Serial numbers - Loyd Carrier?

[ajmac]

Where are the areas to ID a Loyd carrier from the chassis and running gear? I can tell from the brakes that she is a Mk2 and from the short reach plugs and Ford late model dissy that she is a No2, so that's a No2 Mk2 TT tracked towing (from tall towing brackets). The bogies are all mostly dated 1943 and some brake drums 1944, I am not going to find a 'T' number but if I can build evidence I'd like to ID the manufacture. It also has the October 1944 kit installed which offers a central greasing point for much of the steering joints and other odds and ends, presumably introduced following field experience.

It's not a Wolsley as it has UC spoked road wheels. And the steering tillers don't match those I've seen fitted to an unrestored MB Wild Loyd.

[RichardT10829]

buddy dont rely on the engine as an acurate age identifyer... after all these things were changed out on a regular basis also the brakes and drive axle were often changed out too rather than messing on in the field with pads....easier to undo a bunch of bolts and drop the unit off.... well this was the case with the universals.. nothing is fool proof but the casts on the bogeys may be a better bet, at least you know potentially she was not built before 43 (that said these things could be changed out too.......do you have the gear box cast housing in the drivers compartment does it have one ? like the universals its the gate for the gear stick with slots on.....there would be a date on this item. Again not fool proof but a fair bet as they say 90% of my castwork is 42 only the front towing eyes show 43.

finally road wheels are not a safe bet in any way for ID as you know alot of them are interchanged etc you see Universals with T16 wheels on etc etc. where the Loyd wheels wider like the Windsor carrier ?

[ajmac]

Richie,
Once the engine has been changed out (which mine has) there is little way to ID what it would originally have had, so I am sticking with what it has now, US manufacture. As you said virtually everything with a date is removable and could be considered a consumable part, I just have to go by the majority - 1943. I don't have the Gbox top plate
One person has told me that the chassis were stamped with the vehicle ID, but I haven't had any further detail as to where exactly....
It has the bogies hull support fitted so that means it isn't a very early example, having said that these brackets were introduced in 1941?
The lubricators were only added to the parts book in 1944, so for me that helps back up 1943 or early 1944. I suppose they could have been retrofitted, but they are very neatly installed.

[RichardT10829]

Quite possible after all there are Mk1 carriers which had undergone (facelifts) during the war ie re positioning of lamps, roundbar on armour in place of wood, rear radio battery box removed and placed by the driver, tinwork.......you name it........ remember these vehicle were cut and shut on many occasions during they're lifespan.. i know what you are going through with numbers, it has taken me a year to fully ID mine and a massive expense for forensics on my front plate to recover ghosts of numbers corroded away... that and Nigels help at the archives to finalise the paper trail.......you will get there matey just stay positive.


Richie

[paul visser]

I have found my number on the left chassis on top of the beem at the front of the loyd (see photo)