Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

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Hammerhead
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Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by Hammerhead » Sat May 30, 2015 8:34 pm

Been working on my wood body Ben-Hur as time allows. The first picture shows I've come a long way on the right side fender and general sanding of the right side of the trailer body.

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The gentleman I purchased the trailer from said it was a "European Return" but wasn't sure which European country. The next picture shows it was the Army of the Netherlands that had the trailer! That's cool because my CCKW was a return from the Netherlands too!

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Another question was whether this trailer originally had the round reflectors or the elongated ones. This picture shows plainly that it had the elongated ones from the pattern in the old paint. The Europeans had removed the original reflectors and replaced them with their smaller ones held on by three screws.

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What was really exciting on the tailgate, I found the original U.S.A. markings and the original registration number under the old paint! With this manufacturer and the serial number on the data plate, it was the exact number it was supposed to be using the data on Ben-Hur Trailers on the CCKW.org website! It's a little hard to see but its 0865004. (The large painted USA and Registration numbers were put on by the previous owner for display purposes.)

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I've made several other discoveries under the various layers of paint; some of which our friends from the Netherlands will have to answer as to what their meaning is. More to come!
1943 White M-3 Halftrack, 1944 CCKW 353, 1945 MB, 1944 Bantam T3,
1945 Ben-Hur 1-ton trailer, MVPA 12610, NRA Life Member


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TopKick
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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by TopKick » Sun May 31, 2015 6:44 am

Hammerhead,

Outstanding work and discovery! It appears you are having fun, and receiving an education during the restoration process. The photos are greatly appreciated. 8)
"Keep 'Em Rolling"
TopKick

"Until it's melted down and turned into something else, or blown to Smitherines, it's restorable"!

Hammerhead
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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by Hammerhead » Sun May 31, 2015 7:42 pm

Hi Topkick,
It has been a blast and very educational! Finding the original USA letters and Registration numbers was fantastic. Now I know the exact size of the letters/numbers and their placement from the factory. With so much variation from one manufacturer to the next, this was great. When it's restored, I will have all the markings back like they were originally in size and placement!

Finding the subsequent markings from it's post-war journey is exciting too. As we say, if this trailer could only talk but at least it's markings tell part of the tale.

This first picture reveals a painted on "bridge plate" with the typical yellow background and the black 2 in the center. It's placement is the forward part of the passenger side wall in front of the fender. In every wartime photo I've seen, that location is exactly where the star was placed. My question, is this an American placed marking possibly late in the war or is it a NATO/Netherlands post-war marking??

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This next picture is the rearward facing part of the drivers side fender. As you can see, at the top is "41V", under that is "132" in slightly larger numbers, then under that possibly a tactical sign?? This is where I hope our friends from the Netherlands can answer what these markings are. I don't believe they are the US markings as I've only seen the unit markings on Ben-Hur's in US service on the tailgate. BTW, the Netherlands flag was painted on the rearward facing side of the passenger side fender-both these references are if one is standing behind the trailer looking forward.

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The next picture is a marking of a yellow circle (and you can see it was painted over a white circle at some time) that is around 7 inches in diameter. At the top portion is ? S and below that 13. This marking is on the front panel on the opposite side of the location of the data plate. Hopefully someone will know what that one means too. Anyone who knows a member from the Netherlands please give them a heads up to take a look at these pictures to let me know what the markings are!

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I'll keep plugging away. It is fun!
1943 White M-3 Halftrack, 1944 CCKW 353, 1945 MB, 1944 Bantam T3,
1945 Ben-Hur 1-ton trailer, MVPA 12610, NRA Life Member

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by FJ.Janssen » Tue Jun 02, 2015 10:53 am

Hello Hammerhead,

I'm not 100% sure but it looks like:

41V
41 Verbindingen
41 signal corps division battalion.

132
132RVbdcie (oude C-cie) - Kreeft (mobilisabel)
132 R? Signal corps ( old C co.) - codename CRAYFISH (mobilisabel means inactive but to be made active on call)

This was all in approx. 1968

I don't know about the logo and the BS13

Regards
Frank
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:57 pm

I'll have some "as new" or "like new" reflectors for your trailer. I got out the lenses and sorted the bezels and stored them away again without thinking.
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Hammerhead
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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by Hammerhead » Tue Jun 02, 2015 6:19 pm

Frank,
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I just knew someone in the Netherlands would recognize these markings! I greatly appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Ben,
Let me know what you find.

Thanks, Mike
1943 White M-3 Halftrack, 1944 CCKW 353, 1945 MB, 1944 Bantam T3,
1945 Ben-Hur 1-ton trailer, MVPA 12610, NRA Life Member

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by FJ.Janssen » Sun Jun 07, 2015 9:57 pm

Your welcome.
Looks like this one will come together wonderfull.

Good luck with restoration!

Regards
Frank
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by Hammerhead » Sun Jul 05, 2015 6:44 pm

Mr. Frank Janssen hopefully you can help identify these markings on the ex-Netherlands Ben-Hur trailer. On the top of the A-frame rail there were the letters/numbers "KT 54_57. Interestingly they were in two different places on the same rail and two different sizes. Perhaps, is this the trailer vehicle serial number assigned by the Netherlands military??



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Thank you for any help on this part of the puzzle!
1943 White M-3 Halftrack, 1944 CCKW 353, 1945 MB, 1944 Bantam T3,
1945 Ben-Hur 1-ton trailer, MVPA 12610, NRA Life Member

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by FJ.Janssen » Sun Jul 05, 2015 10:46 pm

Hello Mike,

The number you found is (or was) indeed the registration number of the trailer within the Dutch Armed Forces.
KT-00-00 was the range for all trailers 1/4t and 1t and probably also higher.

Here you have some pictures I found:

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Image

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Pictures are "stolen" from: http://www.11vbdbat.nl/

Hope this helps for you.

Regards
Frank
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

Hammerhead
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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by Hammerhead » Mon Jul 06, 2015 5:58 pm

Frank, you're wonderful!! That is so great to know that was actually the Netherlands Serial Numbers I found!! Thank you so much for the info, the quick reply and the great pictures you posted! Seeing the Ben-Hurs in your country's service was incredible! Thanks again for all your help!!
Mike
1943 White M-3 Halftrack, 1944 CCKW 353, 1945 MB, 1944 Bantam T3,
1945 Ben-Hur 1-ton trailer, MVPA 12610, NRA Life Member

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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by 70th Division » Thu Jun 11, 2020 9:51 pm

Hello Hammerhead,

Great looking Dutch Ben Hur trailer !!!
Wonderful knowing its history !
Did you finish it, and could you post some pictures ?

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by Hammerhead » Sun Aug 16, 2020 4:17 am

Update; I did complete a lot of work on the trailer. I was making great progress but then my Mother passed away and being the assigned Executer and Trustee that has taken so MUCH TIME.

I am very close though to completing the Ben-Hur. Here's a recent picture. I just need to put the new Wiring Harness on, change the Intervehicle Cable to the WWII NOS one I have, and put the markings on. It has been a pleasure working on it. It has been frustrating that I just didn't have a lot of free time to finish it.

Image
1943 White M-3 Halftrack, 1944 CCKW 353, 1945 MB, 1944 Bantam T3,
1945 Ben-Hur 1-ton trailer, MVPA 12610, NRA Life Member

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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by Rustman » Sun Aug 16, 2020 4:50 pm

Looking great!!! Can I add your trailer to my database? I'm trying to do a type study for those of us who don't have original USA numbers or data plates on our trailers.

Matt
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1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
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FJ.Janssen
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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by FJ.Janssen » Wed Aug 19, 2020 12:22 am

That is one very nice restoration!
Enjoy your trailer!
Looking forward to the end result

regards
Frank
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

Hammerhead
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Re: Working on my 1945 Hercules Ben-Hur

Post by Hammerhead » Wed Oct 26, 2022 6:51 am

Update October 2022!
I finally got around to putting the markings on my trailer. Thought I would add a few pictures.
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I still have to add the wiring harness and wood body taillight holders but I'm getting close!!

BTW, the markings are from stencils provided by our own Thunderbird712 here on the "G". I told him what I wanted and he was very easy to work with!
I recommend TJ for all your stencil needs!
1943 White M-3 Halftrack, 1944 CCKW 353, 1945 MB, 1944 Bantam T3,
1945 Ben-Hur 1-ton trailer, MVPA 12610, NRA Life Member


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