Early Mk.I* "TL13F", CB180

[Michael R.]

If serial number 13 was produced in March, 1941 .... you do the math.

The request to Ford Canada was received in May, 1940 for 600 universal carriers. While most (but not all) parts were being produced in North American plants for the Canadian 1940 Model 1 Universal Carrier in 1940 (C01UC), records show the first Canadian produced carrier rolled out of the Ensite plant on 8 February, 1941. By 12 February, 1942, 4,000 had been produced.

On occasion, 1940 dated Ford Canada parts show up, as well as the British parts like Solex carburetors, steering gearbox, instrument gauges and 'Prince of Darkness' headlamps that had been delivered to get as many as the first 2,000 plus carriers out the door.

[Marc van Aalderen]

Good Morning Martin,

Welcome to the greatest forum on the planet. You certainly have bought a very interesting Carrier. Also very complete. Looking forward to your restoration progress. All the best.

Cheers,

[Petr Brezina]

Nice one. Good luck with the resto!

[lssah2025]

Congrats on the two purchases, I have about 60 pictures of your otter if you want them..

[Nech]

Thank you gentleman!

Kevin I believe we can reproduce the dataplate for you from mine somehow.

Lynn what do you mean? The steps are swapped? The rear plate is very incomplete and I think it is not from this carrier at all.

Just now the restoration process begun with my workshop expansion, I am short of space. I believe a lot of us solved the same problem.

Can anyone tell me what parts exactly were british made on this early carrier please? Need to start collecting all the missing bits and the manual+spare parts list I have, is just for all canadian parts.

[Michael R.]

On the vertical differential cover that appears in your posted image, the step usually placed on the driver side has a bracket attached underneath to fit the crow bar. While it appears common to rivet the steps to the plate, there is a transition point or modification to use removable fasteners. The step inserts on early carriers are a composite material. See Ben Hawkins Scout carrier restoration as a reference. Eventually all composite or rubber material for rear compartment firing rests, most straps and the rear step inserts changed over to wood, webbing and checker plate.

Nigel Watson published a page listing the major portions of the British manufactured parts that were shipped to Ford Canada. Those parts show on the Canadian government orders as well as British Supply Ministry orders. There are multiple image examples of British supplied parts on early carriers supplied to the Canadian government. Some have been posted here on MLU. For a list of Brit parts, see Watson, Universal Carriers, Volume 1, page 114.

If you examine the parts manual FUC-03 there are guides with respect to the serial number change over for the installation of certain TL parts. For example, the Solex carburetor 40 RZ INP was used to serial # 2039.

[Nech]

Originally Posted by Michael R.

On the vertical differential cover that appears in your posted image, the step usually placed on the driver side has a bracket attached underneath to fit the crow bar. While it appears common to rivet the steps to the plate, there is a transition point or modificaion to use removable fasteners. The step inserts on early carriers are a composite material. See Ben Hawkins Scout carrier restoration as a reference. Eventually all composite or rubber material for firing rests, straps and steps changed over to wood, webbing and checker plate.

Nigel Watson published a page listing the major portions of the British manufactured parts that were shipped to Ford Canada. Those parts show on the Canadian government orders as well as British Supply Ministry orders. There are multiple image examples of British supplied parts on early carriers supplied to the Canadian government. Some have been posted here on MLU. For a list of Brit parts, see Watson, Universal Carriers, Volume 1, page 114.

If you examine the parts manual FUC-03 there are guides with respect to the serial number change over for the installation of certain TL parts. For example, the Solex carburetor 40 RZ INP was used to serial # 2039.

Very usefull! Thank you very much! I am already in touch with Nigel, but his books are already sold out. Need to hunt them down on ebay or somewhere.

[Michael R.]

Originally Posted by Nech

"paraphrased"
Lynn what do you mean? The steps are swapped? The rear plate is very incomplete and I think it is not from this carrier at all.

Martin, notice on each rear step you can see four nuts and bolts showing on the bottom? The early C01UC used those bolts to retain the rubber step inserts. At least the steps are likely correct for the period of TL 13.

[Nech]

Originally Posted by Michael R.

Martin, notice on each rear step you can see four nuts and bolts showing on the bottom? The early C01UC used those bolts to retain the rubber step inserts. At least the steps are likely correct for the period of TL 13.

Will do some pictures later. Yes, from what I had studied I believe the steps are correct, one of them still has the original rubber.