New to the Shilo Museum:WW1 Cadillac Ambulance

[David Dunlop]

Rob.

A quick look on the web tonight suggests that most ambulance markings on WW1 equipment with canvas tops, were, in fact, on the canvas, so if the original top is still with the vehicle, it may have some answers for you.

Nice find!

David

[rob love]

I missed Rick's earlier post where he mentioned it could be an early GS. I have to admit the thought crossed through my mind as well when I looked at that narrow rear entrance. Hopefully the tarpaulin will tell me more. Pretty much all the Cdn ambs that I could find photos of had solid bodies, and not hoops and canvas.

Either way I have to admit I am quite excited by the prospect of working on this one. The state of preservation on the wood is remarkable.

[derk derin]

Rob,
That truck looks better than I thought it was looking at it in Elkhorn.Shouldn't be difficult to restore with it fairly complete especially if you can save the rims & spokes for the wheels.Wish I was closer to help you with it but have to concentrate on the wedding that's coming up soon!
Derk

[rob love]

I spent the morning cleaning through the treasures and rubbish that had collecCted in the back of the truck. There were a few pleasant surprises.

I can confirm it is a 1912 Cadillac by the serial number. I also found the electric starter in the back. These were supposedly the first autos with an electric starter, which actually startes the engine through the timing gears rather than the flywheel. It also uses a 6 volt system, but by changing the batteries circuitry for start up, provides 24 volts to the starter. While that starter is there, someone has converted it to a more conventional 5 volt starter (still through the timing gears however).

The bulk of the woodwork is there for the canopy over the driver. The bulk of the military canvas is also there. No signs of red crosses anywhere, nor any signs that a stretcher would fit into the truck.

Amazingly, the canvas for the front still included the plastic (?) windows in remarkable shape for a 103 year old vehicle.

I had to leave the job to finish up a carb rebuild on the lynx, but tomorrow I'll vacuum out the dirt and dust, place back into it what belongs to her, and she will have to wait her turn for work. There are one or two other projects that have to be done first.

Wish I was closer to help you with it but have to concentrate on the wedding that's coming up soon!

What can one say to that.

[David Dunlop]

Just a thought, Rob, but it might be worth having a good look at that truck in the dark with an ultraviolet lamp. It would enhance any different paints and might just make any old markings more visible. You have a good sample to work with in the garage stencil, so you could see how well that paint gets highlighted and then check the other areas of the bodywork for anything else that might show up.

David

[rob love]

I was already at it with some various lights today. Nothing new to report. There were a couple of anomalies, but nothing enough to be definite.

[David Dunlop]

Rob.

With the current flow of 100th Anniversaries relating to the First World War, it might be worth the museum contacting the Brandon Sun to tell them of this find. Two possibilities: any news article might get you leads on the vehicle, and, perhaps their archives have information about it, it it was a local donation during the war.

David