Old News Articles Research Archives

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Runnels-Wiggins Dealer Ads Feb. 1948 – Apr. 1948

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

UPDATE: The March 19, 1948, ad art was later used for this 1949 CJ-3A brochure.

The firm of Caver-Wiggins advertised jeeps for sale in the Pascagoula, Mississippi, Chronicle Star newspaper from July 1946 to November 1947.

In October of 1947, the Caver-Wiggins corporate charter was changed and the firm renamed to Runnels-Wiggins, with Julius Wiggins and Davage Runnels taking control of the entity.

In November of 1947, a week after the final Caver-Wiggins jeep ad, Runnel-Wiggins began advertising jeeps in the Chronicle Star. The ads only appear to last through April of 1948. No additional information appeared in the Chronicle Star about Runnel-Wiggins.

Later that year, in December of 1948, Coast Cities Motor Sales announced its status as a new jeep dealer in Pascagoula and began advertising in the Chronicle Star.

Below are some Runnels-Wiggins ads:

November 14, 1947 The Farm Vehicle That Works 12 Months a Year:

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February 06, 1948 Get the Facts and You’ll Get a ‘Jeep’:

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February 13, 1948 Winter Chores are Easier with the Universal ‘Jeep’:

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Caver-Wiggens July 1946 – November 1947

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

Just a few updates today…

Jeep dealer Caver-Wiggins began operations in January of 1946 with three people incorporating the company: W. Ed Wiggins, Julius E. Wiggins, and J. B. Caver. Mr. W. Ed Wiggins was President of Pascagoula’s Rotary Club at the time.

The firm of Caver-Wiggins advertised jeeps for sale in the Pascagoula, Mississippi, Chronicle Star newspaper from July 1946 to November 1947. Caver-Wiggins also advertised Crosley automobiles in October of 1946 and Kaiser Frazier vehicles in November of 1946.

In October of 1947, the Caver-Wiggins corporate charter was changed and the firm renamed to Runnels-Wiggins, with Julius Wiggins and Davage Runnels taking control of the entity.

Subsequently, in February of 1948, Runnel-Wiggins became the Chronicle Star’s main jeep advertiser. Runnels-Wiggins ads began in February of 1948, then stopped in April of 1948.

Later, in December of 1948, Coast Cities Motor Sales would supplant Runnels-Wiggins as the main advertiser.

Below are some Caver-Wiggins ads:

July 05, 1946 Get a ‘Jeep’:

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July 19, 1946 If you have Tough Jobs … and lots of ’em GET A ‘Jeep’:

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March 28, 1947 The Versatile Farm Vehicle: 

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April 25, 1947 Speed Up Work with the Vehicle that Does More Jobs:

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Coast Cities Motor Sales Ads in 1949

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

UPDATE: Some updated information and ads.

Coast Cities Motor Sales announced the opening of the Jeep dealership in a December 10, 1948, article in the Pascagoula, Mississippi, Chronicle Star. Subsequently, for eleven months, from December 1948 through October 1949 they published ads in the same paper.

Later, In May of 1950, a new seller, Jackson County Motor Company, appeared. Perhaps, not coincidently, Jackson County Motors launches on the same highway (HWY 90) as Coast Cities Motor Sales had been located.

Prior to Coast Cities Motors Sales. jeep dealer Caver-Wiggins advertised from July 1946 to November 1947 in the Chronicle Star. Subsequently, in a corporate restructuring, Runnel-Wiggins became the main seller/advertiser. Runnel-Wiggins ran ads from November of 1947 through April of 1948. No additional information appeared in the Chronicle Star about Runnel-Wiggins.

After April, the next Jeep ad for 1948 was the December 10th, 1948 ad by Coast Cities Motors. Whether Coast Cities Motor Sales was related to the previous dealer isn’t clear, as they were located in a different places.

Below are some Coast Cities Motor Sales ad example:

December 17, 1948  & January 07, 1949: Pascagoula’s New Dealer For The World’s Most Useful Vehicles
(The ad shown is actually the January 07 ad. The December 17, 1948, ad has only minor text differences from the January ad. This is a long one-column ad, so it’s been chopped to better fit the page)

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January 14, 1949: Announcing … Another Home for the World’s Most Useful Vehicles

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January 24, 1949: Launch of Coast Cities Motor Sales

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February 11, 1949: One Farm Vehicle You Can Count on in Any Weather

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1953 Articles about Kaiser Buying Willys on the CJ-3B Page

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

Derek put together a great multiple-article look at the Kaiser’s purchase of the Willys assets.

https://cj3b.info/History/KaiserWillys1953.html

Below you’ll find some added some additional info and research as well.

First, my only quibble with one article is that there is the implication that Willys-Overland was humming profitably along. Despite profits, it’s my understanding that the company was dealing with some cash issues, hence why they (especially Ward Canaday) might have been interested in selling. At the time, Canaday controlled Empire Securities, the single largest shareholder in Willys-Overland. For some background on Empire Securities, read this 1946 Fortune article.

In regards to some of the issues raised in the final article of Derek’s the post, Edgar Kaiser addresses some of them in this 1955 Congressional testimony, particularly one reason the company lost money during the first two years.

Here are a few more reports from 1953, organized by the University of Toledo:

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And more from the University of Toledo:

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And, here’s Leslie Gould’s take on Ward Canaday in a March 30, 1953, article:

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1944 Photo of Duffield Intermediate School and Jeep

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

The Duffield Intermediate School was featured in this January 29, 1944, photo in the Detroit Tribune after successfully enough war bonds and stamps to buy a jeep.

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1944 Article w/ Picture of a Jeep Called Buzz Bomb

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

Just one update Sunday, next updates Monday.

This jeep was painted by Pfc. Joseph Chesley, who’s come up with some creative jeep names. This article appeared in the December 22, 1944, issue of the Arizona Blade-Tribune.

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1950 Wagon and Jeepster Ad

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

This April 30, 1950, ad in the Evening Star is another example of Willys-Overland seemingly targeting the same demographic for both vehicles. And that seems to be a reasonable approach. I haven’t investigated how often the company did this in their advertising yet.

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March 1954 Kaiser Willys News

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay. This is a March 1, 1954, issue of Kaiser Willys News (issue #2)

There is some jeep info in the newspaper, but mostly its about the cars.

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1944 Photo & Caption of Model Jeep

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

The June 24, 1944, issue of the Detroit Tribune shared the below caption and photo. I do with the picture is better. I was unable to discover any more about George Carr or the Jeep. Because the text is hard to read, I’ve transcribed it below.

1944-06-24-detroit-trib-jeep-model-george-carr-one-twentieth

YES, YOU’RE WRONG AGAIN!–But you’re correct when you say it’s a Jeep. The model of the famous 1/4 ton Army vehicle Brough two first prizes to Private George Carr, of Des Moines, Iowa, Negro member of a Quartermaster Trucking Company of the 13th Army Air Force at an “Ingenuity Contest” sponsored by the American Red Cross in New Caledonia, South Pacific. About one-twentieth the size of a real Jeep, this model has a hood that raises and latches, real springs, transmission, and rear differential, a windshield which may be raised and lowered, and a steering gear that actually moves the front wheels. (U.S. Army Signal Corps Photo.)

 
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1943 Photo of Joe Louis Driving a Jeep

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

This photo and caption about boxing champ Joe Louis driving a jeep made the Detroit Tribune newspaper on October 02, 1943.

The biographical book Joe Lewis: The Life of a Heavyweight includes a short look (pages 193-196) at his time in the military during WWII. The book explains that he had a unique opportunity to advocate for black troops, due to his substantial connection inside the War Department. He took advantage of his connections to overcome discriminatory practices that he witnessed.

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1943 Photos of Two Named Jeeps

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

This May 02, 1943, article in the Evening Star excerpt shares the news of two newly-named jeeps:  “Al Neale” and “Mount Vernon Spitfire”.

1943-05-02-evening-star-naming-jeeps-lores

 

 
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1943 Article on Jeep-Powered Magnet

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

I am surprised that there was so much scrap on the ground. It sounds like this device could have paid for itself in tires alone. This was published in the August 20, 1943, issue of the Key West Citizen.

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Mechanix Illustrated Magazine: Jiving up the Jeep, Articles 1-4

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

UPDATE: Steve obtained copies of article #2, so now this list is complete!

Nine years ago there was a post about “Jivin up the Jeep”, which referenced a series of articles in Mechanix Illustrated Magazine. At that time, I could only locate articles #3 and #4. Steve Zamell just shared the earliest of the four with me (Thanks!). And, I found a poor image of article #2 So, below you’ll find information about all four articles.

According to the information on this Modern Mechanic Post, the October and November 1946 issues of Modern Mechanic magazine each included an article titled “Jivin up the Jeep” that shares various modifications. Those articles were a big hit across the US, as readers from all over sent in follow up suggestions and ideas. That led to an additional two articles, one in April of 1947 and one in November of 1947. I’ve shown the pictorial portions of the articles below. There’s additional content on the 1947 links.

From October 1946 Part I – A few Jeep ideas:
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From November 1946 Part II – I just bought a cheap issue of this magazine. I’ll update these poor pics found on a current  eBay ad once I receive my copy of the magazine. Looks like this article covers the creation of a custom hardtop:

1946-11-mechanix-illustrating-jivin-jeep1-lores 1946-11-mechanix-illustrating-jivin-jeep2-lores

From April 1947: Custom Tops

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1947 & 1948 Articles about Sam and Julian Kipnis

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

This short article in the January 02, 1948, issue of the Arizona Post featured a photo of this father and son team to “prove” they were in WWII together. There time in WWII did not quite go as planned, but you can read that in the article at the bottom. There’s more on Sam’s life, including his time as South Tucson’s mayor, in the book: What They Saved: Pieces of a Jewish Past.

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Here’s the October 03, 1947, story that led to the photo published above …. (note the next to the last paragraph is cutoff in the original article for some reason; only one line shows “Kipnis are trying to forget … “).

1947-10-03-arizonapost-sam-julian-kipnis

 
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1950 Commentary on the State of Willys-Overland Management

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

1958 Photo of Arthur Gaeth: Source

Arthur Gaeth had a career that ranged from being a pre-WWII LDS missionary and tour conductor in what is now the Czech Republic/Slovakia, to reporting on displaced citizens in Europe. In 1946, he reported on the Nuremberg trials. In 1947, he provided more details on his life during a Senate hearing where he encouraged the loosening of travel restrictions in Europe. He subsequently had his own radio broadcast and Washington Correspondent for the Mutual Broadcasting System. In the 1950s he became the “Voice of the Denver Post” and a News Commentator for Denver’s KBTV News.

The reason for the background information on Arthur Gaeth is that In January of 1950 he delivered a scathing review of Willys-Overland’s management, which was printed out in the January 1, 1950, issue of the Arizona Sun. While there’s likely some exaggerations within, it still provides some interesting tidbits, such as Mahoney’s Technical Services, Incorporated, side deal. Also, if the name Empire Securities isn’t familiar to you, I’d suggest reading this 1946 Fortune article.

1950-01-06-arizona-sun-arthur-gaeth-wo-management-lores

 
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1947 Beaverhead Willys Motors Ad

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

This ad was featured in the Dillon Daily Tribune on May 06,1947.

1947-05-06-dillon-daily-trib-beaverhead-willys-dealer-ad

 
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1945 Article on the Peace Time Jeep

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

This July 25, 1945, article in the Dillon Examiner highlighted the newly released CJ-2A.

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1943 Image of Wounded on Jeep

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

This 1943 image shows a crowd gathered around a jeep as it carries a wounded American. There are several articles about the war with Japan in this August 23, 1943, issue of the Daily Illini, but what caught me by surprise was Northwest Airlines’ attempt to secure a direct air route from Alaska to Tokyo even almost two years before the war eventually ended, as if we weren’t at war with Japan! Talk about advanced planning. 
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1943 Article on the Future of the Jeep

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

UPDATE: Barry explores this topic (future of the jeep) more on his Farmjeep site: https://www.farmjeep.com/2020/01/14/who-would-want-a-jeep-predictions-from-1943-and-1944/

This article on the future of the jeep was published in The Daily Illini on February 14, 1943.

1943-02-14-the-illini-newspaper-jeeps-future

 
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Jeep Hit By Train

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

This February 2, 1951, photo in the Sycamore Tribune was front page news and highlighted the effects of a train hitting a jeep. I wish the photo quality was better.

1951-02-02-jeep-hit-by-train

 
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1945 Article on Mobile Welding Jeep

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

This article from the March 28, 1945, issue of the Farmers’ Weekly Review highlights the mobile welding capabilities of the wartime jeep. The article also notes that the Army tested the jeep on a 500-mile obstacle course before approving it.

1945-03-23-farmers-weekly-review-welding-on-wheels

Welding Shop on Wheels Is Big Help
Emergency Repairs Made on Field of Battle .

NEW YORK . — A highly mobile welding shop on wheels that can traverse ground which proved impassable to most previous maintenance vehicles has been developed by General Electric, in cooperation with army engineers, to enable emergency repairs of damaged war equipment to be made right on the field of battle, the company disclosed . Consisting of a standard army jeep bearing a specially perfected G-E arc welder, this mobile repair shop, according tc army reports , has proved invaluable in helping to keep front line equipment in fighting condition. In weight the G-E welder jeep is equivalent to a one-quarter ton truck, whereas the equipment it replaced consisted of a five-ton truck towing a one and one-half ton welding trailer. This weight reduction, plus the jeep s great maneuverability, enables the vehicle to readily negotiate rugged or muddy ground where larger and heavier trucks broke down. When desired for use in air borne operations it can also be loaded aboard a transport plane

Power to operate the welding unit is obtained by means of a V-belt which is connected to the engine of the jeep. As soon as the vehicle is brought to a stop the unit can be put in use. Proper engine speed is maintained by a governor, quickly disengaged to permit normal operation of the jeep. The welding unit is installed in place of the right front seat of the jeep, allowing the vehicle to carry a crew of three -men comfortably. Before accepting the welder jeep for service the army subjected it to rigid tests on a 500-mile obstacle course, the same course on which combat tanks are tested, and it came through with flying colors .”

 
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1948 Jeep Ad from A. B. Clothier & Son

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

This ad appeared in the February 20, 1948, issue of the Oxford Leader, out of Oxford, Michigan.

1948-02-20-oxford-leader-ab-clothier-and-son-jeep-ad

 
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1943 Article Of Jeep Purchase By School Kids

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

Seattle’s St. Joseph Boy’s School and St. Joseph’s Academy worked together to buy a $900 jeep for the military.

https://washingtondigitalnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=CATHNWP19430115.2.20

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“A JEEP, valued at $900, was a gift to Uncle Sam, from students of St. Joseph’s Academy and St. Joseph’s Boys’ school. War stamps and bonds purchased by the boys and girls at their own school booths within a two-week period paid for the jeep. Purchasers wore tags, the girls bearing the likeness of General MacArthur and the inscription: “He’s Fighting—l’m Buying,” and the boys’ tags bore a gold V and distinguished star of various colors.

Bond buyers pictured from left to right with the jeep in front of the academy, are: Sergeant Dauer, Theresa Gamache, Lorraine Brule, Mary Ellen Chott, John Kerkem, William Himmelsbach and Patricia. Others were Francis Rooney, Claude Clifford, Laon Deymonaz, William Bischoff, Willetta Hofmeister, Donald Brule and nd Donna Gamache.”

 
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1950 Photo of “Bringing Up Father”

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

The December 22, 1950, issue of the Catholic Northwest Progress reported that Father (Major) Lawrence E. Ryan’s jeep was named “Bringing Up Father”.

1950-11-22-catholic-northwest-progress-bringing-up-father-jeep

Chaplain’s Jeep Has Perfect Name

HAMHUNG, North Korea—Father (Major) Lawrence E. Ryan of Troy, N.Y.. (right), chaplain attached to the U.S. Third Infantry Division. could not have found a more appropriate title for his jeep. Here Father Ryan is shown talking to Pfc. Pedro Marti Arguinzone of Cavey, Puerto Rico, while using the jeep’s hood for a desk—(Religions News Service Photo.)”

 
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1943 Buenos Aires Motor Magazine

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

The June 1943 issue of Motor Magazine out of Buenos Aires, Argentina, featured this introduction to the jeep on its front page. I snagged this copy off of eBay in December and it finally arrived. The 24-page magazine printed on newspaper covers a wide range of automotive subjects, most far above my rudimentary Spanish. I’m pretty surprised any of these survived!

Here are the first two pages (the only two that included the jeep as far as I could tell):

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Also included in the magazine was this ad(?) featuring a jeep.

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