Milestone CMP's: Canada's 500,000th military vehicle

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Came across these pictures of "Canada's 500,000th military vehicle" on the internet.

[Richard Farrant]

It appears to have Ford, Chev and Dodge badges on the grille, at least the other main manufacturers were recognised on the occasion.

[Hendrik van Oorspronk]

I like the smal guy with the hat..

Groetn

Hendrik

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

It appears to have Ford, Chev and Dodge badges on the grille, at least the other main manufacturers were recognised on the occasion.

Indeed, but strangely enough it is a Ford truck being rolled out of a General Motors plant

Apparently it was quite the gathering of people and vehicles. Some of the captions and pictures found at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/a...t/index-e.html include:

"CANADA'S 500,000TH MILITARY VEHICLE - OSHAWA, JUNE 1943. Extensive ceremonies marked the delivery, June 19, of the half-millionth unit of motorized equipment produced in Canada during this war. A plant visit, a luncheon, a parade, a public ceremony, and demonstrations at proving grounds were the principal events of the day. Automotive workers, representing the three companies which built..."

"CANADA'S 500,000TH MILITARY VEHICLE - OSHAWA, JUNE 1943. Canada's half-millionth unit of motorized equipment, a battery charger lorry, was completed in Oshawa recently, and presented by Hon. C.D. Howe to Col. J.L. Ralston, Minister of National Defence. Ceremony was attended by many foreign representatives, high army officials and industrialists."

"Crowd gathered at the end of the assembly line to commemorate Canada's 500,000th military vehicle, a battery charger lorry."


"Honourable C.D. Howe shakes the hand of an automotive worker at a ceremony to commemorate the production of Canada's 500,000th military vehicle, a battery charger lorry."


"Workman drives an army vehicle marked, "Canada's 500,000th military vehicle" from the General Motors plant in Oshawa."


"Canada's 500,000th military vehicle, a battery charger lorry, being test-driven in a field."

[Hanno Spoelstra]

"Officials chat with members of the crew of a 3.7-inch anti-aircraft gun at the celebration marking the delivery of the 100,000,000th heavy projectile manufacutred in Canada at the Defence Industries Limited, Cherrier, Quebec plant.

Left to right: Honourable St. Laurent; Sargeant Major D.J. Stoker; Staff Sargeant W. Findlay; Major General C.B. Howard, Chairman of the Inspection Board; Honourable C.D. Howe.

Sept. 1944 / Cherrier, Quebec"

[Keith Webb]

That's a funny shot with the small boy in front!

Looks like there were at least two cine cameras too.

Looking at the close up shot you can see the vehicle had been driven on the roads, there's a bit of mud on the inside of the mudguard (fender).

[Hanno Spoelstra]

"General view of the crowd at the launching of the 1,000th Canadian-built vessel at the opening of Canada's seventh Victory Loan. 21 Oct. 1944 / Toronto, Ont"

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Anyone got any more pics of other milestone CMP's?

Thanks,

[David Dunlop]

Wonder what that vessel was, built in Toronto??

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Another picture found in Canadian Dodge CMP prototype photo, obviously taken at the same event:

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Just stumbled upon this picture.



Source: http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca

It's dated: "20th Century 1939 -1945", not very specific. But, this picture seems to be show the same vehicle and is dated 1943



Source: http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca

Interesting......looks like a Ford cab13, but picture taken at the General Motors plant in Oshawa according to the description.

[David Dunlop]

The Muckie-Mucks in Ottawa don't generally like to travel too far from home, in case they get lost. The GM plant in Oshawa is a lot closer to Ottawa than the Ford plant in Windsor. If the milestone vehicle just happened to be coming off the Ford line, then it makes sense it would be driven up to the GM line for the Muckie-Mucks to celebrate. Collectively they would not have had enough bread crumbs to make it safely to Windsor and home.

I just hope the chaps in the cab were the actual Ford people who drove the truck up to Oshawa and home. If they were GM workers, it would have been a very interesting drive back to the Ford plant.

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Before reaching Canada's 500,000 mark, the 100,000th Ford-built military vehicle did not pass unnoticed either - this was a Ford F60S Cab 12 CMP truck with 3C1 body.

Originally Posted by Larry Hayward

Here is another photo of the same steel body on a later CMP 12 Cab, which was definitely produced in Canada.

[Mike K]

Quirky pictures

The guy in the white overcoat with the smirk on his face is a bit too close for comfort the old chap leaning over with the lug wrench is in for a shock by the look of it

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

"CANADA'S 500,000TH MILITARY VEHICLE - OSHAWA, JUNE 1943. Extensive ceremonies marked the delivery, June 19, of the half-millionth unit of motorized equipment produced in Canada during this war. A plant visit, a luncheon, a parade, a public ceremony, and demonstrations at proving grounds were the principal events of the day. Automotive workers, representing the three companies which built..."

June 1943 marked the 500,000th vehicle, and by September 1945 an astounding grand total of 857,970 vehicles - Canadian Military Pattern, Modified Conventional Pattern, Armoured and Miscellaneous - were built for the Canadian Armed Services and Allies.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

"Original Toronto Star caption: Into the driver's seat of one of the big army trucks being built by General Motors at Oshawa clambered the Earl of Athlone when he inspected the busy factory recently
Date: 3/5/1941"

Source: https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/object...trucks-being-b

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

The Muckie-Mucks in Ottawa don't generally like to travel too far from home, in case they get lost. The GM plant in Oshawa is a lot closer to Ottawa than the Ford plant in Windsor. If the milestone vehicle just happened to be coming off the Ford line, then it makes sense it would be driven up to the GM line for the Muckie-Mucks to celebrate. Collectively they would not have had enough bread crumbs to make it safely to Windsor and home.

I just hope the chaps in the cab were the actual Ford people who drove the truck up to Oshawa and home. If they were GM workers, it would have been a very interesting drive back to the Ford plant.

A friend pointed out that William Gregg wrote the Ford was a Chevrolet….
Source: ‘Blueprint for Victory’ page 100.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Apparently it was quite the gathering of people and vehicles. Some of the captions and pictures found at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/a...t/index-e.html include:

"CANADA'S 500,000TH MILITARY VEHICLE - OSHAWA, JUNE 1943. Canada's half-millionth unit of motorized equipment, a battery charger lorry, was completed in Oshawa recently, and presented by Hon. C.D. Howe to Col. J.L. Ralston, Minister of National Defence. Ceremony was attended by many foreign representatives, high army officials and industrialists."

See the footage here, too: https://youtu.be/hU6UX-TCXm0?feature=shared&t=86