their heads. Immediately, te supposedly docile and “loving” cats began writhing on the floor, which caused the cones to come off in seconds. And, as soon as they got loose, they were running around like they’d never had surgery. There was no “keeping them calm” .. their pupils were dilated, they obsessed over their food (which eventually we had to hide), they became obsessed with a milk bottle plastic ring, which for literal hours they both chewed and knocked around and carried places.

After recognizing that these two felines were high as kites and feeling no pain and obsessively focused on whatever they wanted, it became clear we needed a new plan to protect their sutures. So, I raced to the local Walmart to pick up baby onesies, which Ann then cut and roughly fitted over their bodies.

These two cats wanted nothing to do with the onesies and, moreover, it caused them to walk and fall over like their were super high. We eventually had to put a harness over one of the cats in order to keep the onesie on her body. Still, they attempted to wriggle out, so one of us at to watch them at all times.

Ann ended up sleeping with the cats in the cat room; however, the next morning she told me that the cats didn’t sleep. In fact, it wasn’t until the afternoon on Friday that they finally slept (as seen below).

2023-07-07-cats

‘Get cats’, they say; ‘they will be so fun to have around’ they say … hmmmph.