Bottle openers on jeeps.

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Mark Jesic
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Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by Mark Jesic » Sun Aug 06, 2017 5:26 am

Guys, i noticed a Coca Cola bottle opener on the dash of my mates jeep. Was this common practice in WW2 ? It looked good, but i have not seen another restoration with one on . :?:


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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by Wolfman » Sun Aug 06, 2017 5:51 am

Don't know if it was common practice but I have heard of this "Field Modification" before.
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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sun Aug 06, 2017 6:21 am

Stateside I doubt the Colonel would allow that kind of non-authorized nonsense on Regimental vehicles. Overseas it seems you drew your vehicles when you arrived unless you shipped out from the US "combat loaded". The question would be: How exactly would a jeep from the motorpool in Italy or Morocco even GET one of them? If a GI even HAD one in a combat situation, they didn't "own" individual jeeps for the most part anyway but let's say they did in a Cavalry regiment or an airbase. Where would they even GET one?

I'm not saying they never were bolted onto a jeep in a combat zone in WWII....but I do believe there might be more jeeps running around NOW with them attached than in WWII.
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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by Mark 1 » Sun Aug 06, 2017 7:13 am

I have one on my 59 hotchkiss,it is most handy for liquid refreshment :wink:

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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by GI. » Sun Aug 06, 2017 7:27 am

I have seen them on several WW-2 jeeps,... that was long before the twist off bottles, and was not just for coke's :wink: .
I have heard that a "bottle opener/can opener" was carried in the jeep's tool kit to open oil cans, and the other end could also be used to open bottles.
But much quick'er to have an opener on the dash.

Where on your friend's jeep was the opener located ?

Thank's for bringing it up mark, I just happen to have one in the garage, I'm going now to put it on my jeep, Thank's.
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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by Mark Tombleson » Sun Aug 06, 2017 8:47 am

I don't think I have any issues with the bottle cap opener as Coca-Cola furnished portable bottling plants in both theaters.

http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/coke-and-the-us

http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/general-eisenho

If you have that much volume of product I think it would come with openers of various types.
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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by TonyStandefer » Sun Aug 06, 2017 8:51 am

Any wartime pics of this in use?
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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sun Aug 06, 2017 9:49 am

A period correct "church key" would stay in a GIs personal gear so he would not be needing to find a jeep with an opener bolted to it. That kind of opener has a bottle opener on one end and a triangular tooth on the other end to puncture cans. If you had a church key and a P-38 and a spoon you were pretty much ready to go as long as the canteen cup on your web belt was clean enough to hold food.
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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by 17thAirborne » Sun Aug 06, 2017 10:53 am

Chuck Lutz wrote:
Sun Aug 06, 2017 9:49 am
"... as long as the canteen cup on your web belt was clean enough to hold food."
Now you are splittin' hairs! :D
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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by Mark Jesic » Sun Aug 06, 2017 11:43 am

Some interesting replies, thanks guys. G.I. the opener is located roughly where they had the four bolts for the first aid kit, which as you all know was located under the dashboard. Let us know how you get on. :D

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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by GI. » Sun Aug 06, 2017 1:00 pm

Mark,
I still haven't decided where to put it, several year's ago I found a pic. of one on a war time jeep in Europe some where, I thought it looked neat, it was located on the dash like the one in this recent pic. I think I will mount it like it, what do you think ?

I still don't see where your friend mounted it where the first aid kit went, sounds like that would be hard to get at. you have pic. ?
does it look like it was put on recently, or has been there a while ? Thank's, Louis.
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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by GI. » Sun Aug 06, 2017 1:12 pm

Here;s another recent pic. in a diff. place, I like the first pic. better.
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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by Mark Jesic » Sun Aug 06, 2017 11:58 pm

Louis, the first picture is exactly where my friends is located. Also he has not got a first aid kit on his jeep, so i guess that solves the problem of where his bottle opener is. The second photo, well it dont look right in my opinion, but its not my jeep. Out of the two locations, the dash board is by far the easier and most accessible option. :D

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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by GI. » Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:07 am

I think so to, on the dash board is where mine is going, can't wait to open a long neck bottle'd "BUD" on it. :wink:
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Re: Bottle openers on jeeps.

Post by Mark Jesic » Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:51 am

EEERRR, not Coca Cola Louis ?? :lol:


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