The models covered in the pages below are the Koenig Standard Hardtops 530 Full and 53 Half for the CJ-5 and Models 630 Full and 535 Half with adapters No. 3863 for CJ-6 Jeeps.
Documents Research Archives
Koenig Super Cab Hardtop Instructions 550/650 and 555
The models covered in the pages below are the Koenig Super Cabs 550 Full and 555 Half for the CJ-5 and Models 650 Full and 555 Half with adapters No. 3863 for CJ-6 Jeeps.
Rotabuggy Test Documents on eBay
It seems a shame that these documents are released for public consumption. The price on these is quite high. It looks like the earliest tests on the theory of the Rotabuggy occurred in August of 1941, which is earlier than I would have thought.
View all the information on eBay
“1941 to 1944 – Original RAF confidential and restricted file of the most bizarre World War II invention, a “flying jeep”, which became known as “Hafner Rotabbugy”, or “Hafner Gyroplane” in honour of his chief inventor Raoul Hafner (1905-1980), Austrian born British helicopter pioneer and engineer, known for his major contributions to the aerospace industry.”
1956 Patent for Endless Track Vehicle
This patent application used a jeep to demonstrated how the endless track system would work on a vehicle not designed specifically for tracks. The patent was filed January 13, 1955.
According to inventor Fritz Riemerschmid, “Numerous constructions of the track! laying or crawler type have heretofore been proposed, but in all of these known cases special-type vehicles are involved, the construction of which either prohibits or renders extremely difficult the use of the vehicle under normal road and travel conditions.
Accordingly it is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a crawler-type tracklaying undercarriage for automotive vehicles which, while being particularly suitable for travel over snow-covered terrain, can be quickly and easily substituted for the standard wheels of the vehicle. It is another object of the invention to provide a construction of the type indicated in which, except for the removal of the said standard wheels from the vehicle, requires no structural changes to be made in a given vehicle. Thus, the invention renders it possible, whenever it may be desired, to provide an automotive vehicle of any given type with a tracklaying mechanism which takes the place of the standard wheels on which the said vehicle normally travels.”
Break-in Instructions for a 1961 Wagon
Frank shared this pic of instructions that accompanied his 1961 wagon.
He wrote, “Thought you might find this interesting. It is the sleeve that came on the visor of my 61 Wagon. When I bought it it had 32,000 miles and now 42,000. The jack was wrapped in a newspaper dated 1961.”
Portable Derrick Crane Patent
Henry F Illies filed a patent for a portable derrick crane that could fit over a jeep on September 26, 1947.
“This invention relates to a derrick crane adapted to be mounted on a small motor vehicle and while adapted generally for supporting, raising and lowering or conveying heavy objects is especially adapted to provide a support for an’– auger such as is employed for digging post holes and by means of which the auger may be adjusta- -bly supported with respect to the vehicle, lowered gradually as it advances into the ground,”
1955 Barbed Wire Distribution Patent
A patent for the distribution of barbed metal band from a short wheel base vehicle, preferably a jeep or jeep-like vehicle, was filed in 1955 by the Acme Steel Company.
“The purpose of the present invention is to provide novel apparatus by which barbed metal band may be formed in a continuous process and distributed as it is formed in the place and arrangement in which it is to be used. A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for distributing barbed metal band according to a prearranged plan and supporting it in the arrangement in which it is distributed. Another object is to provide portable apparatus having means for forming barbed metal band from a supply of fiat strip ma terial and for distributing the barbed band and arranging it during the travel of the apparatus. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.”
The 1954 Power Tower Patent
This April 12, 1954, Power Tower patent filing by Wallace Johnson and Robert Fisher was said to be designed for other vehicles besides the jeep, but given it’s length, it’s hard to imagine it would work on anything that wasn’t flat like the top of the jeep.
Here’s a description: The present invention relates to a power tower for use by workmen employed as painters, electrical fixture repairrnen, aircraft maintenance men, window washers, and a multitude of similar occupations wherein it is necessary toperform a task at some distance above the ground and thus ordinarily require the use of ladders or scaffolding of some type. More particularly, the invention relates to a workmans platform supported by a collapsible tower structure which in turn is mounted on a wheeled vehicle.
1952 Test of an Auto Transmission in an M-38A1 on ebay
UPDATE: Still Available (and still the same $1999.99 price).
In the March 2015 Inaugural issue of The Dispatcher Magazine, Bob Westerman wrote an article about Willys-Overland’s test of an Allison Transmission in an M-38 and the failure of that transmission to meet the needs of the military. The document below depicts WO’s effort to follow up that test with a second test, using M-38A1s and a slightly more robust automatic transmission. though improved, this transmission still did not meet the needs of the military, as the below report highlights.
Harold Spieth’s Smooth Driving Booklet on eBay
Harold Spieth was President and Chairman of the Board of Willys-Overland Motors when he wrote this booklet. It includes an illustration with a small Willys Wagon.
View all the information on eBay
“Condition: Excellent
Factory Original: Yes
# of pages: 1
Other info: Measures 5″ x 7″…………………SCARCE!
FREE SHIPPING with 3 or more Brochure purchases-”