[David_Hayward (RIP)]

The Marmon-Herrington subsidiary that acted as distributors/vendors in Canada were THE CANADIAN TRACTION COMPANY LIMITED of Windsor, Ontario.

RETHUNK: I have had a re-thunk on this and I thought that I ought to add to this as I have some information that might interest:

'In early 1939, Sydney, NSW, Ford distributors, Hastings-Deering Limited, loaned the Australian Army 28 Ford V-8 Utility vehicles based on imported components, CKD, from Windsor, Ontario. Reports suggested that they performed well and were proven ideally suitable for Army use. As a result, the Australian Army issued a specification for a new type of truck based on the Forward-Control British Ford chassis [possibly the Ford Thames Model 7V with 30 h.p.V-8]. Ford Australia prepared these vehicles as artillery transporters, range finders and associated equipment haulers. A second type of truck was based on the ‘American’ 3-ton Ford chassis, and equipped with Marmon- Herrington conversions to provide a 4 x 4 configuration, [although these were surely Canadian Ford chassis], and converted into a facsimile of the 1939 Marmon-Herrington trucks that used 30 h.p. U.S. V-8 Ford engines. Both these designs were in service by March 1939: the former hauled an 18-pounder Q.F. Mark IVP (Australian) Field Gun' Source: Norm Darwin's History of Ford in Australia book P. 107. I am certain here that Ford of Australia imported the M-H components and converted them in Melbourne rather than acquiring complete chassis. The purchase of components from CTC in Windsor would have meant lower import duties of course as well as being more acceptable politically.

'Almost immediately after the Commonwealth of Australia declared war on Germany, Ford of Australia, the Ford of Canada subsidiary, began supplying passenger and light commercial vehicles to the Armed Forces, including Canadian-import Mercury sedans, Ford V-8 sedans, British Ford Prefect sedans, and V-8 Coupe Utility trucks, Model 01C, Ford, USA, 1939 Model with 30 h.p. V-8, [which formed the basis of the Ministry of Supply Model W0C1]. These were fitted with General Service and Wireless Telegraphy bodies, in accordance with the British W.D. specifications presumably. Conventional Pattern 2-wheel drive trucks were also used: 112-inch wheelbase 1939/40 Models as 12-cwt. Utilities and as 15-cwt. G.S. or Wireless Vans. The 1-ton 122-inch wheelbase chassis was used as G.S., Wireless, Office and Battery vehicles. The 134-inch wheelbase was rated at 30-cwt. and carried G.S., Kitchen, Water Tank and Field Artillery Tractor bodies, as Model LP3 and 3A. The 3-ton chassis came in 158-inch wheelbase and 176-inch wheelbase variants. The former was used for Office, Stores, Workshop, G.S. and Breakdown trucks [Model LP1 & LP2], and a Marmon-Herrington 4 x 4 F.A.T. Model LP5 with 3-inch A.A. gun. The larger chassis was used to mount bodies for buses, large G.S. and 800-gallon gasoline tankers, with either M.-H. 4 x 4 or 6 x 6 conversions' : P.107 again. I am not convinced that the 01C were US-sourced, and prefer C01C from Windsor, Ontario.

My comment:

'The extensive use of Marmon-Herrington conversions for Australian Ford M.C.P. trucks of various sizes some time before 4 x 4 C.M.P. trucks were landed is of considerable significance in view of Stan Ellis’s suggestions to the Canadian Department of National Defence in the autumn of 1939: Ellis was of course a Ford man through-and-through.

Further use of Marmon-Herrington conversions was the indigenous Australian Scout Car built on a Ford 4 x 4 truck chassis, to create the ‘Dingo’, 245 units being produced'.

Further comment: note the adoption here of the F.C. or COE Fordson chassis..this was in effect creating an Australian 'CMP' because Stan Ellis took the US COE chassis [1940 Model from memory] and adapted M-H front-drive to it to satisfy WD Spec. 36, and thus mimic the Guy Quad-Ant and MCC Quad. It was found by Windsor that the 1940 Ford front axle was not strong enough for the new design of military trucks that became the DND-pattern and so the Timken-Detroit front axle that was used by M-H and also by GMC and Chevrolet in Pontiac, Flint and Oshawa, and by Thornton was adopted instead. As we know for production Ford of Canada subsequently went over to a Ford component for the front axle on the 4 x 4 trucks.

At this juncture may I ask The King of the Past Threads, King Hanno to dig up the threads about Ford and GM axle components so that we can acquaint our members who have joined since please? Also because I still get confused!