December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Nov. 18, 1941 - MB100001 thru Mar. 6, 1942 - MB125809 NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
Post Reply
pbr332
G-Staff Sergeant
G-Staff Sergeant
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2015 8:28 pm
Location: Fairfield, California

December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by pbr332 » Wed Dec 13, 2017 10:24 am

I have a wrecked early MB with the flat dash but the data plate and frame tag are gone. The gusset number is 5756, the axles are dated 12-15-41 and 12-20-41, respectively. The engine appears to be an early '43 Willys, it's stamped MB 226981 with a casting date of 2-4. I'm assuming that would be 2-4-43. Does the gusset number suggest a data plate number around MB 104xxx to MB 105xxx?
Frank Asturias, SFC U.S. Army (ret) MOS 88L40, MVPA 5519
2 '41 MBs, one wrecked
2 '42 MBs
1 "42 GPW
1 '43 MB
3 '43 GPWs


sjalbert
G-Brigadier General
G-Brigadier General
Posts: 2266
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:28 pm
Location: Bellaire, TX

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by sjalbert » Wed Dec 13, 2017 11:10 am

Concur that the engine is from 1943.

In my database I've got higher tub numbers on Jeeps in the low 104xxx range and lower tub numbers on Jeeps in the high 105xx range. I've seen clear indications that the tubs were not used in sequential order and the scatter is worse in late 1941 then it was later in the war when the production rate was higher so I can't narrow your range down but would agree that it's likely that your jeep was somewhere in the 104xxx to 105xxx range.

Based on your axle delivery dates and the following entries I have I 'd lean towards the high 105xxx range:

S/N 105557, DOD 12/19/1941
S/N 106016, DOD 12/26/1941
Seth
******
1944 MB 349858, 20620361
1942 MBT 10968 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=149552
1942 MBT 15799, USA 0217497 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=225199
MVPA # 8587
Com / Inst. SMEL
CFII - ASEL
KI5LYB

Collecting Willys Engine Info. Please send me Engine #, Casting Date & Machining Date if known

pbr332
G-Staff Sergeant
G-Staff Sergeant
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2015 8:28 pm
Location: Fairfield, California

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by pbr332 » Wed Dec 13, 2017 9:16 pm

I've noticed the considerable variation on the tub numbers. I have MB112484, delivered 1-16-42, front axle is dated 1-14-42. Rear axle is '43 dated so it's a replacement.
Frank Asturias, SFC U.S. Army (ret) MOS 88L40, MVPA 5519
2 '41 MBs, one wrecked
2 '42 MBs
1 "42 GPW
1 '43 MB
3 '43 GPWs

rhinomil
G-Staff Sergeant
G-Staff Sergeant
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2016 11:37 am
Location:

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by rhinomil » Thu Dec 14, 2017 5:46 am

mine is 104452 gusset 8008. 12-18-41

pbr332
G-Staff Sergeant
G-Staff Sergeant
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2015 8:28 pm
Location: Fairfield, California

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by pbr332 » Sat Dec 16, 2017 3:22 pm

Thanks for the information, guys. Seth, I'm definitely inclined to assign a high MB 105xxx number to this MB, with a delivery date between 12-22-41 and 12-30-41. Can you suggest a number and delivery date?
Frank Asturias, SFC U.S. Army (ret) MOS 88L40, MVPA 5519
2 '41 MBs, one wrecked
2 '42 MBs
1 "42 GPW
1 '43 MB
3 '43 GPWs

JeePa
G-Staff Sergeant
G-Staff Sergeant
Posts: 72
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 6:57 pm
Location: Antigo WI

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by JeePa » Sat Dec 16, 2017 7:07 pm

Assuming average 57 jeeps produced per day and DOD 2 days after latest axle assembly using 105557 as starting reference point, 105785.
Checking S/N list, no Jeep claims that number...ergo, your slatties's DOD could be 105785.
Let's see if someone claims that S/N.
Regards, JeePa (aka Mobilized Medic) (my checkbook is usually off a couple of cents.) :lol:

sjalbert
G-Brigadier General
G-Brigadier General
Posts: 2266
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:28 pm
Location: Bellaire, TX

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by sjalbert » Sat Dec 16, 2017 7:42 pm

pbr332 wrote:
Sat Dec 16, 2017 3:22 pm
Thanks for the information, guys. Seth, I'm definitely inclined to assign a high MB 105xxx number to this MB, with a delivery date between 12-22-41 and 12-30-41. Can you suggest a number and delivery date?
You've got all the data I have. Your guess is as good as mine.
Seth
******
1944 MB 349858, 20620361
1942 MBT 10968 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=149552
1942 MBT 15799, USA 0217497 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=225199
MVPA # 8587
Com / Inst. SMEL
CFII - ASEL
KI5LYB

Collecting Willys Engine Info. Please send me Engine #, Casting Date & Machining Date if known

User avatar
Chuck Lutz
Gee Addict
Posts: 26829
Joined: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:00 am
Location: Jeep Heaven

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sat Dec 23, 2017 9:17 am

MB 102868 12/9/41...no gusset number known.
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

Bruce W
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1684
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2003 4:45 pm
Location: Northeast Colorado

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by Bruce W » Sat Dec 23, 2017 3:31 pm

JeePa said, "Assuming average 57 jeeps produced per day......."

Do we know this to be a fact? I have asked that question several times, and have been led to believe that no one knows how many jeeps were built each day. I would be pleased to know that this is true, or close at least. Is there any kind of documentation?
Also, how many days from the end of the assembly line to "acceptance", or DOD?
I would like to be able to come up with a very close DOD, and even more important to me an assembly date, for #100161.
Thanks. BW
G Trp 2nd Sqdrn 3d Armored Cavalry Ft. Lewis 1970-71. 43GPW(Sarge?) 47CJ2A(Teddy) 47CJ2A(Rusty) 47CJ2A(Zak) 48CJ2A(Lefty) 48CJ2A(Uncle Linden) 53CJ3B(Bulldog) 88XJ(Pluto) NE CO

Rick O
Police Corporal
Police Corporal
Posts: 637
Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2003 10:31 am
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by Rick O » Sun Dec 24, 2017 6:22 am

I have gusset 6971, 106112, 12-23-41
1941 Slat Grill 106112 DoD 12-23-1941
1951 M100 trailer 01207732
1954 Dodge M37(M42)
1942 Dodge WC21 DoD 3-17-42

User avatar
Chuck Lutz
Gee Addict
Posts: 26829
Joined: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:00 am
Location: Jeep Heaven

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sun Dec 24, 2017 10:14 am

Hmm...let's do the math on known MBs here:

102868 12/9
104452 12/18
105557 12/19
106112 12/23
106016 12/26

Giving the difference between 106016 and 106112...I'm guessing 106016 flunked its test drive and was held back so using the other examples here is what I can see:

From 12/9 to 12/23 there are 13 days of production if you don't count Sunday. I don't know if they only worked five days at Willys then so I am using six days in this. Between 102868 and 106112 that would be 3,244 jeeps or...or..more than 250 per day.
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

Bruce W
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1684
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2003 4:45 pm
Location: Northeast Colorado

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by Bruce W » Sun Dec 24, 2017 2:29 pm

Thanks Chuck, that sounds more reasonable to me. If we reach back to the first day of production, it looks like 2868 MB's were built in the first 18 days or so, which is only about 160 a day. I can see the line being a little slow at first, and building speed as a routine was established and bugs were worked out. I can see the first day being especially slow, which kinda shoots down my idea that mine may have been built the first day. :( BW
G Trp 2nd Sqdrn 3d Armored Cavalry Ft. Lewis 1970-71. 43GPW(Sarge?) 47CJ2A(Teddy) 47CJ2A(Rusty) 47CJ2A(Zak) 48CJ2A(Lefty) 48CJ2A(Uncle Linden) 53CJ3B(Bulldog) 88XJ(Pluto) NE CO

pbr332
G-Staff Sergeant
G-Staff Sergeant
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2015 8:28 pm
Location: Fairfield, California

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by pbr332 » Tue Jan 02, 2018 8:31 pm

I've been going over the delivery dates for slat grills and I can only find one delivered on a weekend in December (the 28th). January changes, apparently regular overtime started that month.
Frank Asturias, SFC U.S. Army (ret) MOS 88L40, MVPA 5519
2 '41 MBs, one wrecked
2 '42 MBs
1 "42 GPW
1 '43 MB
3 '43 GPWs

Rick Daniel
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 235
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 10:35 pm
Location: Hughson, Ca.

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by Rick Daniel » Sat Mar 17, 2018 5:05 pm

I am a little late to this party but I can offer the data from my Slat Grill.

MBI0289I
D.O.D: 12/08/41
Gusset# 5126

Gopher4x4
G-Staff Sergeant
G-Staff Sergeant
Posts: 71
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2003 7:04 pm
Location: Mpls MN

Re: December 1941 MB, no data plate or frame tag

Post by Gopher4x4 » Sat Mar 31, 2018 4:53 pm

SN 100271 DD on data plate is 11/24 third day of production, gusset # 257
Louie larson
41 MB SN102460
45 2A SN10658
53 3B SN10025
T3-C SN 87
plus a few more


Post Reply

Return to “Slat Grill, early Willys MB”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 50 guests