GPW Radio Jeep

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Mark Tombleson
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Mark Tombleson » Sun Feb 28, 2016 9:53 pm

I will add one note... The jeeps modified by Ford had a cowl mounted battery, similar to the jeeps in the photos taken at Fort Hood in March of 1943. These jeeps were discussed after someone came forward with a 1942 GPW with an cowl mounted battery box. I thought it was from the test at Fort Hood but that was almost a year later.

Another interesting time line issue was that it wa in August 1942, if I'm not mistaken when the documentation states that Barney Roos wa asked to come up with the radio jeep.

Abstract facts and random memories can help us or distract. :lol:
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Fred Coldwell
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Fred Coldwell » Mon Feb 29, 2016 6:21 am

Mark:

Thanks for your reply and the additional information. It has sent me scurrying down another rabbit hole. :wink:
Happy Jeep Trails,

Fred Coldwell
1944 CJ2-09 - X33
1945 CJ2-26 - X50
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Fred Coldwell
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Fred Coldwell » Tue Mar 01, 2016 6:59 pm

Mark Tombleson wrote: I will add one note... The jeeps modified by Ford had a cowl mounted battery, similar to the jeeps in the photos taken at Fort Hood in March of 1943. These jeeps were discussed after someone came forward with a 1942 GPW with an cowl mounted battery box. I thought it was from the test at Fort Hood but that was almost a year later.
Hi Mark:

I searched G503 using Google looking for any mention that someone actually found a 1942 GPW with a cowl mounted battery box, but I came up empty. Could you perhaps find that old post again? In the meantime, I'll continue posting my most recent musings on GPWs converted to 12 volts.

The 12 volt Ford GPW tested at Fort Hood in March/April 1943 that had a second 6 volt battery mounted in its cowl also had a blackout driving headlight and registration number U.S.A. 20369282, which places it as one of the 78,454 GPW's built under Ford's fourth GPW contract number W2425 QM 648 / W-374-ORD-2862. I'll estimate the 12 volt GPW tested at Fort Hood was built at least 6 months later than the 12 volt Ford GPW jeep USMC 48649 pictured below without any blackout driving headlight. And its apparent from its photo that 1942 GPW USMC 48649 does not have a second 6 volt battery mounted in its cowl.

In 1942 Ford converted another yet GPW to 12 volts. This second 12 volt jeep, also without any blackout driving headlight, has registration number U.S.A. 20136267, placing it among the 63,146 GPWs built under Ford's second GPW contract W-398QM-11424. Though undated, I believe the photos of this second 1942 GPW with a 12 volt whole-jeep electrical system were taken during August, 1942. This second 1942 12 volt GPW also does not have its second 6 volt battery in the cowl. Instead, it is in a single (small) battery tray between the driver and passenger seat. The first, original 6 volt battery remains in its standard tray inside the engine compartment.

Curiously, this second 12 volt GPW has a very large 12 volt battery installed on the floor in the left rear corner of its body. It should be wired to the 12 volt generator on the engine, although the whole 12 volt wiring scheme is not at all clear. The radio set installed cross ways just behind the seats appears to be a SCR-193*, which appeared during 1942 in many 12 volt military vehicles such as Dodge command cars.

But the main point is neither 1942 GPW converted by Ford to 12 volts has a battery box mounted in the cowl. Instead, the second 6 volt battery is mounted elsewhere, underneath a short cover between the front seats on U.S.A. 20136267 and in an out-of-sight location in USMC 48649. So I tend to doubt your belief that the 9 USMC radio jeeps sent to the White House had a cowl mounted batteries like the 1943 GPW tested at least 6 months later at Fort Hood. I think the cowl mounted 6 volt battery was a 1943 development by Ford, not a 1942 development. Nevertheless, I await any photos you may have of a 1942 GPW with a cowl-mounted 6 volt battery.

And your memory is correct about Barney Roos being asked by the Marine Corps in August, 1942 to develop a 12 volt radio jeep for them.
Happy Jeep Trails,

Fred Coldwell
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1945 CJ2-26 - X50
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Tom Wolboldt
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Tom Wolboldt » Wed Mar 02, 2016 2:42 am

Hi Fred,
. Though undated, I believe the photos of this second 1942 GPW with a 12 volt whole-jeep electrical system were taken during August, 1942. This second 1942 12 volt GPW also does not have its second 6 volt battery in the cowl. Instead, it is in a single (small) battery tray between the driver and passenger seat. The first, original 6 volt battery remains in its standard tray inside the engine compartment.

Curiously, this second 12 volt GPW has a very large 12 volt battery installed on the floor in the left rear corner of its body. It should be wired to the 12 volt generator on the engine, although the whole 12 volt wiring scheme is not at all clear. The radio set installed cross ways just behind the seats appears to be a SCR-193*, which appeared during 1942 in many 12 volt military vehicles such as Dodge command cars.
Could you post a photo or point to a source showing the battery between the seats ?
Also the same for the rear mounted 12 volt battery. The photos that I have do not show a battery at that location.

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Fred Coldwell
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Fred Coldwell » Wed Mar 02, 2016 5:55 pm

Tom wrote:Hi Fred, Could you post a photo or point to a source showing the battery between the seats ? Also the same for the rear mounted 12 volt battery. The photos that I have do not show a battery at that location.
Hi Tom:

They both appear in the same photo below. The large 12 volt battery across the rear is obvious, and the rear end of the hinged cover for the single 6 volt battery between the seats is just visible along the right hand edge of the photo. Please post your photos for comparison, so we can see whether we talking about the same GPW jeep. Thanks.

Image
Happy Jeep Trails,

Fred Coldwell
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1945 Dodge T233 Utility
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Tom Wolboldt
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Tom Wolboldt » Thu Mar 03, 2016 12:01 am

Hi Fred,

Thanks for that photo ! I have not seen that angle before. Do you know it's source ?

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Fred Coldwell
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Fred Coldwell » Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:13 am

Tom wrote:Hi Fred, Thanks for that photo ! I have not seen that angle before. Do you know it's source ?
You're welcome, Tom. I have been told of a possible origin but have not yet confirmed it, so cannot say for sure. It was taken at the same time as the other photos of the same GPW. So now, where are the photos that you have which I've asked you to post for comparison?
Happy Jeep Trails,

Fred Coldwell
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1945 CJ2-26 - X50
1944 Dodge T233 CC
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Tom Wolboldt
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Tom Wolboldt » Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:53 am

Hi Fred,

My photo is a photo which has not been scanned. It is the right hand side view showing the small black in the right rear of the GPW ( or in the left of the photo in the rear of the GPW ). I had miss-read your earlier post as to location of the 12 v battery. Sorry for my confusion.

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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Fred Coldwell » Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:32 am

Tom wrote:Hi Fred, My photo is a photo which has not been scanned. It is the right hand side view showing the small black in the right rear of the GPW ( or in the left of the photo in the rear of the GPW ). I had miss-read your earlier post as to location of the 12 v battery. Sorry for my confusion.
Hi Tom:

The photo I posted was not scanned either, until it was scanned in today's modern age. Are you telling me a prolific researcher like you doesn't own a scanner? I find that difficult to believe. But if true, I understand office supply and other types of stores, even in Ohio, sell scanners. You might look into buying one. :roll: If your unscanned photo is a front 3/4 view of this GPW from the passenger side, you likely can only see the black top of the BD-77 dynamotor in that photo.

Do you have any other photos of this GPW showing a better view of the single 6 volt battery between the seats? If so, and you are unable to scan it in Ohio, mail it to me and I will scan it for you and post the scan for you. I'll even mail the original photo back to you as I know there are post offices in Ohio from my jeep parts purchases from a stuffy old X-man who lives there. :wink:
Happy Jeep Trails,

Fred Coldwell
1944 CJ2-09 - X33
1945 CJ2-26 - X50
1944 Dodge T233 CC
1945 Dodge T233 Utility
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Tom Wolboldt
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Tom Wolboldt » Thu Mar 03, 2016 4:50 pm

Do you have any other photos of this GPW showing a better view of the single 6 volt battery between the seats?
I do not.

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Mark Tombleson
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Mark Tombleson » Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:08 pm

I just take a photo with my new iPhone 6s Plus and call it a day!
Bring it to the convention and we can discuss it.
I seem to remember the article Lloyd did in AM issue 82? Referring to a report done on the 12v generator testing at Fort Hood's tank command? Why I bring this up is I remember a letter that referred to like 5 different bases doing this testing. What I find interesting is the different locations and sizes of the 12 volt batteries.
Do we have the rest of those reports?

Oh, I bought a house south of here and hope to move in just after Brent Mullins event first of April!
MB-NAVY-MZ-1 352625 - 07/20/44 (DOD est.)
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Fred Coldwell
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Fred Coldwell » Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:06 pm

Tom wrote:
Do you have any other photos of this GPW showing a better view of the single 6 volt battery between the seats?
I do not.
Thanks for your answer, Tom. So, are the only photos you have of this Ford radio jeep the same photos that are found on page 76 in the 1983 softcover book JEEP JEEP JEEP No. 1?
Happy Jeep Trails,

Fred Coldwell
1944 CJ2-09 - X33
1945 CJ2-26 - X50
1944 Dodge T233 CC
1945 Dodge T233 Utility
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by DDTrustee » Fri Mar 04, 2016 8:32 am

What kinds of radios where in these Jeeps?
reenacting and WWII history

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Fred Coldwell
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by Fred Coldwell » Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:43 am

DaninNM wrote:What kinds of radios where in these Jeeps?
Hi Dan:

The radio set in the photo I posted about 9 posts earlier of a 12 volt 1942 GPW is a SCR-193 set (BC-191 & BC-312, etc.). Later, a Ford-converted 12 volt GPW was tested in 1943 at Ford Hood, TX with the 12 volt mid-range command radio sets SCR-193, SCR-506 and SCR-508. Most any WW II 12 volt radio set could be installed in a 12 volt radio jeep, depending on the need.
Happy Jeep Trails,

Fred Coldwell
1944 CJ2-09 - X33
1945 CJ2-26 - X50
1944 Dodge T233 CC
1945 Dodge T233 Utility
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Re: GPW Radio Jeep

Post by kdmann143 » Sun Mar 06, 2016 2:33 pm

Thanks you gentlemen for bring up more interesting
Info about Ford radio jeeps.
1942 GPW
1943 Gpw
1943 GPW Radio Jeep USMC 48649
1942 Slat grill
1943 Bantam trailer

44 MB sold
42 CDLV sold
45 Gpw sold
45 gpw sold
1950 M100 sold


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