Author Archives: deilers

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The “Very Mobile” Bath and Laundry Unit

December 8, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Unusual This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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(Originally Posted October 21, 2010): It’s easy to forget about the logistical challenges faced by the military to cover simple needs of the military. Showering in the field is one such example. A New Zealand-focused site has a page on the history of mobile laundry and baths from 1914-1990. Canada also had similar mobile services. How frequently such services actually appeared in the field is less clear to me, especially given the lack of photos of this equipment.

Back in 2010 I came upon the model below, which appeared on a new defunct website. The site showed how the builder created the model mobile bath.

The builder, Dave, had based his model on the picture below. In his post, he notes that the Jeep “was stationed in  Germany in 1945 with the 2nd Battalion, The Kensingtons, 49th Division, Transport Centre, Iserlohn, Ruhr“.

This 1954 example out of France shows a mobile laundry unit of some type. This photo (page from book?) is for sale on eBay. The auction title is “Jeep transport laundry collective”.

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December 1942 at Camp Hale in Colorado … Brrr

December 3, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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This article from the December 30, 1942, issue of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram shares a press photo that has been available on eBay a couple times. Camp Hale was located just north of Leadville. It sat at 9500 felt and must have been a difficult place to train (cold + high altitude .. even the USO didn’t go there). The camp was only active until 1945.

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UPDATE Posted Feb 14, 2018: Here’s the same photo with nearly the same caption on eBay. The one shown at the bottom of the post was for sale on eBay in 2015.

“1942 Press Photo Soldiers driving jeeps through snow at Camp Hale, Colorado.
This is an original press photo. Snow jeeps—Parka-clad soldiers whip howitizer-carrying jeeps through unbroken snow at Camp Hale, high in the Colorado Rockies. The pack artillery of the Camp Hale mountain troops use the rugged little jeeps to carry dismantled sections of 75 millimeter howitzers until the going is so rough that mules have to take over (United States) (Wars) (World War II) (Camp Hale, Colorado) (Mountain troops) Photo measures 9.25 x 7 inches. Photo is dated 12-23-1942.”

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Original Post May 2, 2015: “1942 WWII Parka Clad Soldiers In Jeeps Camp Hale Colorado Press Photo”

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The Mufflermobile Fredericton, NB, Canada **SOLD**

November 27, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features, Unusual This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE II: If you thought this was the only vehicle to be built in a muffler shape, think again. One Art Car website has pics of a variety of muffler-themed vehicles:

http://artcarcentral.com/muffler-mobiles-and-the-muffler-shops-that-made-them/

That site also had an additional photo of the yellow muffler mobile built on a CJ-2A body, which had been posted to Flickr:

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Originally posted September 03, 2012:  Like the Oscar Meyer Mobile (on a FC), this is built on a jeep platform (CJ-2A). This sold on eBay in 2012.

“The Mufflermobile! What is The Mufflermobile? It’s a fully-functional four wheel drive 1948 Willys Jeep CJ2A that’s licensed for the road. The body has been replaced with a custom made wood framed, aluminum skinned replica of a muffler that’s 8 feet high and 11 feet long. This is the most unique advertising vehicle since the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile!

Purchase The Mufflermobile, wrap it with your company’s advertising message, park it around town or show it off at different events, and people will come to your business just to tell you that they saw it! They’ll tell their friends about it; they’ll post pictures of it on facebook and twitter. They will promote your business for you! You can’t buy advertising like that! Oh wait, yes you can! Bid to win or Buy It Now!

The Mufflermobile is located in the Fredericton, NB area and is being sold as-is, where-is, no warranty expressed or implied. It is, after all, a 64 year old muffler.”

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1941 Photo of Edsel Ford in Ford GP Press Day

November 16, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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These series of photos show Edsel Ford riding in a “Blitz Buggy”, which we now know as a Ford GP. Note that there’s no reference to the “Ford GP” in any text.

This photo appeared in several newspaper, including the April 11, 1941, issue of the Sikeston Standard out of Missouri.

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Originally published Nov 11, 2014: This photo includes Edsel Ford and was shot at the same event this video was taken.

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Originally published July 12, 2017: The original press photo that appeared in the newspaper at the bottom of this post.

“1941- Edsel Ford, in rear seat, and Brig. Gen. Charles Bonesteel go for a ride in the first Ford GP prototype jeep delivered to the U.S. Army after it rolled off the assembly line at the Ford River Rouge factory in Dearborn, Michigan. Photo measures approx. 7″ x 9″”

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Original posted 06/30/2016:
This photo and caption were published in the March 7, 1941, issue of the Owosso Argus Press. No article accompanied it.

1941-03-07-owosso-argus-press-ford-gp-edsel-ford

 

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Kent Frost – A Man of Canyonlands

November 11, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Books, Features, Old Images Jeeping, videos, Willys Wagons • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE: I’ve added two newspaper photos to this post about Kent. One shows him signing copies of his autobiography. The other depicts him with a huge walking stick, one I’m sure could come in handy while exploring ‘his’ beloved canyons.

Even today, Kent’s shadow looms large over the area. Just this last week the Moab Museum screened the “My Canyonlands” film about him.

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June 17, 1971, The San Juan Record: Kent Frost signing books.

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February 11, 2004, The San Juan Record: Kent Frost holding a walking stick.

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Originally published April 1, 2013:


(Above: Kent Frost on the front of his CJ-5 probably helping the driver negotiate an awkward angle)

(Originally Published April 2011) Without a doubt, my favorite part about running this website are the unexpected, interesting people to whom I’m introduced (if only virtually).  One of those people is Kent Frost, a product of the Four Corners area and whom we caught glimpses of in Alan’s color photos of the 1961 Four Corners trip.

Doug commented on one of the Four Corner posts that he had read a book by Kent Frost called “My Canyonlands”, published in 1971. I’m very happy that Doug mentioned the book, because I ordered it and have enjoyed it immensely.  Kent describes all kinds of adventures and early trips into remote areas of the four corners region.  He loved to explore and hike, later jeep and river run, and that remote area has given him a lifetime of experiences.

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1946 Showa, Japan, Army Air Base Photos

October 27, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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This photo and caption out of the February 11, 1946, issue of the Herald-Journal (Logan, Utah), shows the press photo that was for sale on eBay back in 2013.

1946-02-11-hearald-journal-logan-utah-jeeps-go-sissy-japan-lores

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Originally Published September 18, 2013:  According to the attached information, these jeeps were winterized with left over Japanese transport plane materials.

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This 1946 photo was also available in 2013. It too was taken at a Japanese airbase, but it’s unclear to me if it is the Showa airbase or not.

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This press photo was taken in 1946 in Showa as well.

“This is an original press photo. Instead of manufacturing cargo planes for Japanese use, this assembly line is making US Jeeps fit for winter use. Japanese stocks of aluminum, plexiglass, rivets, iron rods and fabric are being fitted to jeep use. Photo measures 9.25 x 7 inches. Photo is dated 2-6-1946.”

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1958 Photo of the FC Leveloder

October 12, 2020 • CATEGORIES: FC150-FC170-M677, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE: This press photo was sold back in 2013. The image has been recently circulating on Facebook, but without the description (though as Mike pointed out to me, it is a brief description).

Marc forwarded this rare photo of a unique FC.

“This is an old Chicago Sun-Times staff photo of the very unique Thompson Jeep Leveloader Truck in Action. See the Scans. Measures 8″ x 10″.”

1958-fc-leveloader-hyrdraulic1The company also built a leveloder out of a Chevrolet truck. This brochure is on Amazon. This brochure better shows on the truck can shift from being level with a loading dock to being level with a sidewalk.

 chev-truck-leveloder

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RLT Development’s Husky R.V. Jeep Kit

September 28, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features, Unique Jeeps, Unusual • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE III: Robert’s RLT Husky

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UPDATE II:  Ray sent some pics of a Husky he built in 1992. (Also, if you are in the UK, I know of a Husky kit jeep for sale in Jersey)

Ray built this RLT Husky R.V. atop a Ford Escort MK2 chassis. It took Ray 2 years to build his rig. He combined the kit with original parts. As you can see, it is one of the more authentic looking Husky-jeeps built from the kit. Ray sold his RLT Husky in 1995.

ray-rv-kit2 ray-rv-kit1

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Originally posted August of 2013:

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Sometimes called the Husky R.V. or the R.L.T. Husky, this Jeep Kit was sold out of the UK and used atop a Ford Taurus or Ford Escort Mark IV (and other cars?). It was available for an unknown period during the 1980s and 1990s.

“R.V. – Rugged and Versatile aptly describes these tough, reliable and inexpensive all-weather vehicles. The unique exterior MDF body combines great strength with structural rigidity and will not rust, crack, craze or splinter, yet is easy to repair.

The sturdy steel chassis, with substantial (de)fenders front & rear, is built for long life, stability and to cope with rugged conditions. Seating can vary from 2 fronts with a rear load space, which can be fitted with forward, rearward or inward facing rear seats, accessed via a ‘walk-thru’ from the front can be accommodated by simple modification to the cutting and assembly process, or the rear zip up rear hood window, with or without the optional opening tailgate

Fold-flat windscreen. Ford front engine/RWD ensures safe predictable handling, amazing traction and reliable mechanics. Nimble as an Escort, the HUSKY turns tighter than a London Taxi and yet provides a comfortable ride even over rough terrain. Safety options include a hefty Roll Bar, front Nudge Bar and chassis mounted Side Impact bars/steps”

Some pictures:

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escort-mk2-husky-kit

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IMAGE LINKS:  Use these links to see the above large res images here, here, here, and here.

http://www.locust.org.uk/about/brochures/wrv/page2.html

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