The February 1957 issue of Science and Mechanics introduced readers to the FC-150 with this short article.
Features Research Archives
Canfield Tow Company Wrecker Mailers & Documents
UPDATE: Mike shared some additional Canfield information, which I’ve added to this post.
1. Mike’s Canfield Wrecker Mailer Postcard. 8 x 9 Folded , 11 x 9 Unfolded. This is the outside back and front. Note the Overload Springs and Push-Plates (aka Push-Bumpers), which Canfield marketed for years (Koenig also had push plates/bumpers, but with slots for a winch).
This inner portion allowed recipients to resend the postcard back to Canfield for more information.
2. Canfield Wrecker Mailer Postcard from eBay. These images came from eBay and don’t show the whole card. From the eBay ad: “original Postcard, 8.5 x 5.5, Canfield Tow Truck Equipment.”
3. Additional Canfield information. Mike provided these bulleltins about how to sell the Canfield wrecker to prospects. These first two pages deal with incentives for Jeep dealers for installing Canfield wreckers.
1944 Photo of Jeeps in Mud Advancing on Germany
This photo of a couple jeep maneuvering through mud and over a series of logs was published in the October 14, 1944, issue of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Western JEEP Toy Ads on eBay
UPDATE: Here are three Western JEEP toy ads on eBay.
1. This ad appeared in the May 1946 issue of Toys and Novelties. It looks to be an early ad for the Western Jeep. I didn’t realize it was manufactured out of Seattle.
2. This ad appeared in the Playthings Magazine in September of 1946. It announced that the Western Jeep had proven too popular and was sold out. There was a kiddie ride called the Western Jeep that look like it used this style of jeep (see post below this one).
View all the information on eBay
3. This ad appeared most likely in a 1946 issue of Toys and Novelties. The seller of this ad is purposefully obscuring the date and magazine, so it isn’t clear whether when this ad was published.
View all the information on ebay
4. This ad appears in a 1947 magazine, probably Toys and Novelties. It announced a new low price (though the price of the ad on eBay is anything but low):
Coast Guard’s Miracle Jeep aka Invader Jeep
The Coast Guard’s “Invader Jeep” (with photos here and photos/article/film here) was apparently also called the “Miracle Jeep”. The designer was Chief Petty Officer Charles D. Benjamin.
For starters, this short news reel clip has a reference to it in the Descriptive Log as a Miracle Jeep: https://www.historicfilms.com/tapes/14555_1773.97_1798 . Here’s a screen shot:
The March 18, 1944, issue of the Dayton Herald refers to the Coast Guard Super jeep as a “Miracle Jeep” as well:
The June 25, 1944, issue of the Indianapolis Star also refers to the jeep as the “Miracle Jeep”.