Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

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Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by 442nd » Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:16 pm

Hello! I have a Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare? How much should I pay for an original set? I want to be fair, but the only reference that I had was ebay and they show a set of reproductions for $44... I know the originals are much more, but how much? thanks in advance...


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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:19 pm

The original manufacturer is Holland Hitch, and the same hooks are still available.
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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by 442nd » Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:30 pm

Ben Dover wrote:The original manufacturer is Holland Hitch, and the same hooks are still available.
thanks for your reply, looked at the website and they do make hooks but not like the original... my question was how much are the originals worth and how much should I pay for a set? I dont want to take advantage of the guy, especially if they were valued at more than the $44 repro set that we saw on ebay. he would be happy with that amount, but he also needs money. I would like to be fair in the purchase...

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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Nov 08, 2014 4:36 am

I checked out the eBay hooks, they are the Holland TH-1257-AR and TH-1257-AL, still available, and the listed price is not excessive. Holland was the vendor to Willys on this hook for WWII USMC Jeeps.
Some of the USMC restorations by G-503 members have bought these Holland hooks.
There is another Hook manufacturer, Wallace Forge, that manufacturers hooks similar to Holland. If they make the same hook , it will have a different forging number.
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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by Mark Tombleson » Sat Nov 08, 2014 1:44 pm

Here is an old thread on the topic with links to the specifications and SAF-Holland.

viewtopic.php?f=84&t=182852

Their current product list does not have the tow hooks listed.

http://ww1.safholland.us/sites/usa/en-U ... fault.aspx

I found that the line for the Holland products the jeep used are no longer made.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=209313

At the time (2013) I called my sources that I used... distributors for Holland products and they confirmed the tow hooks and pintle were no longer made... but both were still in the system.

So, you could check SAF-Holland USA distributors and see if they still had them... or you are stuck looking on epay.

The above threads give my opinion on original vs current manufacture... as for rare there were close to 6000 USMC/USN MBs made that should have had tow hooks and there would have been spares. That is about 1 jeep with tow hooks in ever 100 jeeps made during WWII.

I don't know the price range for original tow hooks right now but if you buy some please post what you paid and we will have and idea!
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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Nov 08, 2014 1:52 pm

I checked my Holland supplier this AM and they are available, I did not write down the price, but it was in the $20.00 -$23.00 range for each side.
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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by Jeff H » Wed Nov 26, 2014 5:19 pm

http://ww1.safholland.us/quicklit/XL-PH220-01_en-US.pdf Product page for the 1257 hooks.
You cannot navigate to this document anymore from the main Holland web page, but you can google and find it.
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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by gearhead » Wed Nov 26, 2014 5:43 pm

Are "original" USMC rams horn tow hooks rare? YES!

Are they still manufactured? YES with minor differences.

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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by Jeff H » Wed Nov 26, 2014 6:37 pm

I bought that late production set pictured above a few years ago from a local heavy truck parts dealer. It appears the late production hooks are painted two different colors to quickly identify LH from RH until they get to the buyer.

I sold them to another G503'er after I found this much more vintage looking set at a swap meet. I cannot say they are from the 40's but they are properly marked and are older looking than the late production hooks. The late production hooks were sharper at the casting lines. Note the small "5Z" on the right hook and "8Z" on the left hook under the part numbers. Always wondered if these are date codes similar to Autolite date codes. There also are a few more numbers to the left of the part number and Z numbers. These are as found black over red oxide primer.
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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by Jeff H » Sat Nov 29, 2014 4:14 am

In this 2006 Holland Hitch catalog page 79 they provide a cross reference chart from the Holland Hitch part number to Wallace Forge part number.

http://www.aawheel.com/SiteResources/da ... uplers.pdf

Here is the Wallace Forge catalog, hook is on page 46. http://www.wallaceforge.com/docs/2Final ... educed.pdf

Product Cross Reference Information
Holland TH-1257-AR or -AL
Wallace 057R or L

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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by Farrell Fox » Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:10 pm

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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Jan 06, 2015 6:50 am

Made by Wallace Forge right here in the US of A, their product is similar to Holland Hitch products. These are not "Repro's" , they are functional hooks made for the commercial market. New hooks by Holland are now a bit harder to order, but still can be found.
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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by Ronnie Guin » Sun Aug 23, 2020 4:43 pm

I have come across an old pair of ram horn hooks that are identical to the ones I have seen on WWII USMC jeeps. This was a bran find. They have service rust and appear To have a little red primer on the bottom of one. Both have 1257 followed by what looks like an L. One hook has the number 1 followed by an F in a circle under the 1257. He other has the number 2 followed by an F in a circle in the same place. The hook with 1F has the number Y376 to the left of 1257 while the hook that has 2F has The number Y279 To the left of 1257. One is bent one direction and the other is bent in the other direction as they should be. Trying to identify if they are original WWII or not. They look just like the ones I have on my MB that I chose to make a USMC jeep, but those ram horn hooks have different numbers and I bought them years ago at the Aberdeen show. I forgot the website to upload pictures to this forum, so I will post pictures on the G503 Facebook. Thanks in advance foe any help.
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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by Jeff H » Sun Aug 23, 2020 6:10 pm

Page from a 2005 catalog
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Re: Question: USMC Original Rams Horn Tow Hooks Rare?

Post by Ronnie Guin » Sun Aug 23, 2020 6:45 pm

Thanks Jeff, both of my hooks have 1257-L on them. No TH or AL or AR letters on my hooks. I guess your chart would mean they were made by Holland since they have the 1257 number. They are definitely bent in opposite directions.
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