15-cwt GS trailer saved from scrapyard

[Grant Bowker]

Recently a fellow MLU member (I leave it to him to decide whether he wants to be identified) was searching an Eastern Ontario scrapyard for Jeeps and Jeep parts. He didn't find what he was hoping for but did see an unusual trailer. He didn't need the trailer himself but dropped a hint that one of the Hammond barn crew might be interested in having a look. My thanks for the hint. The 15CWT GS trailer is now in the Hammond area. There were also the rough remains of a CGT FAT4 in the yard. The only real value in this would be a few parts. Wheels and axles, flywheel housing, nose metal, brake levers, etc. An indication of the perceived value was that the owner was willing to sell it for what he would get for scrap metal, the trailer was several times scrap value so he did have an idea of things value. The yard owner has offered to let me know if he comes across other CMP. He is not interested in selling parts, but might sell the complete vehicle then rebuy the residue after parts have been removed (naturally he buys and sells at different prices - he has expenses and family to feed).

The trailer was manufactured by Brantford Coach and Body .
The chassis seems fairly good and mainly complete. The fenders have been cut off. The master cylinder and linkage have been removed along with the handbrake lever but most of the rest of the brake system is present. The master will be the easiest part to source as it is still available new at reasonable prices from numerous sources. The linkage for both the master cylinder and between parking brake and relay shaft will need reproduction or originals found. The parking brake cables have been cut so will need replacement. They were a Ford part number so might be findable except that they are Canadian numbered and similar parts in the F15A parts book have the * meaning peculiar to CMP. Do people have hints on what they have found as good substitutes? A spare handbrake lever assembly is already waiting (it 's a standard Ford lever, known to match trailers so was bought on spec). The lighting system is mainly missing but with enough traces to allow reproduction once the light units are found. The biggest puzzle about the chassis is that someone spent quite a bit of effort reinforcing the tongue. It was acknowledged in the AEDB design record that trailer tongues tended to fail at the front edge of the body so it is easy to understand the desire to strengthen the trailer if it was planned to overload it. Two lengths of channel of similar size to the original tongue have been added on each side between the front spring hangers and the coupler assembly, one with the open side facing outward, the other with the open side facing down. Does anyone have information on whether this was a military modification or post-war? (Careful paint sanding might tell me something on this.)

The basic body is present including the tailgate but missing the flare boards. The floor and under frame look like they may be usable although some of the mounting bolts were changed due to the reinforcing steel added to the tongue. The side panels and headboard are in poor shape but good enough to be usable as patterns. They are thankfully relatively simple shapes to make and assemble. Photos of original trailers suggest the flare boards are about the same thickness as the top of the main body. Does anyone have better information about dimensions and construction of the flare boards to permit reproduction? Were the hinge rods for the flare boards 4 individual segments or one long rod each side? The adjustment brackets and support rods are also a puzzle.

Photos to follow, but I want to do some work today on dent removal from a CMP door.