Baz48

I first went to Duxford in the early seventies where one of the side stores in the middle hanger absolutely full of them

Caught sight of one down the side of a house in Devon May time last year. My other half well she wasn't best pleased at my stopping to look. It was the colour that first caught my attention a day or so previous, the colour looked the shade the US-Air Force used on Sherpas they had around Mildenhall and Lakenheath a while back and yes it was ex-US forces under the flaky paint. It was in a bit of a state and sadly it wasn’t for sale. I’m sure if one arrived on the show scene condescending voices would be heard

There have been several posts on this forum and others regarding verification of unregistered ex-military vehicles, the DVLA and getting a registration document. Again, from this forum and others the MVT appear to have a backlog of applications to work through or may not be processing applications at this time. I have seen recently the Essex-HMVA (I understand a registered charity) undertake vehicle verification both for their members and others requiring such a service. Details I believe are on their website. If you don’t know Essex-Historic Military Vehicle Association (ESSEX-HMVA) look for there website with links to Shows and Events they support and attend as well as organise, worth a look.

Thank You for the link just shows what information is out there. The Box in the photos I believe was bought in the US and brought to the UK many years ago then forgotten about. While it would make an interesting exhibit on one of US-Navy trucks I suspect as you say you would need a crane to lift it on or off when full of tools. I assume from what you say the overall colour would be OD and not the gloss black it is now. So possibly it wouldn't be out of place on a Bomb-Service Truck or flightline service vehicle rather than infantry or armoured unit vehicle. Regards removing paint to look for markings an interesting thought, I'll suggest that to its owner many thanks.

This Cantilever Tool-Box assuming its ex-U.S. Navy anyone ideas of age. It’s substantial and would guess if full of tools it’s more than a one person lift

FV 2501(A) Trailer Cargo 2 Tonne Mk-2 Manufacturer Rubery, Owen &Co. Ltd

It's one of two in similar condition we came across while having a mover around. While it looks tatty it appears complete in reasonable condition certainly suitable for light cleaning to keep the patina. I haven’t been inside it and it’s not likely to be powered up I am curious as to what it is and what the use was. After the move round curiosity may get the better of me and I might take the case off just to see. Thank you for all the comments it's appreciated, radio kit is not my particular interest :- Barry

Interesting - thank you

It’s an interesting thought while this maybe so I believe the boxes were bought at different farm/plant sales probably decades ago then put into the might be useful one day stillage to be joined over the years by later monition storage boxes. Thanks see what else surfaces.

A/C radio equipment – having a clear out of odd’s and end’s and came across this any idea of what it is and it’s era I’m assuming 1940’s

Hi Gent’s apology for late response and thank you for the replies, interesting especially the 25-Lbs box repurposed, Adrian I took a quick look in them and think that one has what maybe a document case in the lid. If it is Canadian it’s right for the Cheve-C15A the others for the QL. Can either of you you tell me what the munitions in Box marked M104 were, the wording rockets is intriguing again thanks:-

Not sure if there is a section for munitions boxes – so can anyone identify theses boxes recently found in a dark and dismal place one each stamped 1940 and 1942 two 1945 and one US-type 1944 any help will be appreciated:-

Hi I didn’t take it as criticism and nether was my post a criticism of the OY but an observation of its service mods. Like you my interest is British and I include Commonwealth as amongst others I help rebuild and look after is a CMP C-15A which still has its 40’s mod plate riveted onto the back of the engine cover in the cab. I am always open to persuasion and happy to learn something new and have been since first working to install equipment into military vehicles as an apprentice in the early sixties and been working on restoring conserving ex-military vehicles ever since. Its great you get to know nice people.

That's great reff the side covers and that's how I would keep it if I was lucky enough to own it. The rear body how was it modified purely out of interest

Not sure you understood my previous post as intended which was not a criticism, yes vehicle of this age would most likely go through a rebuild program as denoted unusually on the rebuild plate riveted to the frame. My view is it’s up to the owner how they portray their vehicle, what if any genuine service history it may have is explained. Most importantly I think is the owner happy with their vehicle and its historical representation. While I have as yet not owned an OY I have for some time looked after a few owned several QL’s a Dingo an Austin K-6 K-9 and K-3 a Scammell SV/S and numerous others. I have been doing this a long-time and on occasions been asked to judge comment and write leaving others to make their own minds up. As for a vehicle being 70, 80-years old and not undergone some form of restorative work is unlikely. As for the OY in the photo above from what I can see it looks good and one I’d make a point of taking a photo of should I come across it at a show, by the way I found a box of two new old stock sling plates.

Impressive

Prices on Milweb in my opinion are at best optimistic - but if you the buyer and the seller are happy with what you pay then the price is just right. Regards working on 432's easy if its engine related just lift it out, you only need a crane, lifting frame and straps at least 3-friends deep pockets and you are good to go. If you find it hard unrewarding work why own one

The one above may be on singles and it may be 1940 production while its engine side panels are post 42 singles all round I understand came in end of 40 early 41 for OY's while OW's kept 32x6 single fronts 34x7 twin rear's

I had several Ex-Dutch Munga's all were fitted from new with towing pintles - from memory there are two types of pintal cast and pressed steel suitable for towing Jeep/Landrover trailer types

My father like many others drove and fought from Egypt west to Sicily via Tunis and all points in between with little knowledge of speeches made other than the one telling them they would disengage and return to RN-control before returning home in preparation for a European invasion

I'm sure my late father would be pleased to know that as he along with others had been dropped off at night along the coast as part of a diversionary ploy

West German government's contribution to British involvement in Germany was by way of providing vehicles and equipment possibly the trailer is such a piece of equipment

An eye watering amount + fuel + pocket monies + food allowance + some pic's of some of the vehicle we took to a show out of our own pocket

Congratulations on the OY a good choice of vehicle. Finding a definitive history of your OY will be something of a challenge if it has a brass plate on the chassis (LH-side) that may give you its post-war registration and census number. If you have that then you may be able to trace its wartime service history there are often people on here who can point you in the right direction. There is a good chance your vehicle will at some point been rebuilt usually in the early fifties. If as you say your vehicle is a 1940 production and it hasn’t had a cab transplant then the instrument layout on the dashboard is likely to be from the left to right. Oil and Water temperature gauge with an Oil pressure light above next to the Speedometer/Mileage meter next a Bakelite switch cluster comprising ignition switch and ignition warning light with main light switch below and to the right of that an Ammeter. A simplified instrument layout came about around Chassis number 43522 sometime in 1941 or so the book say’s. Any marking the vehicle may have worn might be revealed under the layers of paint so be careful when removing the paint on the doors bonnet and wings. Along with the OY Bedford produced a very similar looking vehicle almost indistinguishable the OW-S or L short or long wheelbase. Same front end cab and wheelbase externally the difference was wheel types and twin rear wheels with a 5-ton payload against the OY’s 3-ton. The engine was also slightly different valve stem dimensions carburettor brakes hubs and front axle all slightly different. The OW was primarily for civilian operators and the M of S the RAF used OWLD 4x2 5-ton General Service, OWL 4x2 5-ton Tender Pantechnicon OWST 4x2 5-ton Tipper in significant quantities alongside OY’s

Hi I would be cautious about taking one sources as a definitive when gauging the age of an ex-military vehicle. While Vauxhall/Bedford gives the number of OY-type chassis produced in 1940 just over 14.000 units while the late Bart H. Vanderveen’s book Kaleidoscope of Bedford and Vauxhall Military Vehicles gives the first contract as V.3603. In the Chilwell Allocation by Central Census “B” Vehicles W.D. Numbers that contract number appears 9-times with a total number of allocations in the region of 4.750-vehicles total. Without spending hours over the computer looking into the Army contracts awarded that leaves a little over nine and a half thousand chassis unaccounted for.