UPDATE: Check out Richard’s Sterling Trailer here.

Most of us are familiar with the post WWII trailers like the Bantam & Spen trailers, but one most people don’t know about is the Sterling trailer built in Canada by the Sterling Machine and Manufacturing Company. I *think* the company was located in Hobart, Ontariorioon the isthmus between Georgian Bay to the north and Simcoe Lake to the south.

Only a handful of these trailers have been photographed. The topic came to my attention thanks to Glenn, who spotted a Kijiji ad in a CJ-2A Page thread for the trailer.  It appears to be the 2nd production model made. Here’s the info:

Vintage 1947 Willys Jeep trailer:
“This is a unique item if you are into old Jeeps. It is serial number 2!!! It was built in 1947 by Sterling Machine in Owen Sound, Ontario for Willys Jeep. The serial number plate is original untouched and shows it as number 2. 

A little research into Sterling is they produced Civilian and civil service equipment for Jeep, and much of their business was concentrated on fire service. It appears this trailer may have originally been painted red, so it may have been sold as fire dept. equipment. 

This trailer is in need of restoration, but is still usable. Up until recently it was used as a utility trailer by my father-in-law. Lots of surface rust, but structurally it is still very restorable.“

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cargo-utility-trailer/vernon/vintage-1947-willys-jeep-trailer/589378033?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

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The best threads about this trailer are at the early CJ-5 site and at the IH8Mud site. One of the big differences between the early trailer above and the later trailer are the fenders, which change from  the extended type shown above to the more bantam-like fenders. Here’s an example:

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This is a vintage photo of a Sterling Trailer that appeared on Facebook.

Sterling Machine didn’t only do trailers. The CJ-3B page highlights there production of Fire Jeeps: http://cj3b.info/Fire/FireCJ2A.html

Sterling also received a Canadian patent for “Sawing attachment for jeeps and tractors” in 1951: http://books.google.com/books?id=KCoSAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Sterling+Machine%22+jeep&dq=%22Sterling+Machine%22+jeep&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8vxnU4CnD43GoASmuYDwDA&ved=0CEYQ6AEwAA

Finally, it appears George Hindman owned/controlled/bought Sterling Machine. His grandson Paul Evans mentions Sterling building ‘fire trucks’ there. http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/2011/04/17/new-exhibit-honours-hindman-ships

So, if anyone has more insight into Sterling Machine and Manufacturing, please let me know.