DON’T FORGET: Drop by the 2014 Great Willys Picnic on Sunday June 8th from 9am to 4pm. It’s held in Kempton, Pennsylvania. Go here for more info: http://www.cj3a.info/picnic/
Features Research Archives
The King Family Jeep Tour
Jason and his family enjoyed a family jeep outing last weekend.
He writes, “Last Saturday was our 4th annual family jeep rally through Parke County, Indiana (covered bridge capital). Attached are some photos for your use. The trip was a 30 mile round trip that took us through Bridgeton, IN. The Bridgeton Mill just happened to be making flour the same day. We anticipate twice as many jeeps next year to join in the trip. Each year we pick a different route that includes another bridge. We passed three on our trip this year.”
Rear PTO French Lake, MN $250
Looks in good shape.
“Here is a rear pto unit. great condition, not water damage, original bolts all around. Also have the pto transfer case adapter for this at 75.00 can’t find the drive shaft, will post if found”
Photo of Tampa Bay Tour Jeep **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
Craig spotted this Tampa Bay CJ-6 Tour Jeep photo on eBay.
“1969 Jeep Tour Guide Ybor City Tampa FL Street Scene 1 Color Slide(s) 35mm”
Knardly Rolls gets Busted — Sort of
Most of you are familiar with Paul’s stainless M-38 project that’s going on its 26th (?) year (He’s almost done). However, according to the City of Miami, the project is roaming the streets of Florida. I’ll let Paul explain.
For many years my friends have been asking me when the stainless Willys would be back on the road. Thru the years I tried to offer an accurate estimate of when I thought (or hoped) the Willys would be back together but as each deadline passed I realized my completion plans were wildly optimistic. Until today.
I just received official notice from the United States Post Office that not only is my Willys runnable, but during the first week of May 2014 my Jeep was cruising southbound on Biscayne Boulevard in Florida!
How cool is that? I feel like a putz, I had no idea I was finished with my long term rebuild but I can live with that. What really bothers me is my Willys went cruising without me, geeze after all I’ve done for my Jeep I’m quickly cast aside like a used kleenex when it’s time to play. Unfortunately my Willys had a bit too much fun and ended up running a red light. I know things happen and all that but now the city of North Miami wants me to send them $158.00 just because my little Willys turned renegade. There’s even an official photo recording this illegal event. Zowie!
I’m sure this ticket is real, it’s from: City of North Miami
Intersection Safety Program
PO Box 22091
Tempe, AZ 85285-2091
If that’s not enough to convince you I’m supposed to pay the fine to: City of North Miami
Payment Processing Center
PO Box 742527
Cincinnati, OH 45274-2527
And best of all the official driving infraction photo doesn’t show a Willys, the vehicle isn’t green (the old body color was OD but the local DMV called it green) and the license photo shows a different license plate design that what’s on my Willys so what’s an owner to do? I feel so cheap and used. I gave this Willys the best years of my life, I ate the cheap cuts of macaroni so I could purchase the parts necessary for rebuilding my Jeep, I stayed late in the garage ignoring friends just so I could have quality time with my Willys and this is what I get? My innocent Willys has turned Renegade and left me for a good time in sunny Florida so here I sit staring out the window watching fresh snow being deposited on the mountains!
My heart is broken, I’ll never be able to trust my Willys again. Yes I heard the often repeated stories about how your Willys will turn on you, how the good times will roll until someone better comes along but I didn’t believe this. I told my friends my Willys was different, my Willys is loyal and my Willys would never get into trouble. I’m so ashamed my Willys is like all the rest, just out for a good time and forget about everything else.
A word of warning to all who read these words…
Your Willys will get you into trouble!
Thank you
A very sad Paul Bierman
Belgium Jeep History
Charles shared this site from the Belgium Jeep Club. It’s a summary of jeep history in Belgium.
http://www.jeepclub.be/content/default.asp?a=HERITAGE&sa=BELGIUM
Large Jeep Picture Rio Linda, CA $175
Here’s an unusual jeep item.
“HUGE jeep picture 190 x 45
Logo is 56W x 23L”
No Updates for Sunday
I was busy all day on the jeep. Progress was steady and the unusual lack of swearing suggests it was a successful day! I will have pics and a report in the next couple of days.
On another note, I’ve been experimenting with no-kneed, no commercial yeast breads over the past few weeks. Right now I’m using a strain of sourdough from the San Francisco area. Besides the sourdough, there’s only salt, water and flour. I bake at 455 degrees in a thick ceramic backing dish with a lid.
So far, the results have been great! Check out that last batch here:
I’m going to ‘grow’ a few more starters and try some more complex combinations of flour. I will also be trying a dutch oven in our regular oven to see if that produces a slightly different flavor from the ceramic baking dish. I’ve just ordered both of Chad Robertson’s books as a happy-birthday-to-me gift (bday is later this week) to help expand my repartoire: Tartine Bread & Tartine Book No 3. Stay tuned!
Korean War Era Photos in Germany
Dennis shared these photos of his ex-wife’s grandfather, Tom Provateare. He’s pretty sure these were taken while Tom was stationed in Germany.
A Couple Unusual Alaska Hardtops
Paul forwarded these two photos of hardtops. Anyone know who manufactured these tops?
The first one is the same model of hardtop Paul’s dad had on his jeep. Paul notes, “This is an old metal hardtop which was used on the WW2 Jeeps. The windows in the doors are moved up and down by straps on the inside of the doors.”
This is another version of the same top. However, the doors on this top have been modified so the vertically sliding windows were replaced by fixed pieces of clear plexiglass. Rather a boxy design even compared to a Jeep.
1953 Navy Data Plate **SOLD**
Willys MAs Ready for Shipment
This photo was published at this Willys-Overland history page. Ron Szymanski has the original.
Pics From Charles
Charles forwarded some more pics of the Belgian Army. In the first pic, the seat on the grass suggests it may have been used as a lawn chair.
Empire Tractors: The Tractor Built From Willys Parts
The Empire Tractor was made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by the Empire Tractor Corporation from 1946-1948. Leveraging the Willys drive train, Empire produced two different models: Model 88 and Model 90. You might have seen one of those tractors at a Willys show or for sale, but sightings are rare. The primary reason for their scarcity is that of the approximately 6,660 made around 5,370 were exported leaving about 1,290 available in the US and Canada.
The history behind the Empire Tractor company is complicated. It involves Willys Overland Motor’s largest shareholder, Empire Securities, and a successful international business man named Frank Cohen, who was investigated multiple times for suspicious financial dealings.
Here’s how and why only a few tractors were made . . .
EMPIRE SECURITIES:
In 1932 George Ritter, Ward Canaday, and H.J. Leonard organized Empire Securities, Inc. They launched it as a holding company to process claims against the Willys-Overland Company, which had gone into receivership. In 1935 Empire Securities offered to buy up all the Willys-Overland Company bonds that were due two years earlier in 1933 so they could reorganize the Willys-Overland Company. In October of 1936, Empire Securities successfully rebirthed the Willys-Overland Company as Willys-Overland Motors, Inc., and became the largest shareholder. Several years later the Empire Securities founders used Willys Overland stock to partly fund a business deal with a man named Frank Cohen.
1955 Photo of Prospecter with Jeep and Geiger Counter on ebay
Here’s a cool photo. I can’t say for sure where that was taken.
“1955 Press Photo A modern prospector using Geiger counter jeep & other gear”
Congratulations Kasia! And, No Posts Sunday
I spent Saturday wrestling with our plumbing. A simple replacement of a spigot outside the house turned into several trips to Lowes! Simultaneously, we dug up around the pond to figure out where it was leaking. Once the pipes were exposed, the leaking stopped. Go figure! So, no updates for Sunday.
Congratulations goes to my daughter Kasia. She graduates from East High School in Salt Lake this June. She’s been accepted into a special science program at the University of Utah. However, she’ll be delaying college for a year, because she’s been accepted into the FEMA/Americorps program, the same one Karson did last year. She reports to Maryland in July. Wow, they grow up fast!
10 Day Willys MB Rebuild for the Toledo Jeep Plant
On Friday the Toledo Jeep Plant unveiled a Willys MB for a Veteran’s display. What makes this story unusual is that from start to finish the team only had five weeks to find a jeep, get it delivered, and rebuild it. That’s a pretty short window! The person tasked with finding the jeep was former plant manager Jerry Huber. Naturally, he turned to eWillys to locate the jeep. He shared his adventure in an email.
Jerry wrote, “I e-mailed you a couple of months ago to congratulate you on the ewillys website and to tell you how much I enjoy it. Well, here’s a short story you’ll enjoy. About five weeks ago, I was contacted by some of my friends at the Toledo Jeep Plant asking if I could help them find a donor Willys Jeep that could be turned into a Memorial Replica for a Veterans display at the Plant. After accepting the challenge, since they wanted it completed for Memorial Day weekend, I scoured your website for potential vehicles and since we were operating on a small budget it was pretty tough.
When I spotted a 42 Willys in Texas with an asking price of $995, the folks at the Plant immediately jumped on it. The seller was so impressed with the intended purpose that he offered to deliver it to the plant in return for a Plant Tour and a couple of Tee-shirts. We rec’d the Willys at the Plant on May, 10th and the mechanics, body and paint crews went to work immediately.
The Jeep workers and the current Plant Management really got behind the project and gave it their full support. Special kudos to the team from Jeep that pulled of the restoration in such a short time. Finding the donor Willys was a first step and this would not have happened without your ewillys site. Thanks for all your effort to sustain the Willys Jeep heritage.”
You can read more about the event in the Toledo Blade:
http://www.toledoblade.com/Automotive/2014/05/24/WWII-vehicle-made-here-marks-holiday.html
Belgian Army Photos from Charles
Charles shared these photos.
Flat-Drawn 3D Willys MB
This video is fun to watch!
1944 Willys Overland Annual Report
Here are a couple pages from the 1944 Willys Overland Annual Report. I thought their inclusion of the Willys engine as an independent product was very interesting. As you can see they really thought there was a big market for it.
It’s just amazing how large the plant was and how little is left.
**SCAM** Bantam BRC-40
Here’s a scam I didn’t know about. The ad was pretty convincing, because the ad title “Old jeep army navy usmc” was so poorly written in terms of keywords. The seller acts as if they don’t really know what they have.
Honestly, I thought I’d scored big. However, I had enough sense to email Josh and he deflated my bubble gently. Oh well, I’ll keep searching . . .
There’s a discussion about this at G503: http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=334790
Paul Berry’s Presentation from the Willys Midwest Reunion
Bob just posted Paul Berry’s keynote speech from the 2014 Spring Midwest Willys Reunion. For those that don’t know, Paul Berry operates Willys America. The presentation lasts fifty minutes and covers some of the lesser known Willys/Jeep service vehicles.
1957 Photo of Navy lifting Jeep
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
As late as 1957 they were still using/moving MBs.
“1951 USS Cabot LIFTING Jeep ship Press Photo 65”
1957 Photo of Half Safe at Shenya, AK on eBay
Here’s an original press photo of Half-Safe landing in Shenya, AK, on July 9, 1957.
Photo of Boy on Jeep on eBay