How To: Ford CMP "Blitz" miscellany

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Grant,

Thank you for that link. Brass may be an option if aluminium laser etching isn't satisfactory. Would like to keep it the same metal as original-aluminium.
Seems Chevy CMP's opted for brass plates or am I wrong?

That article would be very handy for someone restoring the early war Ford CMP's brass switch plates. I had one which I sold and think there was some black colour remaining in the graphics. See attached. Perhaps the whole plate was black but removing the green patina may have also remove the black.

Cheers,

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

Hi Grant,

Thank you for that link. Brass may be an option if aluminium laser etching isn't satisfactory. Would like to keep it the same metal as original-aluminium.
Seems Chevy CMP's opted for brass plates or am I wrong?

That article would be very handy for someone restoring the early war Ford CMP's brass switch plates. I had one which I sold and think there was some black colour remaining in the graphics. See attached. Perhaps the whole plate was black but removing the green patina may have also remove the black.

Cheers,

I have never seen a brass plate on a Chev. They were all steel with the decals (except Chevs with square instruments where no plate was used). I've only seen the brass plates on early 13 cab Fords. This speaks to factory and Canadian/British CMPs, no idea what the Australians may have gotten up to.

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Bruce,

Looking at the LWD website I saw a couple early C8, C15 brass shift plates.

I also see the black print on steel shift plates for the later Chev's so I guess most were of this type.

My understanding is that all Ford Australia assembled CMP's came to Australia as bare cab chassis with just the cowl, controls, and instrument panels. Doors, roof, and cabin parts were stamped here and added. I think even the floorboards were locally sourced. Perhaps to keep the shipping weight down?

I had two sets of brass switch plates from Australian assembled cab 13 trucks so I assume they came in with the cab chassis and not added later.

Cheers,

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

My understanding is that all Ford Australia assembled CMP's came to Australia as bare cab chassis with just the cowl, controls, and instrument panels. Doors, roof, and cabin parts were stamped here and added. I think even the floorboards were locally sourced. Perhaps to keep the shipping weight down?

I had two sets of brass switch plates from Australian assembled cab 13 trucks so I assume they came in with the cab chassis and not added later.

Jacques, the Ford and Chevrolet CMP truck were shipped CKD - see this link and the description quoted below.

It means that the trucks were not assembled before being crated and shipped, but that crates with parts were shipped over, to be assembled in Australia with locally sourced parts - this may well have included switch plates.

Mike Cecil listed the difference in CKD content from Ford and Chevrolet on the old forum:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

This is endorsed by the differences in CKD content (what was shipped from Canada) between Chevrolet and Ford, as listed by Mike Cecil in the thread "Antipodean Ford CMPs" on the Old MLU Forum:

• Chevrolet: all chassis and mechanicals, wheels. Rest manufactured locally: complete cabs, complete bodies, spare tyre rack and tool box.
  
• Ford: all chassis, mechanicals, cab floor/lower cab frame, upper (windscreen) cab frame, doors, windscreen frames, front shell, wheels. Rest manufactured locally in Aust: cab floor, engine cover, cab back, roof, guards, spare wheel carrier & tool box, body.

CKD:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

To be more precise, may I quote from an earlier posting:

Usually large trucks like the Mack were not shipped CKD, only partly knocked down. Read the articles on this subject in Wheels & Tracks magazine.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

I have never seen a brass plate on a Chev. They were all steel with the decals (except Chevs with square instruments where no plate was used). I've only seen the brass plates on early 13 cab Fords. This speaks to factory and Canadian/British CMPs, no idea what the Australians may have gotten up to.

12 Cab Chev:

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

12 Cab Chev:

I'm only talking Chev 13 cab dash switch plates. The transmission/transfer case plates were brass (I have a brass on for my HUW) and later they were printed (decal?) on the engine cover. No such thing as a metal one with decals that I've ever seen.

[Mike Cecil]

Thanks Hanno - must be a long time ago I posted that.

Still pretty much as I understand it, except Ford or a sub-contractor to Ford also produced wheels at some later date.

Chassis were apparently strapped together and packed in sets of 5 - think I remember that from a shipping loss report, but would have to check. Don't know if that was Ford or Chev (or both) imports to Aust. The VOL (ie the WW2 version of CES) was also partially imported, and partially from local sources.

The primary drivers for importation of partial vehicles was a combination of shipping space and the $$ exchange - Govt policy was to manufacture as much as possible locally to maintain jobs and spend Govt money in Australia supporting Aust industry, rather than incurring overseas debt.

This also applied to Lend Lease and the Canadian Mutual Aid program: make as much as could be in Australia for supply to Allies to offset the $$ value of things Aust could not manufacture, thereby minimising overseas debt.

Mike

[Jacques Reed]

Thanks Hanno and Mike for that info.

I stand corrected on the way the CMP vehicles came into Australia i.e. CKD. At least I got most of the local content right.

Those posts were long before I joined MLU so it is good I caused them to be dusted off for the enlightenment of all. I am now a little wiser thanks to this forum and its contributors.

Cheers,

[Jacques Reed]

Good Day,

I just received the prototype engine and transmission data plate from the laser engraver and I am very happy with the results. I liaised closely with him to make it as close to original as possible. I have already informed him to increase the left and right borders by 2 mm for those who spotted it.

As previously mentioned it is black anodized aluminium with the thin black anodizing, laser etched to reveal the aluminium beneath. The depth of the etching is microscopic, so no deep lettering or graphics.

Same material as original, aluminium, but a modern process to replicate the appearance.

Original F15-A plate is at top from which the common artwork was developed.
Middle scan is the F30/F60 prototype.
Bottom photo is an F60 plate from which the Auxiliary Transmission pattern was obtained and the relevant quantities for the larger trucks.

I will get them produced depending on interest shown. Anticipate they can be done for under $30 each. Will know exact amount once I have an idea of quantities to produce. PM me if interested.

Cheers,