o.k. Bob N.: you do not want to re read the posts, and then as usual you blame communication problems. Too bad. I will gladly try to make it clear,once more, even if a careful reading of the above posts, in connection with the bridge plate ones if you wish, would have made a clarification unnecessary.
POINT 1 . Guys put bridge plates on their restored jeeps,but this was not so widespread in WWII...This is, roughly ,what you posted when Carli asked about the item. Similarity with the bucket thread?
Roughly,the guy objected to waterbucket on collector jeeps,as being a monkey see fad,not reflecting an actual widespread practice in WWII.(See the analogy?)
As a confutation,I was not alone to point out the many pictures that show the item. Bob N.'s rebuttal:Those are mostly Commonwealth vehicles...
The bucket raider,once photographic evidence was pointed to him, tried to debate ETO versus PTO... (See the analogy?...)
Personally,I thought that the kind of doubts you expressed on the Bridge plates, could be expressed, just as well ,on other items we see on jeeps...
Possibly remembering your peculiar take on grease gun brackets and lever guns, I rather chose as an exemple the TANDEM HITCH. Is that clear?
POINT TWO
Just as you did, I purposedly followed your very approach, and I mentioned how this kit was "possibly" not so widespread if one has to judge by the available WWII field pictures. I duly mentioned the picture I saw, Book and page,and I acknowledged the possibility of my having missed others.
To further underline the concept that the item had a lesser momentum than one might be induced to acknowledge, I mentioned,quoting verbatim the caption, how in another picture (not mentioned among the WWII ones as per above) the Item was considered as decoration on two jeeps pictured. PERIOD.
The point was there, the necessary references were there as well (no need of a mind reader to UNDERSTAND that a picture not included among WWII ones could simply be ... post war.
What do we get from the above? A tirade on how a respected writer,author of world famous books* ,allegedly knows nothing about Army procurement, and how in WWII tandem hitches were supplied for towing and not as decorations...
Possibly to better clarify this difficult concept, you kindly posted a picture taken from the instructions. We ALL know what a tandem hitch was for,but thank you any way. That is research!
The point is that also this item, gracing among others your own pride and joy, was possibly not so widespread : exactly as you posted about the bridge plates...
You were kind enough to point out how one is entitled to do whatever he likes to with his property. Repetita juvant,but the concept is by now widely accepted in most countries.In the hope that this is not considered "politics", I even dare to take it for granted ,in countries worth living in.
So,to end it up,YOUR objection regarding bridge plates generated quite a few reactions,including my very post. Another analogy with the waterbucket saga.... can't you see it?
I would not be surprised if some guy adds to his bottom line "bridge plate type!".
*) for the actual meaning of the terms book,author, writer,please check any dictionary of your choice.