G503 Halftrack Data DISCUSSION (serial numbers, etc.)

Tracked, Halftrack, etc... Military Vehicles, Wanted, For Sale (NO AUCTION or EBAY), and Knowledge Base

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wadefreedomvehicles
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by wadefreedomvehicles » Sun Mar 25, 2018 9:12 am

Hey. I got two Half tracks now. Here is information for one of them(I can't upload pics but will relay all info):
CAR HALF TRACK M2A1
WAS CAR HALF TRACK M2
ORDNANCE DEPT. US ARMY
CONVERTED BY THE ORDNANCE DEPT.
MFGRS. SERIAL NO. 230526 FT CROOK
ORD. SERIAL NO. 1244 1 6 45

Next Half Track:
CARRIER PERSONNEL, HALF-TRACK, M3A1
ORDNANCE DEPT. U.S. ARMY
MFD. BY DIAMOND T MOTOR CAR CO
MFRS. SERIAL NO. M3A10067W
ORD. SERIAL NO. 24897


Kevin Lockwood
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by Kevin Lockwood » Mon Mar 26, 2018 12:29 pm

Posted 3 new Half-Trac survivors.
230526 White M2A1 was M2
M3A10067W Dia T M3A1
M3A1-48121 ACC M3A1 was M3-75 GMC
Thanks for the info!
42 Ford GPW
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked

44M16track
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by 44M16track » Fri Mar 30, 2018 6:06 am

Hi All,
Here is the Restored pictures of M16 S/N 294619: All we need is the rear piece of fold down armor :cry:
I have been perplexed about the hood numbers, and I have not been able to find any stamps or other such markings anywhere- however I found something interesting in the database: My S/N is listed in the database, without correct hood number, however my current hood number (4050512) is listed above this in the database, with a 2279* next to it- and it also is listed as coming from NY. This could have been a number the previous owner found that we did not know about :shock:
Thanks Gents,
Matt Seeley
Attachments
22519157_1341874435921213_143599591189069063_n.jpg
22519157_1341874435921213_143599591189069063_n.jpg (103.19 KiB) Viewed 4452 times
1944 M16 MGMC
1941 M3A1 SC
1944 Ford GTB
1942 Ford GPW
1943 Ford GPW
1943 WLA
1943 M3A1 37mm ATG
1942 Bantam T-3

Kevin Lockwood
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by Kevin Lockwood » Fri Mar 30, 2018 6:31 am

Matt,
What a great track!
I believe the hood may have been off another earlier M16 halfrack but would love to hear if Joe D has uncovered any additional archival info relating to the last PO for M16 production of which your frame number appears to be part of.
42 Ford GPW
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked

Joe DeMarco
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by Joe DeMarco » Sat Mar 31, 2018 4:20 pm

Hi Matt & Kevin

A fellow in NY had posted earlier that he had White MFR's No. 294619, & that the US Army Registration Number was 4050512.
There was no dataplate, so no known Ordnance Serial Number, & not sure where he said he found the Reg. Number (painted on, stamped on??).
IIRC, we might have told him that USA 4050512 would have been Ord SN 2279, so that would have been mathematically derived & not info that was culled off the track.
The White MFR's Nos. in the 2946XX range appear to be the highest that have been reported, & 294619 seems a bit too high to correspond with USA 4050512. Others within that range had White Numbers of 27XXXX & 28XXXX.
Quite frankly, I'm not sure how useful the White Numbers are for chronology, but just a guess that the 2946XX M16s would have been some of the last, & would have been accepted in the first 3 months of 1944. Not sure about the Ord. Serial Numbers, but I think the Registration Numbers for the last 178 new production M16s ran from USA 40122706 thru USA 40122883.
So far there has been only one confirmation that this may be a valid range, as Steve in Ca. reported he had USA 40122820 (stamped on) & a White Number of 294627, but no dataplate, so no Ord SN known. Anyway, you would think that 294619 would have a USA Number close to what Steve reported...


Joe

44M16track
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by 44M16track » Tue Apr 17, 2018 9:06 am

Hi Joe,
You are correct about the gentleman posting about the Serial Number, that was the previous owner. He actually pulled the hood numbers when he was first restoring S/N 294619 back in the 1990's. Unfortunately, like you said, we have no data plate, and no other stampings that I can find, so it looks like I will have to do some more digging to discover what her hood number is in that batch of numbers that you gave! It definitely is an interesting dig..
Thanks a million,
Matt
1944 M16 MGMC
1941 M3A1 SC
1944 Ford GTB
1942 Ford GPW
1943 Ford GPW
1943 WLA
1943 M3A1 37mm ATG
1942 Bantam T-3

TimG102
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by TimG102 » Mon Apr 30, 2018 4:58 pm

I am interested in knowing more about this frame number. Manufacturer, Year, Hood number?
M3A1 27739
43 Autocar M3 was M15A1 halftrack

Kevin Lockwood
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by Kevin Lockwood » Sat May 05, 2018 7:35 am

Tim
M3A1-27739
Manuf: Autocar
Date: Fall 43
Hood: 4066000
Not a lot of info to base the hood number on. Perhaps Joe M. can provide some additional confirmation on the PO this M3A1 was part of?
Is this a roller model?
I have added it to the master list on Pg.1 of this thread.
42 Ford GPW
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked

clintm20
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by clintm20 » Sat May 05, 2018 7:41 am

.
Last edited by clintm20 on Sun May 06, 2018 3:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Green Trucks and High Tides Forever

Diamond T M3 Half-track Serial # M32971 USA 4045956
Autocar M3A1 Half-track Serial # M3A1-47825 USA 4053835
Autocar M16A1 Half-track Serial # M15A1-1945 USA 40150662

TimG102
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by TimG102 » Sun May 06, 2018 7:54 am

M3A1-27739

It does not have the original data plate. Some body put a White M16 plate on it. I believe its an Israeli return with the typical add-ons. Like on side window armor and rear body. Its a winch model that appears to be original. I don't know a lot of back history on it. I will look to see if I can locate any other stamping's.
43 Autocar M3 was M15A1 halftrack

Joe DeMarco
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by Joe DeMarco » Mon May 07, 2018 11:09 am

Hi Gents

Is it for certain that this one has M3A1-27739 stamped on the frame?
If so, Autocar only made 300 new production M3A1s, & all were accepted in October, 1943.
So at least you have the month of production.
The reason I asked if you were sure about the numbers is that this would have been part of the last Autocar M3/M3A1 Production Order T-4661.
According to the Summary Report of Acceptances, it was for 989 M3s & 300 M3A1s.
It looks like it started at Serial Number 26941/USA 4065202 & ended at Serial Number 28229/USA 4066490. (Key Number 4038261).
M3 production on this P.O. would have started in July & ended in Sept. 1943.
I would have thought the M3s would have been assigned SNs 26941 thru 27929 (989 units), and then the 300 M3A1s would have begun at SN 27930 & ended at SN 28229.
So if yours is an M3A1 with SN 27739 (not 27939?), it suggests that although the M3A1s were built the month after M3 production had ceased, the Serial Numbers were mixed in?
Anyway, this stuff has a way of keeping you guessing.

Tim you said it had an M16 dataplate in there?
Could it have been converted to M16A1?
What is the info on the dataplate? (Might as well record it).

Joe DeMarco

Kevin Lockwood
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by Kevin Lockwood » Mon May 07, 2018 1:22 pm

Joe,
As always thanks for the detailed response. I will respond for Tim regarding the frame stamping M3A1-27739. I have seen a photo and it is very well defined M3A1-27739.
42 Ford GPW
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked

TimG102
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Location: NE Ohio

Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by TimG102 » Sat May 12, 2018 1:26 pm

Joe and Kevin, Thanks for all information on the frame number. It never ceases to amaze me on the research that has gone into historically cataloging the original production orders and all these known survivors. It adds that extra layer when restoring these vehicles back to there original conditions. Should I believe it is correct to have the winch on it? I still have to check the info on the M16 data plate. Thanks again
43 Autocar M3 was M15A1 halftrack

Kevin Lockwood
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by Kevin Lockwood » Tue May 15, 2018 7:47 am

Added M2A1 was M2 White MFG #234044. Half-Trac to the list. From a Military Vehicle Trade add placed on the internet located in Florida.
Photo shows a hood number but I doubt the accuracy of that number and the hood looks as though it was from another vehicle.
42 Ford GPW
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked

clintm20
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Re: G503 Halftrack Database

Post by clintm20 » Tue May 15, 2018 8:07 am

Kevin Lockwood wrote:
Tue May 15, 2018 7:47 am
Added M2A1 was M2 White MFG #234044. Half-Trac to the list. From a Military Vehicle Trade add placed on the internet located in Florida.
Photo shows a hood number but I doubt the accuracy of that number and the hood looks as though it was from another vehicle.
Yes I think that hood number is not correct. The PO had another M2 with a hood number one digit lower. I guess he started to restore 234044 and painting the hood was as far as he got lol. The best part about it is the complete rear bed with track armor.

Image
Green Trucks and High Tides Forever

Diamond T M3 Half-track Serial # M32971 USA 4045956
Autocar M3A1 Half-track Serial # M3A1-47825 USA 4053835
Autocar M16A1 Half-track Serial # M15A1-1945 USA 40150662


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