new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Quarter-ton trailer series, Wanted, USED PARTS FOR SALE NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES., and Knowledge Base
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FJ.Janssen
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by FJ.Janssen » Sat Jan 21, 2017 7:36 am

Hello Alex,

I checked out that site, I never heard of it until last week somewhere, and they have a huge list with trailers listed!

The only thing I cannot find anywhere is, which brands did not use an ACM number on their trailers.
As the trailer has a lot of late war or early post war features it may be possible it is one of the scarce brands.
If not...it is post war produced.
Taking a look at all the parts, I don't feel it is a french made trailer.
There is not 1 metric bolt in it, but all others appear ( AA - A - TR20 - E C - EC - DpcD - F - etc )


Anyway I started cleaning parts...

Image

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1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250


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Chuck Lutz
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sat Jan 21, 2017 3:40 pm

I may have osted this to you before but...generally the original drums on a trailer have no wear on them as they are not used as "brake" shoes but merely "hand break" shoes...this means it would be a good idea to save them for a brake overhaul on the front end of your jeep to get maximum stopping power....I got a set of used jeep drums that a shop refused (by law) to turn because they were worn past the safe limit.

Since that is of no issue to a hand brake, I cleaned 'em up, put in new bearings and they are on my trailer now....the practically in-worn ones from the trailer as sitting on a shelf in case my jeep needs a brake job and the shop can't turn those on it or they are a little far gone.
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by FJ.Janssen » Sun Jan 29, 2017 6:13 am

Hi Chuck, yes I have seen that tip before.
To be honest I don't know what the exact status of my front brake drums are, but it is definitely something I can check later on.

Some progress pictures.

Image

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Image

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1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by FJ.Janssen » Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:42 pm

Have most of the parts ready now to start on the tub soon.

Remaining before start on the tub.
- Spring packages which I will not take apart
- Landing leg
- Spring brackets

Fortunately up till now not a lot of new parts are required.
This trailer is apart from the floor (which is renewed) super solid, I had only 1!!! bolt breaking due to rust.

Futhermore found 1 more number.
Under the drawbar handles applied by the French, the ITM number has been discovered.
ITM number on the drawbar and on the frame are the same.

Pictures:

Image

Image

Image

Image

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1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by FJ.Janssen » Mon Mar 27, 2017 10:55 pm

Did some works on the tub.

During it's time in the French army, the original bottom was cut out, leaving 5cm around the tub.
On that 5cm they welded a 4mm or 5mm new steelplate.

I decided to cut this out first, to see how everything looked and make the tub more hand-able.
When the plate was out, I figured out that removing the remains would be the best way forward, as I can also fix up the sides as there probably would be rust in between the body and the bottom of the tub.

Some of the spotwelds already were loose, so I hope getting the rest out will not be the hardest part.
It seems that the bottom is fixed to the side of the tub using both spotwelds, and a weld along the whole lenght of the tub over the 2 plates...
A lot of work!!!

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

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Chuck Lutz
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by Chuck Lutz » Tue Mar 28, 2017 9:58 am

I believe I can see a "8" or a "3" on your gusset plate when I blew up your photo. I have no idea how to make anything stamped on the gusset plate any more visible though...
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by FJ.Janssen » Sat Apr 08, 2017 11:35 pm

Hello Chuck,

Made another picture of it...but really don't see any stampings...

Image
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

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Bill H.
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by Bill H. » Sun Apr 09, 2017 9:47 am

It may very well be a Japanese copy. They do not have the ACM number. Look on the front frame rails just forward of the fender for a set of numbers and the Mitsubishi logo. They were produced shortly after the war. Chuck's trailer is a Japanese copy and it does not have an ACM number.

Image
Bill H.

"Each shall seek his own kind, in other words, a bird may love a fish but where would they build a home together?" Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof

1952 Dunbar Kapple M100
1953 Willys M38A1
1962 AMC M422A1
1965 Stevens M416B1 X 2
1967 Kaiser M715

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Chuck Lutz
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sun Apr 09, 2017 2:21 pm

The logo on them is a cherry blossom before and after the five or six digit number on the frame rail.
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by FJ.Janssen » Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:47 am

hello

as mentioned before, there is no sign of a stamping (number + cherry blossom) on the left frame rails.
I checked the gussets in different shades of light, but also don't see any stamping unfortunately.

I did a walk around the trailer and only observed some other points which may shed some light.

You can see on the frame rails that the trailer had the original light brackets once:
Image

On the locations where the reflecters were, there the shape of the reflectors is visible.
This shape seems of the trimmed reflectors.
I have gone through some posts, and there is not a 100% clear answer on this.
But could it be possible that when the trailer is really late war or early post was, that they mounted the trimmed reflectors?

I hope this is visible with the large pictures...

Image

Image
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by FJ.Janssen » Sun Apr 14, 2019 10:58 am

Seems to be that this project had been on hold for almost 2 years...

A few months ago I picked up a replacement floor, which had been stored afterwards.
Made some time to start fitting it in the tub.

I decided to cut the ends of the replacement, and leave some tabs on the inside of the trailers.
Planning to start welding soon.

Image

Image

Image
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by FJ.Janssen » Fri May 03, 2019 10:30 am

It took me a few days in my holiday, but I have the replacement floor in.
everything almost fitted, but now fits.

I welded the full bottom seam, as I found it during disassembly.
This makes the trailer watertight.
Luckilly I was able to save the original water outlet and welded the new floor around.

Also welded on the hooks which were removed to allow the spare wheel carrier fitted, back.
All ready for the blaster.

FInal thing to remain is to spotweld the bottom seam, to give it some additional strenght.

Image

Image

Image
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

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Chuck Lutz
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by Chuck Lutz » Fri May 03, 2019 11:14 am

Here are some pics I found in my trailer data base in the Luther-Jordan file...
Front View.jpg
Front View.jpg (107.31 KiB) Viewed 3132 times
Replaced or restored.jpg
Replaced or restored.jpg (146.16 KiB) Viewed 3132 times
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

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Chuck Lutz
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by Chuck Lutz » Fri May 03, 2019 11:15 am

...and a couple more...
Rib Feature.jpg
Rib Feature.jpg (42.32 KiB) Viewed 3132 times
Data Plate.jpg
Data Plate.jpg (44.91 KiB) Viewed 3132 times
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: new ww2 (Bantam) 1/4Te trailer

Post by FJ.Janssen » Thu May 09, 2019 10:41 am

Hello Chuck,

I still don't think my trailer is an Jordan or Luther.
There are too many things which do not match up.

Your pictures seem to match the below website:
http://miljeep.fr/modules/newbb_plus/vi ... 9&forum=14

- On the rear frame rails, the specified hole is located on the "right" of the "large hole"
- The dimples in the side, are running into the vertical board
- Frame rivets are different as both US or French fabrication (known)
- The top plates are spot welded to the bars
- Very clear location of original data plate / rebuilt plate
- No trace of data plate near the bottom of the tub

The only thing missing, seems to be the ACM number, but it seems nobody knows if trailers have been produced without a ACM number.

I will send you a PM with all the pictures of the trailers so you can have a look if wished.

Kind regards
Frank
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250


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