More on Russian Bantams

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Polar Roller
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More on Russian Bantams

Post by Polar Roller » Sun Dec 24, 2017 8:31 am

Attached is a clipping found by Mike Larro in a Nebraska paper on September 21, 1942 which might add a little to the thin but always developing “Bantams in Russia” history. The date suggests that the writer really is talking about a Bantam, even though “bantam”was used as an adjective or generic noun for both early Fords and Bantams...Maybe Willy’s? He does refer to the car he was in as a “bantam reconnaissance car”... In any case it gives a view of how the Russians were reported to have felt about American vehicle manufacture.
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Re: More on Russian Bantams

Post by gerrykan » Sun Dec 24, 2017 8:47 am

Thank you Bill, and Mike.
Roy

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Re: More on Russian Bantams

Post by JIMN » Mon Dec 25, 2017 2:38 am

That was interesting. Thank you for sharing it.
1941 Ford GP, 1944 Willys MB, 1943 Bantam T3

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Re: More on Russian Bantams

Post by Mark Jesic » Mon Dec 25, 2017 6:18 am

A great piece of knowledgeable history, thanks for posting.

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Re: More on Russian Bantams

Post by Polar Roller » Mon Dec 25, 2017 7:32 am

Reading it a little more closely I see the writer is speaking of the Bantam event as having been on “last New Year’s Eve...”..since the dateline was September 21 of ‘42...that would be practically speaking 1941, so, the cars had to be there very soon after they were manufactured. George Hollins can probably give us the exact dates of the production run...I sure wish someone back in the eighties and nineties had questioned Ralph Turner about his trip over there to Murmansk with the first shipment of Bantams...as far as I know no one even got the dates....

George Hollins
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Re: More on Russian Bantams

Post by George Hollins » Wed Dec 27, 2017 9:01 am

Russian war correspondent Victor Belikov’s report of Bantam Reconnaissance Cars in Russia, New Years Eve December 31, 1941, is very possible.

Bantam built 1,022 Series-2 BRC in October-November 1941 for contract W-398-QM-10263.

The US started shipping Lend-Lease convoys of trucks and tanks to Russia in Oct 1941 (see President Roosevelt announcement 14Oct1941 below). The Bantam BRCs could have been in the Oct 1941 convoys.

Bantam factory photo of Series-2 BRCs being crated for shipment Oct-Nov 1941 (see below).

Bantam placed ads in 1943 newspapers stating that 1000 BRC were shipped to Russia in Oct 1941 (see ad below).

George
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Russian supplies President Roosevelt 14Oct1941-01.jpg
Russian supplies President Roosevelt 14Oct1941-01.jpg (203.5 KiB) Viewed 1605 times
1941 Bantam ad Russia BRC newspaper 23May1943-01 - Copy.jpg
1941 Bantam ad Russia BRC newspaper 23May1943-01 - Copy.jpg (226.06 KiB) Viewed 1605 times
1941 Bantam photo factory crates Series-2 BRC Oct-Nov 1941 - Copy reduce 40.jpg
1941 Bantam photo factory crates Series-2 BRC Oct-Nov 1941 - Copy reduce 40.jpg (246.25 KiB) Viewed 1605 times

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Re: More on Russian Bantams

Post by lariat » Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:03 am

Hi George
Thanks for the pictures. I noticed in the picture the caption says series 2 October 1941. Also BRC in picture has brace on windshield. Is that correct because you said I should cut mine off witch had delivery date in June 1941. Could they have use braces sooner than you thought. When do you think date was when they added brace.
Thanks for any help on this
Jim

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Re: More on Russian Bantams

Post by George Hollins » Fri Dec 29, 2017 7:32 am

Based on my research, the welded reinforcements on the windshield frame posts were added starting with Series-2 BRC production, October 1941, effective s/n 2563. However, rather than discussing this here on this Russia topic, I have started a separate BRC windshield topic.

George


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