simon king

Welbourn Have you tried the G503,com Staff Car Forum with this query ? sk

For a project I'm involved in - Could somebody clarify the position with regard to the colour of the census numbers painted onto airborne trailers? The regs appear to state that census numbers for airborne formations should be painted in light blue - but most of the restorations I have seen have white census numbers on the trailer - with blue numbers only on the towing jeep. Were the trailers delivered with white numbers (as they could be used by other formations as well) and there were more important things to do than repaint the census numbers on the trailer in pale blue for the sake of uniformity. It does seem difficult to interpret black and white photos in this case Additionally, were numbers just painted on the offside and rear - or were numbers also seen painted on the nearside as well? Any help and advice would be gratefully received. Thanks SK

Thanks for coming - a good time was had by all Looks as if we're going to do it all again next year!

David, I haven't had one yet - as I'm finding it hard to determine a manufacturer so far - hopefully other owners will begin to feed in the manufacturer/characteristics of their trailers into this thread so that some form of tabular database of information can be created. I simply asked Robert if he did such plates and he sent me a photos of plates that he had already done - so presumably he has all the artwork and information required already. The brass plate was for a SSC built No1 MkII GS trailer but presumably he will just change that lettering to the appropriate initials for the manufacturer as well as the metal from which the plate is made It might be worth just contacting him So what is the difference between a No1 MkI GS trailer and a No1 MkII GS trailer - is it just the hitch or are there other things like pins or screws to secure the support legs - or does that simply depend on the manufacturer ? Presumably the No2 MkI GS trailer is the one with solid sides - or is it something else? sk

have you tried Robert at Dataplates4u? http://rdrnl.home.xs4all.nl/4UWPIntro2.html he does them for the GS trailer

Just a reminder that this new event, at a venue with military connections and good facilities, will be held in the park adjacent to Thoresby Courtyard, Ollerton, North Nottinghamshire this Sunday - 9th June 2013. The site is midway between Clumber and Rufford and houses the Regimental Museum of the Queens Royal Lancers and Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Regiments. The weather is set fair for the weekend so contact me (simon_king@talktalk.net) if you fancy a run-out and are interested in attending - I am still accepting entries up to close of play on Saturday - I just need to know how much space is needed simon king

here are some of the identifying features from my No1 GS trailer - manufacturer unknown Spring mounts - cast not welded support leg fittings -pins not screws front handle mounts -curved rear edge and angle iron construction - position of other fittings also differs mudguard supports The hitch is currently away being used as a pattern for a couple to be made but its the first type "girder and tube" construction. It has the larger eye though. There also seem to be differences in the construction of the handles with just plain tubes or the ends shut off. My trailer also has the three tabs (well, two and a stub actually) underneath the frame at the back. Other pointers - hinge pins for tailgate both point same way. Hope this is all grist to the mill...... SK

I think the square head nuts may be original - certainly the "record shots" of 10 cwt GS trailers I have show square nuts throughout. My GS trailer has the same spring hanger castings as yours so is probably from the same manufacturer and had a few remaining square nuts as well. John did some canvas for my 10cwt GS about a month ago - apparently they weren't "tailored" - just a flat piece of canvas with numerous eyelets and double thickness of canvas at the wear areas on front and rear corner raves. For the GS the Data Book of Wheeled Vehicles says that the canvas is deep enough in the sides for the trailer to be loaded 6" above the top rail. Another interesting difference - I always thought that the mudguard supports were bolted to the centre raves on Mortar trailers - but they seem welded on your example. sk

It worked for me anyway..... According to 2DY records May 19, 1944: "Four trailers 10 cwt (to be towed by Jeeps) arrived." May 22, 1944: "Seven trailers 10 cwt arrived."

If you trawl through Gavin Birch's British Jeep book, most Jeeps that have bridge plates carry either 2 or 3/2 (3 over 2). The odd Jeep carries 1 and some carry 5 sk

I also need some cleats for my 10cwt GS. I'm not averse to getting thing made - finding people who can do such things is all part of the fun. I've had some wheelnuts manufactured and a replacement body for the first type of hitch (the one used when there are separate handles on the neck) is currently being made as are replacement front and rear raves, front handles etc. Incidentally have you noticed that the rear corner raves are made up from two pieces of the same dimensions to ease fabrication and shaped after welding together Does anyone know how the cleats were made - I have a feeling it was smithed - with a piece of round bar forged onto a piece of flat bar for the base and then the round bar bent to form the hook. If I can find the way they were manufactured it will be easy to get some reproduced. Returning to the hitch - at either end there seems to be a tube that locks the bearing in situ and also acts as a grease channel down into the bearing from the grease nipples at either end - are these still available or is it something else to be manufactured? Thanks sk

Any vehicle owners in the area are more than welcome to join us at Thoresby on 9th June - the following weekend - instead. It's the first time an open MV event has been held at Thoresby in association with the Museum and Estate but every event has to start somewhere, and the potential is massive. Thoresby is only 5 miles down the road from Clumber - another of the Dukeries. If you're interested in joining us e-mail me or PM me - or even phone Worksop 476991 Everybody welcome - be in on the ground floor! sk

just a reminder that this new event, at a new venue with military connections, will be held at Thoresby Courtyard, Ollerton, North Nottinghamshire on Sunday 9th June 2013. The site is midway between Clumber and Rufford and houses the Regimental Museum of the Queens Royal Lancers and Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Regiments. Contact me if you are interested in attending - and I can give you more information simon king

I think both legs are ether clamped or pinned I thought that the No1/No2 thing related to the type of hitch No1 = hitch with separate arms on the frame No2 = hitch as per the airborne trailer with arms as part of the hitch but I could be wrong! sk

The restoration of my 10cwt GS trailer continues at a glacial pace. One of the items missing is the data plate. It is possible to get reproductions of these but the data plate includes the initials of the manufacturer. I wonder therefore if it is possible to identify the manufacturer from the fittings - as these seem to differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. The spring mounts on a Reynolds built trailer seem fabricated from sheet steel, whereas those on a trailer built by Orme Evans seem to be cast. SS Cars also use cast mounts - but these seem to be a different shape from those used by Orme Evans. Is it at all possible for those with a data plate showing the manufacturer to post pictures of the spring mounts used on their trailers to act as a resource for others restoring these trailers. There also seem to be differences in the way the support legs are fixed (screw or pin) as well as differences in the positioning of minor fittings - but it's difficult to fathom these all out. On the basis of pictures on here, I think the trailer I have may have been built by Orme Evans (which ultimately became part of Brockhouse) but I'm not entirely sure. Does anybody have the Orme Evans Contract Number and census number range to populate a data plate. I'm assuming the plate would include OEL for Orme Evans Limited. Thanks for any help you are able to give sk

Trent Valley MVT, in association with the Queen’s Royal Lancers and Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Museum and the Thoresby Estate, has arranged for a military vehicle event to be held at Thoresby Courtyard (adjacent to Warner Leisure’s Thoresby Hall Hotel). on Sunday 9th June. This event will also representation from the current and past Regiments represented at the museum. Thoresby Courtyard and the adjacent parkland provides an excellent venue for such events, particularly given the presence of the military museum, cafe and other needed facilities. A camping ground is available for anybody wishing to arrive on Saturday 8th June. The site has good transport links, being near to Ollerton in North Nottinghamshire (a stone’s throw from Clumber Park) and just off the A614 , which in turn leads directly from the A1 Worksop junction Like many large country house estates, Thoresby was requisitioned during the war and was used by 3rd Battalion, Scots Guards for training in the run up to D-Day – all the concrete roads around the estate date from this time as does the remaining brick built tank dip used to test waterproofing techniques for the landings. If you are interested in attending this new event, please contact me for further details and an entry form by e-mail at simon.king@talktalk.net

Can I join ? sk

Thanks Ian - another bit of the jigsaw sorted sk

Ian - where did you get the Land Rover turnbuckle locks with the circular base from? . I need one for the box on a 10cwt GS trailer but can only seem to find them with the circular base cut away in part with a straight edge. Thanks Simon King

I assume that you are aware of G503.com. It is an essential reference for anyone restoring an MB or GPW. Although many US Marine jeeps were painted Forest Green, I think that some were redirected from US Army contracts so were painted OD

British prototype Humber Hexonaut for auction in the States http://auctionsamerica.com/media/release.cfm?ID=908. sk

Anybody have a source for 3/8 BSF wheel nuts suitable for the Easy-Clean wheels on the 10cwt trailer series - GS and Lightweight have the same axle and hubs - albeit with a different track. I've looked on the internet but for many one-model vintage car part sites, they don't specify the size of wheel nuts available. Thanks sk

Modern equivalents of these plugs are available from Paul Beck Vintage Supplies. At the trailer end, it looks as if there is a similar connector to the one fitted to the jeep, (but not the same) fitted to the o/s frame of the trailer. This doesn't seem to require the plug as the jeep one does. Is there a source for the "innards" of these connectors? I have just bought a 10cwt GS trailer - more rust and fresh air than metal but I want a project - does anybody know a source for brake rubbers,shackle pins and bushes and spring clips as a starter? Thanks sk

Thanks for that - I read that these coloured bars were very much associated with the BEF and had fallen out of use by around 1943. They were also in a different form to the strips seen in the run up to D-Day in that they were presented in a single block made up of the 3 strips rather than the three strips being separated. So was this re-introduced in a slightly different form for D-Day?. There seems to be a consistency in placement (front o/s and rear n/s) and presentation (3 separate strips) sk

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