Early Style Canvas Top Makers ?

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70th Division
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Early Style Canvas Top Makers ?

Post by 70th Division » Sun Feb 10, 2019 9:11 pm

Hello,

Does anyone know if early style Jeep canvas tops are made, and by what vendor ?
What I mean is, I have the early style brass attaching points on the top of the windshield on my 8/42 GPW,
not the capstan types used on later production.

Do the two types use the same canvas tops, or do the earlier style tops have smaller grommets at the front of the canvas tops for the smaller brass attaching points ??

Thanks,

Ray


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Klaas
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Re: Early Style Canvas Top Makers ?

Post by Klaas » Sun Feb 10, 2019 10:26 pm

Hi Ray,

Beachwood make a top with the small grommets and 6 rear straps to fit an early jeep. I have one for my '42.
It is a "general" top so not 100% correct if you are a "spot weld-counter" but OK for keeping the rain out.
Klaas
GPW17331 - April 21 1942 - Dallas, "J-dot"
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Re: Early Style Canvas Top Makers ?

Post by 70th Division » Mon Feb 11, 2019 6:37 am

Hello,

Thanks Klass,

I am glad to hear that !
Their website seems to be stuck in the pot hole of the internet, back in the 1990's not very user friendly.


Best Regards,

Ray

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Re: Early Style Canvas Top Makers ?

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Feb 11, 2019 6:51 am

Correct Grommets can still be a problem today.
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Farrell Fox
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Re: Early Style Canvas Top Makers ?

Post by Farrell Fox » Mon Feb 11, 2019 7:08 am

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Re: Early Style Canvas Top Makers ?

Post by 70th Division » Mon Feb 11, 2019 11:19 am

Thanks Farrell,

You do impressive work !!!!

That is good to know as I am working on my 42 GPW and will be looking for a top once it is up and running.

I am glad that they will work with the current production tops, with no differences in the cinch eyelets,
so hopefully a new top will stay put on the original brass cinch fasteners !


Thanks to all,

Ray

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Re: Early Style Canvas Top Makers ?

Post by Chuck Lutz » Mon Feb 11, 2019 2:20 pm

Farrell, WeeBee, Beachwood and various other mfgers here and in England make the "early" top....that being the one for a jeep with no jerrycan.

I don't believe that the slat grill jeep used a different top but someone into slat canvas can look it up.
Standard Top
1944-1945 Winter Top (zippered doors)
Late War 1945 Winter Top (side panels and doors)

The last two having metal window frames back in the day. So if the slat used the same top as later production taller windshields did, that would make it a whopping FOUR types of tops you could access through the Supply Dept. as the war progressed. However, like the period in which jeeps were delivered with a RIM on the spare tire mount with no tire on it....there was a time in which jeeps were delivered with no top on them.
Chuck Lutz

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Re: Early Style Canvas Top Makers ?

Post by Farrell Fox » Mon Feb 11, 2019 8:04 pm

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Re: Early Style Canvas Top Makers ?

Post by 70th Division » Fri Mar 15, 2019 6:05 am

Hello,

Thanks Farrell,

I have ordered one from WeeBee .
He said it will work perfect with the early hardware, and it is all USA made :D :D
I am greatly anticipating its delivery :D :D :D

After I save up some funds, I will order an M38-A1 top from them as well.

Best Regards,
Ray


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