Info needed: C8A HUW J&J Restoration

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Bert den Brok

Hi Ed, the lettering will be entirely in accordance with Toronto Scottish. The photos of this will follow soon. On older layers of paint I could not find any characters other than Toronto Scottish characters.
What I also cannot figure out is the meaning of “W/T” on the right front door. This was on the old visible layer of paint. However, I couldn't find anything on the first (bottom) layer of paint. On a layer in between there was only a “W” behind the W.D. Number.

To be honest Bert, I have not looked into it too deeply and always thought that the W/T meant that the vehicle's electrical system had been supressed so that any radios fitted to the vehicle could be operated without any interference.

[Maurice Donckers]

Bert , the chassis number was not factory stamped in the frame , it was only on the ID plate on the dash.
About the collor , they where deliverred in 3 basic collors: dessert sand , service brown , and a brownish olive drab .
If they arrived in partly knock down, and got assembled oin the UK , they would be sprayed in Olive drab with cammo (mostly only the outside ) if you look at period pictures from storage aeria`s you will see they are in the same shade and cammo .
Late arrivals after D-day would be left in olive drab , and mosly stayed in the units uncamouflaged .

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

To be honest Bert, I have not looked into it too deeply and always thought that the W/T meant that the vehicle's electrical system had been supressed so that any radios fitted to the vehicle could be operated without any interference.

It was a generic abbreviation for 'Wireless Transmitting sets' going way back to WW1.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30005728

As Ed pointed out - it appears that in military speak - W/T was also used in a different context: to describe the electrical bonding of the metal components of aircraft and vehicles in order to lessen interference.

Some military vehicles had screened ignition systems , so maybe this was another reason for the W/T marking.

I have seen the following described in many older publications:

R/T = Radio Telephony (voice communication)

W/T = Wireless Telegraphy (CW mode: Morse)

So it depends on whether you say: Toomartow or Toomaytow

[Jordan Baker]

There was also S on many vehicles. This was for a “suppressed” ignition system that would reduce interference with nearby wireless sets.

The W/T was for vehicles with full shielding on the entire electrical system. All the wires would have been in the thinned braided copper wire loom.

[Bert den Brok]

Hello Maurice,
The stamped chassis number could indeed have been applied at a later date. I assume this is an original number. Also because there are various indications that justify the time of manufacture, including the dashboard, the overflow tank, reinforced rear chassis beams and the pattern of the floor plates.
By the way, I also found a stamped chassis number on a CGT that is yet to be restored.

Had decided not to do that for the time being with regard to the cammo painting. If necessary, it is always possible.

The colors inside (behind) were also a mixed bag. The base color was brown with white on top, then a dirty green color and then partly white and partly a light grayish color.
Now the walls and roof inside (behind) have become white. The floor, wheel arches and inside doors are brown like the exterior color. See picture.
What is missing from the photo are the cabinets against the side walls. I don't have enough information about this yet to make them. There is one seat too many, but I did that to possibly get more people on the license plate.

Hello Ed, Mike and Kelly,
Now I can understand why the letters “W/T” were on the vehicle. There was still a copper woven cable in the frame on the driver's side. From the starter motor to the ammeter. There was also a small part of this behind the dashboard. Other cables had to be replaced.
Measured on site and made in advance.
The lettering of the vehicle will still be adjusted with the letters “W/T”.

Thanks for your responses.
Regards, Bert

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hello Bert,

It was good meeting you and your family again last September.

Here are some before & after photos of your lovely HUW with 30 years in between (found on the internet).

IMG_8906.jpg IMG_8904.jpg