WTD data plates for lvt

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wanderingwillys
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Re: WTD data plates for lvt

Post by wanderingwillys » Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:07 am

Hi Robert - sent you a note off FB I believe too but my St Louis Car Co. 1945 LVT-4 still has a witness mark from where someone recently removed the plate prior to the vehicle coming into my possession.

The measurements are 6.000" wide x 3.750" tall with two holes for mounting centered on the sides - the holes are 5.500" on center and measure 0.130" currently

I am not sure if the FMC and Graham Paige Plates are the same measurements.

There is also a mark from a second plate below the main one which has the same measurements as above. I know FMC had a manufacturer plate with a "water buffalo" graphic on it too not sure if the other makers used something similar.
Attachments
LVT-4 Data Tag.jpg
LVT-4 Data Tag.jpg (47.02 KiB) Viewed 3293 times
73E4A3A1-1.jpg
73E4A3A1-1.jpg (200 KiB) Viewed 3293 times
31BDF980-1.jpg
31BDF980-1.jpg (227.99 KiB) Viewed 3293 times


wanderingwillys
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Re: WTD data plates for lvt

Post by wanderingwillys » Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:37 am

So the top plate should read (bold italic type is stamped into the plate after production):

LANDING VEHICLE TRACKED (UNARMORED) MARK 4
LVT (4) BUREAU PLAN 614031
_____________________________________________
BUILT FOR THE UNITED STATES NAVY
BY THE ST. LOUIS CAR CO., ST. LOUIS, MO
REGISTRY NO. [USA 27710 /C 90731 ] (US ANCHOR STAMP) [ FEB ] 194[5]
_____________________________________________
CARGO CAPACITY 9000 LBS. HOISTING WT. 36400 LBS.
CARGO CAPACITY 6000 LBS. (ARMOR INSTALLED)

And the lower plate with the graphic:

WATER BUFFALO
AMPHIBIOUS (GRAPHIC) TRACTOR
TRADE MARK
DESIGNED & MANUFACTURED FOR THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
BY
THE FOOD MACHINERY CORPORATION
SAN JOSE, CALIF., LAKELAND, FL., LOS ANGELES, CALIF., RIVERSIDE, CALIF.

Hope that helps - I think the upper plate could be made with any of the three manufacturers (FMC, St Louis CC, or GP) in the makers slot - seems like the only variation is if they stamped the last digit of the year or had it on the plate already - I would be fine with having the last digit stamped like the other examples shown

Let me know your thoughts as I would love to get these made up as close to original as is possible

Regards

Matt

wanderingwillys
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Re: WTD data plates for lvt

Post by wanderingwillys » Fri Jul 05, 2019 11:25 pm

Found this image - slightly better but the text is different as this was for a prototype turret version that was never produced - appears to be a LVT-(a)4 but with long barreled gun vs the 75mm howitzer...

Anyhow the graphic and the layout are good

Matt
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Buffalo Logo 1.jpg
Buffalo Logo 1.jpg (128.34 KiB) Viewed 3270 times

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Lt.Horne
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Re: WTD data plates for lvt

Post by Lt.Horne » Fri Jul 05, 2019 11:43 pm

Thanks Matt!, We are working on it!
WILLYS MB192941 Dec.1942
Harley-Davidson WLA42 39719 1943

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Milmart
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Re: WTD data plates for lvt

Post by Milmart » Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:29 am


wanderingwillys
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Re: WTD data plates for lvt

Post by wanderingwillys » Wed Jul 24, 2019 11:39 am

Thanks - that's a good collection - can anyone answer what the GP or SLCC upper tag that would have said "Water Buffalo" would have looked like? Can't seem to find any images of those - only the FMC upper plates...

My tractor has a spot with OEM holes and witness marks for both plates.... (and it is a SLCC unit)

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Milmart
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Re: WTD data plates for lvt

Post by Milmart » Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:11 pm

Id be interested in a set of LVT dataplates should they be produced

wanderingwillys
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Re: WTD data plates for lvt

Post by wanderingwillys » Fri Nov 29, 2019 5:23 am

Any luck Robert? Still interested!

Matt


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