THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

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Bill H.
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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Bill H. » Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:38 am

Hey Joel, from where do you think all the "up front" information came? I think maybe you have been hoodwinked on the origin of that information. :?

It's all good Joel, it really doesn't matter. Still, a nice set up :D

BTW, you speak of Francis in the past-tense??? I just saw him last April and he had lost weight but otherwise looked good. :?

Horse trader is about the best description I think I've heard of him :roll:
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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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:51 am

I followed Frank's trailers from the day they appeared at your house. They got a lot of publicity thanks to Farby(his loss). At first the trailers appeared to be too far away to make a deal on, but the opportunity happened when the planets were lined up just right to ship one to the east coast via a generous Weebie and Manny Rogers. A deal was struck and the trailer came east. Simple as that.
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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Bill H. » Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:12 am

Yep, simple as that :wink: :lol: And Francis picked it out for you too :lol: :lol: :shock:

Like I said, Joel, it really doesn't matter. Nice set up you have there. :)
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

2 Timothy 3:1-5

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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Bill H. » Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:47 am

Hey, I'll ask again.

You speak of Francis in the past-tense??? Can you explain why you would do this? Is Francis alive? :?
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

2 Timothy 3:1-5

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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:14 am

Frank is mentioned as "past tense" because my deal was several years ago and I have had no contact with Frank since. But I am very happy with the trailer and the end result. I am, however, now aware that some boys had a little fun before the trailer left Tower Park, and that some such as Luca are amused by what friends he has never met may have done to my trailer.
It doesn't take much to amuse some who apparantly enjoy the hobby from the darkside. I look at the prank this way, I was not aware of it until recently, and what I didn't know, didn't hurt me. I was not there to see it happen. What else is new? Say "Hi" to Frank for me. We have never met, but I believe I saw his handsome face at Tobyhanna '98 and would recognize him anywhere. :wink:
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Bill H. » Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:54 am

Hey Joel, here is another bit of information you didn't know. I picked out the best trailer I had on the property. Remember the big "X" on the side of it? That is what the "X" signified, one of the best. There were very few that got that "X".

Also, nothing ever happened to your trailer prior to it's leaving TP. Nothing! It was all about camera angle and a water bottle but it sure was fun getting a reaction out of you :P I'm happy Dave Pizzoferato was able to keep the real story under raps :lol:

I know this may come as a huge shock to you but hey! So it was all in fun! Now what do you have to say? :P :mrgreen:

Now don't get all mushy on me either! :wink:
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

2 Timothy 3:1-5

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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by lucakiki » Mon Nov 21, 2011 12:23 pm

Hey Bill, quite a lot of things can be done "virtually" in the present time.
Whether one choses Veuve Cliquot, Sanpellegrino, or whichever other liquid.
By the way, I agree with you: nice set up.
Funny how ages ago the honor graduate was ready to settle for a japanese copy!
Maybe he does not remember, but I do.
It is a good thing he changed his mind, anyway.
Luca

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43 Willys MB-T # 25417 4-43
Way too many WWII military tools,hopefully thinning down,and way too many posts...

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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Bill H. » Mon Nov 21, 2011 12:28 pm

Joel is right, Farbie was the loudest mouth of doubt on these trailers and all for absolutely naught!

Luca, the movies are loaded with allusion. Yep, on film if it looks like it happened then it happened :lol: :wink: I have a saying for that however, believe none of what you read and half of what you see. I didn't do it, you didn't see me and you can't prove anything! Show me the DNA!!! :P
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

2 Timothy 3:1-5

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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Jim M » Mon Nov 21, 2011 1:00 pm

Tom King had a few of the "x" marked trailers. I dithered and lost out but the one I ended up with was good too. I would like to find one unrestored now.
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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Bill H. » Mon Nov 21, 2011 1:27 pm

I believe there were only eight with the "X". They were the best of all of them. I went over each one with a fine toothed comb and had a point system I used to, at the end, calculate and tabulate to come up with the best by score.

The trailers were originally purchased by Francis for $700.00 each. He and I were to be partners with him fronting money and me providing the sales set up from the broker, providing room to store them and my ability to work on them and sell them. Francis was to work the east coast and I the west. Somewhere we would meet in the middle to handle the rest of the country. The sale of each was not to go over $1000.00 and $900.00 to any member here or "Odd Squad" members (Paul Fitzgerald will remember the debacle over that!). When they didn't sell as fast as Francis had wanted he, without saying a word to me, raised the price to $1,100.00, $1,200 and higher. This didn't make me look too good when I was quoting one price and then being told to collect another (Paulie). There were times I would come home from work and find a trailer or two gone and I would wonder what had happened to them only to find out Francis was taking them along with another local collector and storing them at another location. I finally said enough, picked out a trailer for my payment as was agreed to and moved on. All the trailers were moved and I was out of the business of Swiss trailers.

It all worked out in the end and, for the most part relationships were salvaged.

Joel, as you may well remember it was Farbie that caused the missed sales of a number of those trailers because of his rhetoric. Again, it's all good now :D
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

2 Timothy 3:1-5

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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Nov 21, 2011 2:33 pm

Thanks, I have no complaints the trailer made me happy, the cost was no big deal, I had the local trailer shop at the Freightliner dealer square it up, sandblast, prime it, and replace a bit of the 1" tubing around the top, they drilled the spot welds and plug welded in new tubing. By the time I got done I had a bit over $2700.00 in the MBT, and an empty spot in the MV nest filled. Hind sight being 20-20 I kicked myself at not buying a $700.00 MBT from Sarafan a few years before, some were perfection and there were a few that were Mitsubishi. (that did not bother me). I still have my eyes on a perfect Sarafan trailer with no dents/dimples. We'll see what next Spring brings.
As for Farby, most any MV being offered is bogus, a rip off, or too European to represent WWII. He has not changed and it was obvious that he cost some trailer sales.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Bill H. » Mon Nov 21, 2011 2:50 pm

Joel, I think for $2,700.00 you got a pretty nice looking trailer there. As for the data plate, did you get a Robert de Reuter plate? I don't care how hard you try the perfect trailer is much like in search for the holy grail. Gawd I love Monty Python! :lol: :lol:
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

2 Timothy 3:1-5

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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Nov 21, 2011 3:04 pm

It is a deRuyter Data plate sent to me by Frank, it is a bit early for the ACM# 106338. My wife helped me rivet it on. She held a 2# machinists hammer to the head of the brass rivet while I "set" the rivet from the inside with a centerpunch. I haven't a clue the Serial No., DOD, or USA#.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Chuck Lutz » Mon Nov 21, 2011 3:51 pm

Joel....if you want me to....I can set you up with a bit better Serial Number and USA number based on the ACM number....I have added to my data base and can improve earlier estimates...

Nice trailer.....and believe me, the thin steel used on the floor means any original has waves in it...the difference being how deep they are!
Chuck Lutz

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Re: THOSE SWISS MBT/BT3 TRAILERS-GONE ARE THE DAYS. PART II

Post by Bill H. » Mon Nov 21, 2011 3:55 pm

Serial #59940 dod Feb-44 ACM #106338 USA #0639813

This would be about as close as you will get. And, for the cost, if it really ate on you just get another plate for the correct time period. If it doesn't, let it ride.
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

2 Timothy 3:1-5


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