This April of 1946 article in Popular science highlighted the steering mechanism used on the four wheel steel “Circus” jeeps.
Popular-Science Research Archives
Custom Built Woody on Jeep Chassis
The February 1948 issue of Popular Science included a small blurb about this custom wood jeep out of Seattle built on a WW2 chassis.
1944 Article on Tandem Towing in Popular Science
A December 1944 article in Popular Science highlights tandem towing:
1942 Popular Mechanics “Miracle on Wheels”
This November 1942 article from Popular Mechanics titled “Miracle on Wheels” featured the jeep and shared some of the success stories from its use internationally. You can read the entire issue on Google or purchase a cheap copy off of eBay
Love Tractor and Hydraulic Lift System
Speaking of Hydraulic Lifts, the Love Tractor Company (or perhaps more accurately Love Industries — I’m not clear on the difference) made a lift and also sold a willys-engine powered tractor.
According to the Standard Catalog of Farm Tractors 1890-1980, by C.H. Wendel, Love Tractor offered model J51 that was built around a Willys CJ-2A engine. This may have been a repurposed Empire Tractor, because at least one source suggests Love purchased eighteen Empire Tractors when Empire dissolved. Anyone know more about the ‘Willys’ Love Tractor?
Love Tractor also created a hydraulic three-point lift system. At CJ3a.info is a page devoted to the lift. At the Farm Jeep site is a scan of the brochure.
The February 1947 issue of Popular Science has an article on the Love Hydraulic Lift System distributed by Newgren.
There is also an article about the Love system and Newgren in a 1949 issue of Farm implement news – Volume 70 – Page 56.
Leaping Lena Article from Popular Science
David Silberman pointed out the ‘Leaping Lena’ article from the October 1941 issue of Popular Science (I thought I’d purchased this issue to scan, but apparently I didn’t do that). It’s an interesting review of the prototype jeeps. You also can view the entire issue on Google.
The Odograph: A Robot Mapper
An article about the Odograph was published in the December, 1944, issue of Popular Science. At 200 pounds, the Odograph auto-created maps as soldiers navigated towards some objective. I couldn’t locate any records that indicate how many were made (anyone know), but there it appears there are nine jeeps that still have them (based on the latest info I could find). I found a few different references about it over at G503.
1. G503.com Message Forums • View topic – JEEP MOUNTED ODOGRAPH
2. G503.com Message Forums • View topic – Odograph survey
3. 1944 Willys MB Unrestored Odograph Jeep – g503 …
Here’s a photograph of a diagram from an Australia site:
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=28&g2_itemId=75011
Here’s a copy of the Popular Science Magazine on eBay:
View all the information on ebay
Jeep Sweep in Popular Science
The December 1949 issue of Popular Science highlighted this unique attachment for the jeep. You can view this article on Google books.
Jeep with 2000-Watt Searchlight for Border Patrol
The July 1956 Popular Science article doesn’t indicate which country ordered this special search light, but this mobile, self-contained spotlight put out some serious light.
June 1943 Popular Science “This Jeep Can Swim” Article
Popular Science published a January 1943 article with a variety of GPA / SEEP pictures, including a nice breakdown of the dashboard (handy for my description of a seep dashboard in my upcoming book).