Magnatex US Jerrycans British assembly

Manufacturers, production numbers, configurations, etc.
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Silly's MB
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Magnatex US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Silly's MB » Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:13 am

A good story about saving shipping costs and increasing efficiency. Words from the General Purchasing Agent and I found the pictures in some POL files.
jerrycans-red.jpg
jerrycans-red.jpg (160.77 KiB) Viewed 6167 times
jerrycans a-red.jpg
jerrycans a-red.jpg (156.34 KiB) Viewed 6167 times
The fact that the machines were missing and scattered about the UK is typical of the supply situation at the time with thousands of mislabelled boxes.
Last edited by Silly's MB on Sat Jan 07, 2017 2:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Silly's MB » Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:24 am

Pictures.
These are pressed out blanks awaiting assembly in the UK being packed into a warehouse.
Jerry Cans flatpack-red.jpg
Jerry Cans flatpack-red.jpg (208.92 KiB) Viewed 6166 times
Jerry Cans flatpacka-red.jpg
Jerry Cans flatpacka-red.jpg (134.03 KiB) Viewed 6166 times
This is the building where assembly took place. The caption says the building was built especially but it looks older to me.
Jerry Cans flatpackb-red.jpg
Jerry Cans flatpackb-red.jpg (127.89 KiB) Viewed 6166 times
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1942 August Willys MB
Complete MVMTS 100% sourced in the ETO

Empty vessels make the most noise .......

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Re: US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Silly's MB » Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:30 am

Unfortunately only one picture of the machines.
Jerry Cans flatpackc-red.jpg
Jerry Cans flatpackc-red.jpg (182.74 KiB) Viewed 6166 times
Jerry Cans flatpacke-red.jpg
Jerry Cans flatpacke-red.jpg (235.54 KiB) Viewed 6166 times
Jerry Cans flatpackd-red.jpg
Jerry Cans flatpackd-red.jpg (107.14 KiB) Viewed 6166 times
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1942 August Willys MB
Complete MVMTS 100% sourced in the ETO

Empty vessels make the most noise .......

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Re: US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Silly's MB » Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:32 am

Stacked and covered.
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Jerry Cans flatpackf-red.jpg
Jerry Cans flatpackf-red.jpg (136.33 KiB) Viewed 6166 times
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1942 August Willys MB
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Empty vessels make the most noise .......

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David
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Re: US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by David » Sun Jul 27, 2014 7:07 am

Amazing pics & info, thansk for posting! :)

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Re: Magnatex US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Silly's MB » Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:32 am

A nice match to the building above.
magnatex image.jpg
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Empty vessels make the most noise .......

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Re: Magnatex US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Silly's MB » Sun Jan 08, 2017 10:40 am

Here is a bit more history on the Shipping of the plant from the US.
Ameri-can production a.jpg
Ameri-can production a.jpg (215.16 KiB) Viewed 5706 times
Ameri-can production b.jpg
Ameri-can production b.jpg (175.1 KiB) Viewed 5706 times
Ameri-can production c.jpg
Ameri-can production c.jpg (195.17 KiB) Viewed 5706 times
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1942 August Willys MB
Complete MVMTS 100% sourced in the ETO

Empty vessels make the most noise .......

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Re: Magnatex US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Silly's MB » Sun Jan 08, 2017 11:07 am

Ameri-can production d.jpg
Ameri-can production d.jpg (173.08 KiB) Viewed 5702 times
Ameri-can production f.jpg
Ameri-can production f.jpg (136.91 KiB) Viewed 5702 times
Ameri-can production e.jpg
Ameri-can production e.jpg (198.37 KiB) Viewed 5702 times
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1942 August Willys MB
Complete MVMTS 100% sourced in the ETO

Empty vessels make the most noise .......

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Re: Magnatex US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Silly's MB » Sun Jan 08, 2017 11:57 am

Ameri-can production g.jpg
Ameri-can production g.jpg (189.07 KiB) Viewed 5696 times
Ameri-can production h.jpg
Ameri-can production h.jpg (42.28 KiB) Viewed 5696 times
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Complete MVMTS 100% sourced in the ETO

Empty vessels make the most noise .......

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Re: Magnatex US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Silly's MB » Sat Jan 14, 2017 7:17 am

Okay,
once upon a time in 1944 a film was made inside the Magnatex plant where they produced the cans. I have found a reference to it in the British Film Institute records but after contacting them they do not have a copy of it. I have also checked Critical Past and Pathe News and also drawn a blank so it may take some further investigation to see if a copy exists anymore.

Here is a Synopsis from the BFI website.
The Magnatex factory, its location unidentified, that constructs petrol cans for the war using American machinery and American components. The film follows the working processes along the production line and throughout the day. Includes the workforce's teabreak in the canteen, which has a southern aspect. Introductory title states: 'this film is intended to record the great task of producing petrol cans for the armed forces - by British labour using American machines and mterials at a factory specially built for the purpose by Magnatex Ltd'.
It was produced by Birmingham Commercial Films.

If anybody has any other ideas of where to Iook I am open to ideas :roll:
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Empty vessels make the most noise .......

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Re: Magnatex US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sat Jan 14, 2017 10:29 am

Any chance a copy was sent to "MOVIETONE" for showing at American theaters?
Chuck Lutz

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Bantam T3-C 1947

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Re: Magnatex US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Silly's MB » Sun Jan 15, 2017 1:48 pm

Thanks Chuck, I have tried the website search with no luck.
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1942 August Willys MB
Complete MVMTS 100% sourced in the ETO

Empty vessels make the most noise .......

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Re: Magnatex US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Silly's MB » Sun Jan 15, 2017 1:52 pm

For the sake of good housekeeping here is a link to the Jerrycans with the known TEX marking on the G503.
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=281941
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1942 August Willys MB
Complete MVMTS 100% sourced in the ETO

Empty vessels make the most noise .......

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Re: Magnatex US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by Silly's MB » Sun May 06, 2018 4:05 am

After my request the BFI now have the documentary film online.

Its 24 minutes of Ameri-can self indulgence !

Everything you wanted to know about the construction, inspection and painting of Jerri-cans in a very British film.

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wat ... 944-online

Hopefully you can see it worldwide :?
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Complete MVMTS 100% sourced in the ETO

Empty vessels make the most noise .......

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Re: Magnatex US Jerrycans British assembly

Post by gerrykan » Sun May 06, 2018 5:16 pm

Silly's MB,
Unfortunately I get this message when trying to play the video:
Location not authorised
BFI Player films cannot be played outside of the UK


Tomorrow I may see if I can pay to watch it.

Regardless, thanks for locating and posting the link.
Roy


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