G503 Halftrack Database

[GAB]

Hi Joe

I just purchased what I believe is a Autocar Jan. or Feb. 1944. Heres what I have and maybe you can tell me what it all means. On the driver side frame is M15A1 2246. On the center left looking at the bumper and the pass. bumper end is #40150963. It is a roller model. It has a B and M tag above the center hump on the firewall rebuilt 5-53 M16A1 s#2246. There is no hood. There is numbers stamped on the inside of the drivers rear armor C54634 and under that 38452. Thanks for the help.
Greg

[Kevin Lockwood]

Greg,
I hope Joe will fill in if I leave something out. I am hoping to bring the sticky here on the G up to date. Probably start adding more info after the MVPA convention.
Your halftrack is an Autocar, manufactured first couple months of 1944. The Autocar ordnance number and the frame serial number were the same so you know those. Yours went through a rebuild program by Bowen McLaughlin May 1953. They stamped the number in your bumper while converting it to the M16A1 configuration. This hood number fits the equation exactly. Order T-8050 was ord numbers M15A1-682 thru M15A1-2333. Add the key number 40148717 to your ord # 2246 and you get the hood number 40150963. All the tracks in this PO were roller models.
I think the numbers you mention stamped in the armor are simply batch codes for those specific pieces.
Hope this helps
Kevin

[Joe DeMarco]

Hi Greg,

I wrote this yesterday, so it's mostly a of ditto Kevin's post.

M15A1-2246 would have been made by Autocar in Feb 1944, the last month of production. ( The last M15A1 would have been Ord S/N 2333.) USA 40150963 is an exact mathematical match for S/N 2246, so you have the original bumper with roller. (They all appear to have been outfitted with rollers.)

>It has a B and M tag above the center hump on the firewall

Good. Some of these have been seen to have a confusing M16A1 dataplate with "MFG by The White Motor Co." on there, so the Bowen & McLaughlin tag is a help.

>rebuilt 5-53 M16A1 s#2246.

Most of the ones reported have 1952 conversion dates. I don't think anyone has documented the start & stop dates for the B&M M16A1 conversions, but they were probably coming to the end by May, 1953.

>There is numbers stamped on the inside of the drivers rear armor C54634 and under that 38452.

Everything that made up a halftrack would have a gov't part number, serial number & some kind of maker's ID. C54634 would be the part number of that particular piece of armor plate. If you looked at the drivers rear armor plate on another track, you should find that same part number stamped on it. 38452 is probably the serial number of that particular plate, & would be unique to it. Autocar is said to have obtained its supplies of armor plate from either Disston or Mosler. In general, they would stamp their mark in the armor. Don't know if those companies just used initials (like HD for Henry Disston) or if they had a company symbol. Also, the Army Ordnance Inspector usually stamped the "Ordnance Bomb" on the plate, indicating it had been accepted by the Gov't.

HTH,

Joe

[GAB]

Thanks Joe and Kevin

I am learning all the time. Now we have a birthday.

Greg

[GAB]

Thanks Joe and Kevin

I am learning all the time. Now we have a birthday.

Greg

[Kevin Lockwood]

I have brought the sticky serial number data up to date. If someone notices some thing I have missed let me know.

[steveo916]

the m2-44 you have listed is in davis ca
i also found an m2-26 frame number near yuba city ca
http://halftrackinfo.com/index.php?topic=396.0

[Tom @ Snake River]

I have purchased M2 White Half Track # 275167 with ORD # 9541.
The registration numbers were painted over. Located in eastern Idaho. I am going to restore.

[Kevin Lockwood]

Tom,
Thats a good looking start to a nice track.
M2 Ser#275167 Ord#9541 would have been built by White Motors about 12/42 under PO#t-3511 for 2,000 M2 halftracks. Since you have the ord # we have established the formula and can derive your hood/registration # 4024474.
keep us posted on the restoration.
Kevin

[Kevin Lockwood]

Thanks to M Lembo a U.S.Army retiree in Germany I have added several vehicles to the sticky and have a few more that require some additional detective work.
See
M3A1-48509
M3A1-48712
M2A1-11246
M30820
283763
282675
293810
Thanks Mr. Lembo

[Warren Duchesne]

I have 2 data plates . The first CAR HALF TRACK M2A1 WAS CAR , HALF TRACK M2 MFGRS. SERIAL NO. 231799 ORD. SERIAL NO. 2504 The second CARRIER MOTOR MULT. GUN M16 WHITE MOTOR CO. MFGRS SERIAL NO. M3 4019 ORD. SERIAL NO. 7567 in the top Rt corner 5/52 RDB in the left corner 1561 . Does anyone here own or know where these half tracks are ?? Thanks Warren Duchesne

[Kevin Lockwood]

Warren thanks for posting I have added the numbers to the sticky here as they were not previously listed.

[yd328]

Tom,
If you would like to update the info in the data base on my M2, 6030, it is a roller model and has a B&M rebuild plate. It is rebuilt to a M2A1.

Gary

[mountainmilitary]

Just wondering if your still wanting numbers etc. Looking at dates on replys, they look pretty old. I just got my HT in 2012 and all I have is serial number, but didn't want to send it or other info unless your still compiling your data base. Regards, Jerry Redding, Ca

[Tom Wolboldt]

Hi Jerry and any others out there,

Send away. Either Kevin or myself will load the numbers when either of us get a chance. Darn life issues keep getting in the way of having fun.