Found my actual USA number on my Bantam T3

[Ben Hovis]

Well, how exciting! I found the USA # on the rear of my bantam. Guess I will have to ask Chuck to check it out again. Below the USA number there are other numbers but can only read a B. There is tons of paint and in quite weathered/peeling condition.

Chuck will this help locate the actual serial number? Appreciate your help.







Thanks,
Ben

[Ben Hovis]

Forgot to post the USA # 0269414. Earlier estimate was 0269684 really close.
Ben

[Remko]

USA # 0269414.
est. # 026984

I think you're 242157 off, or missing a digit in your Estimate...

[Ben Hovis]

Opps,
I missed a 6. Thank you. I corrected it to 0269684.
Thanks,
Ben

[Chuck Lutz]

When Ben first contacted me he had only the ACM number and enough info to determine his trailer was a Bantam. Now that he has taken the time to carefully sand and reveal the actual USA number on the rear panel of the trailer I can narrow the estimate I gave him.

His actual USA number was only 270 off of the one I estimate for him which is remarkable since in that range of Bantams on my list, both Bantam and Willys shared the same sequence of ACM numbers which makes it hard to estimate the missing data. In addition, I just didn't have enough guys who had sent me actual Data Plate info and ACM info or even the USA number info to get an understanding of where to place those belonging to guys with only the ACM number.

Since Ben has the ACM and the USA numbers from his trailer, that info helps me to tighten up my estimates of other trailer data and it confirms that I am correct in the order in which the contracts were issued and the numbers in each of them.

Thanks to Ben's perserverance in finding his USA number, I have been able to tighten up the estimates of data for a half dozen trailers in the same range of ACM numbers that are missing the data plate. Harold Lang contacted me only a couple days ago with an ACM number and I gave him my best estimates with a caution to contact me later to see if any improvements in my estimates could be provided. Today I sent him some updated info based on Ben's information.

That's why I thank Ben and all of you guys who have sent me the Data Plate and ACM and often even the USA numbers you have found, since that info makes my data base able to estimate info for those who are missing the data plate or who need only a USA number.

If you guys need any info or if you can help me by sending me your Data Plate info and the ACM number.....and the info in the "How To ID" post, that would be appreciated by me and I know by those who are now able to get close or exact information for their trailer.

I had one guy with an ACM number only ask me and I found another trailer with an ACM number right after his so the estimates I could give him were pretty near to 100% correct. Some of the info I have from the Aust. War Records (than you Ian!) have information that includes the Serial Number and USA number and cross referenced with some American trailers with ACM numbers and data plates made it pretty likely that the Serial Number, DOD, USA Number I could give him were correct.

Thanks Ben!

[Ben Hovis]

While cleaning up the passenger side of my Bantam I found a couple more stencils.

One is under the fender mount that says Tire 35 PSI and up front is another Star. Did motor pool put the PSI message on the tub? You would not see it if the fender and tire were mounted only if the tire was off.





Hope to find some items as I go around the body.

Ben

[jeepjop]

Ben,
I'm going to be doing the same to one of my trailers soon can you explain the process you used to get those great results? it dosn't look like you did any sanding am I right? I still need to get all my info to Chuck on both my trailers.
Best regards,
Joshua

[Ben Hovis]

Joshua,
You are right I started sanding and there was just too many coatings of paint, so went to a paint and varnish remover. I had several Gee folks and body shops tell me to use "Air Craft (Kleen Strip) Remover Finish and Primer".

You can purchase from an auto body supply house. The cost is $35.00 a gallon. You do get pretty good coverage. In California we are not able to get strong products anymore (restricted).

You apply with a paint brush with a some what thick coat. Do not brush back and forth as it looses some of it's punch. Allow it to soak on the surface you are removing for a min. of 15 minutes (for the most part I let it set for 1/2 hour). The paint will blister. Then I used a putty knife with a 3 inch wide blade to remove the blistered paint. Then I took an old wet cotton T Shirt and rinsed (wiped down the service where paint was removed). Water netrualized the Air Craft Paint Remover.

When the white stencils appear I was careful in the scraping process. Some times using a small steel fiber brush. I did find some of the original blue stenciling but was not near as easy to read as the white stencils.

My guess is when the first coat (was applied to my trailer) of primer and OD with the blue stencils and was re-painted later with primer/OD and white stencils then over the years several other coats of paint (different colors) was applied.

You may be able to get a stronger paint and varnish remover in your state???
This Air Craft Product appears to have enough punch to remove what we need to remove to get to the stenciling. Years ago I sold chemicals and some of then legal products would have removed all the finish down to the metal using one application.

Hope this helps you. If I can be of any other assistance, please ask.
If you haven't seen the trailer in the condition I got it check out my website (trailer project for pictures) www.jarheadjeep.com

Good luck.

Semper Fi,
Ben

[lucakiki]

While cleaning up the passenger side of my Bantam I found a couple more stencils.

One is under the fender mount that says Tire 35 PSI and up front is another Star. Did motor pool put the PSI message on the tub? You would not see it if the fender and tire were mounted only if the tire was off.





Ben

Ben, disregard the star in the "wrong" position, and the boat on top, and take a look at the stencil in the fender well!

[Ben Hovis]

Luca,
Thanks for sending the picture. Is that a 35 PSI stencil under the fender?

Do most WW 2 trailers have that stencil? I had not noticed it before.
Thanks, Ben

[W. Winget]

My 42 GPW had stenciling of "Tire Press 35 Lbs" or such under the front fenders when I sanded them down, so I don't doubt it's a WWII or unit derived Standard Operating Proceedure (SOP) to mark the pressure under the fenders at some units, including trailers.
V/R W. Winget

[lucakiki]

Luca,
Thanks for sending the picture. Is that a 35 PSI stencil under the fender?

Do most WW 2 trailers have that stencil? I had not noticed it before.
Thanks, Ben

Mine just reads TP 35: I have stenciled it! I had found remnants of such a stencil. I would say that it is far from common, but as you found out yourself, it was done at times. Enough to justify it, if you feel like doing it.

[Chuck Lutz]

Ben...I think we all agree that the trailers were accepted by the govt. with BLUE DRAB USA NUMBERS on them and nothing else painted on them. So if you use the BD then I'd suggest no other unit or TP stuff on them.

Now, if you go with the WHITE USA NUMBERS, that would indicate it was repainted after acceptance and might also have unit numbers on it and possibly the TP 35 painted on it. It could have had anything the Colonel or the motorpool Sgt. wanted on it and so can you at this point.

I'm sending you a picture of a trailer from St. Giles in Normandy loaded with what looks like HQ tenting and bedding being towed by a jeep and it has the TP 35 on the side panel near the front panel down low. So as Luca pointed out, you can find that info stenciled wherever it was ordered to be put.....or not.....

[Johan WILLAERT]

I'm sending you a picture of a trailer from St. Giles in Normandy loaded with what looks like HQ tenting and bedding being towed by a jeep and it has the TP 35 on the side panel near the front panel down low. .....

Hi Chuck,

Please send me that photo too... info 'at' theliberator.be
I've put TP-35 on my trailer pretty much in that position



Thanks

[Ben Hovis]

Picture from Chuck Lutz