F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW Technical questions and discussions, regarding anything related to the WWII jeep.
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Michael O.
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F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by Michael O. » Tue Mar 20, 2018 2:40 pm

There are several late war MB's (including my MB 379204) that have been found with axe handle brackets with the block "F" as also commonly found on GPW's. As far as my MB, the bracket removed has the same layers of paint (OD and coats of Navy grey) as the rest of the tub and fenders. I have no doubts that it had been attached for a very long time...possibly from the beginning. After all, some MB's left the factory with GPW marked transmissions, so I believe this is possible also.

My questions is : How many other MB owners have discovered that their axe handle bracket has a block F on it?

If these were indeed factory installed for a time then maybe those that know more about MB production than I do can chime in? Tom, do you copy sir?
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by wynnski » Tue Mar 20, 2018 11:27 pm

Michael O, would you like to swap/trade one of your F script axe handle brackets for an old MB one of my Norwegen GPW?
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by Thunderbird712 » Wed Mar 21, 2018 5:26 am

Michael,

I posted this same question on the FB page a while back as my MB had a few F marked parts. I only got one answer, a lot of "It was changed at some time" responses and actually a lot of negative(as in rude) responses! This past week I was debating on opening up another thread here and on FB about this topic. I am doing a factory restoration on mine so I wanted to see any type of trend so I can have data to back up my parts when having it judged. But I was gun shy because I dont feel like dealing with all the negative responses. My 45 MB was surplused in 46 to a fire department. The FD did a few mods to it but in general it was very original. It went through two memebers of the Fire Department who did absolutly nothing to after its service with the FD. So I am very confident that what I have found on my MB are original parts. Here is what I have gathered so far. I was planning on tracking down more info so I will post it here as I get it.

Axe bracket - Block F
MB 430923 3-28-45 (Mine)
MB 430629
I got one other response of an MB owner that had the F marked bracket but I cant find where I annotated the info

Master Cylinder Bracket - Circled F stamp
MB 430923 3-28-45 (Mine)
MB with DOD of 2-1-45

Windshield mounting clamp catch bracket on dashboard - Script F
MB 430923 3-28-45 (Mine)

I hope you have more responses then I do. I have a post currently on FB asking 45 MB owners to look at their glove doors for me and I only have recieved a few responses. I guess there arent many 45 MB owners :roll: Sorry for the rant! Hope you dont mind me expanding my answer to other items. I will be following this post very closely. Please share any info you may get outside of this post!
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by Michael O. » Wed Mar 21, 2018 6:34 am

Thanks for the reply. I posted the question because one would think that the axe handle bracket isn’t something that would have been regularity swapped out? Again, there is evidence from several late war MB’s that have the block F bracket affixed. My Oct ‘44 MB had one from at least back to its last Navy paint job during the war or immediately after. I haven’t checked my Sept ‘44 MB’s axe head bracket yet. I’m curious if the “block F” axe head bracket was made by a sub contractor (maybe the same one that produced them for Ford?) and Willys received marked ones in their shipment? The “F” as you know is not script in the Ford style, but rather just a simple “block” F.

Again, I’m curious how many other MB owners have found this particular F marked piece on their MB’s?
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Mar 21, 2018 7:47 am

The block "F" stamp on the axe handle bracket is common on MB's, back in the 70's I bought a quantity of NOS from W.O.F. that were also stamped with a block "F".
The original axe handle bracket on my 44 MB with DOD July 31 1944 had the block " F" stamp front axe bracket.
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by Michael O. » Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:02 am

Thank you Joel, this is just the sort of information Im looking for.

I wonder how many MB owners have replaced their potentially originally affixed axe handle bracket for an unmarked or reproduction bracket?
Last edited by Michael O. on Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:09 am

Not sure if the block "F" is a manufacturers or a foundry mark. There are lists of Foundry marks on the internet. The bracket may be a little tricky but they may have originated in the Toledo area. There's a chance that the WILLYS drawing for that bracket may yield a clue.
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by Michael O. » Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:21 am

Joel, I’m inclined to think that the block F doesn’t signify “Ford”. Perhaps the same contractor supplied these to both Ford and Willys? This same block F bracket is very commonly found on GPW’s but it’s interesting that quite a few MB’s also have them. I’m trying to get more solid evidence to establish a “commonality” among MB’s.
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:23 am

That "F" may relate to a screw or bolt manufacturer in the Ohio Area.
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by goldenjeep » Tue May 01, 2018 9:17 pm

I was sand blasting some 52 m38 parts, that is very original,and I found a f block on my ax bracket. Paint colors were the same as the rest of the Jeep.
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed May 02, 2018 4:16 am

And what is strange, although the front and rear axe brackets are identical on the M-38 and MB, they do not share Willys or ORD Part numbers. Probably the Paint color.
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by 70th Division » Wed May 02, 2018 9:19 am

Hello,

It would make sense that some MB's have F parts on them from late war production.
Many late MB's have F marked hoods, and even transmissions. (My August 45 MB does.)

From what I have been told for years, was that many Ford parts went to Willys Overland towards the end of production
and they used them in their MB assembly.

Whether that is true or not, I do not know. But I have found, as expected, F marked hoods on late 45 MB Jeeps.

I do believe that Ford stopped all jeep production in July 1945. ( They were only using 3 plants to build jeeps at this time)

So it is likely that spare parts and leftovers from their various factories or suppliers may have gone to Willys Overland.

Best Regards,

Ray

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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed May 02, 2018 10:46 am

And remember, there is a "block" F and a "Script" F, they sometimes get tangled up in the conversation.
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by Michael O. » Wed May 02, 2018 11:24 am

I know what you’re saying Joel...the “F” doesn’t specifically mean “Ford”...the Firestone “F” on the GPW axle bumpers, for example. The block F also appears on the base of MB air cleaner crossover tubes, but with the absence of the script F on the top indentation.

I’m curious how many others have discovered this “block F” axe handle bracket on original, non-restored MB’s. I wonder how many restorers ditched this part for in favor of an unmarked or even repro one when F marked one was probably factory fitted all along?
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Re: F marked axe handle bracket on MB's

Post by jeep-a-holic » Wed May 02, 2018 11:27 am

Something to also consider is that on my MB I’ve got a ford rear axle shaft. I’m not saying that is original, but it has two f’s. One is a script f and the other a backwards block f. I think it could be the foundry where it was made.


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