bobs1918 Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Hello All, I have read some of your posts and I thought I would like to add my input. I have collected militaria for 45 years. I own a WC-56 a 1916 Dodge staff car and a 1918 Dodge Light Repair Truck. So I am kind of partial to DBs. My father was a navigator in the 487th BG (H) in Lavenham. He flew 28 missions and survived!! That is why I am here! I have been an avid Army Air Corps collector/historian and the WC-56 is dedicated to the 487th BG I was the historian for the Bomb group for a time and I have visited USAAF Station 137 several times. I am active with living history group in my area and have been invited to display at The US Military Academy at West Point and at the Hyde Park New York State home of FDR . I have more recently moved into the ww 1 vehicle arena as these are far more unusual. I especially like the thread re the Dennis truck restoration. My Light Repair truck is to my knowledge one of only 3 remaining of the 1012 built. The other 2 being in US museums. So that's it for a quick Intro. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Welcome, you should find a lot of like minds here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Hi Bob Very excited to hear about your WW1 trucks. Have you got any photos that you could post as i would love to see them. Thanks Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 (edited) Hello glad to share Here is the 16 and the 18. The 16 was a 4 year frame up restoration. It is restored to ww 1 configuration. the 1916s were first used by US forces along the Mexican border in pursuit of Poncho Villa. My 16 was originally a standard DB touring car as were ALL of Pershing's car during the campaign. The 18 was one of the group of repair trucks NOT to go to France. About 500 did . The rest stayed in the US. This is one of 3 known to exist. 1 is in LA California museum the other in Pennsylvania military museum. Mine is the most complete and original example remaining. Owned for 50 years by a gentleman in Northern California. It had been a farm vehicle after ww 1 and used as a plow truck!!! I have been working on it to restore to original configuration. Enjoy the picture .I have more if you want . Bob http://www.globalarray.net/user/bobspics/1618b.jpg Edited March 23, 2010 by bobs1918 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 I m sure you have put a tremendous amount of time into restoring them , Looking very good . It would be great to be able to hear them running ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 Here is one more view of the 1918 : http://www.globalarray.net/user/bobspics/18ow.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big ray Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Hi Bob, they look fantastic !!!!! :dancing::dancing: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Well that is easy on the eye. What sort of gas generator is that on the repair truck? Solar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 yes It has USA marked SOLAR generator and similar marked Solar searchlight. Glad you like the pics bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 26, 2010 Share Posted March 26, 2010 Was there a relationship between Solar and CM Hall? I have seen the search lights with both names? Solar generators seem to be very rare. We have only ever come across one and that was not quite the right model (although very close). Any chance of some photos of your generator? Thanks Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted March 26, 2010 Author Share Posted March 26, 2010 (edited) Tim The manual calls for Solar Generator model 1012B. here is a picture. It is not yet installed as running boards are still in progress Edited March 26, 2010 by bobs1918 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 Is the Soalr an Aceteylene genrator for the lights? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 Thanks for that. Very interesting. Sorry Tony, yes you are right, it as an aceteylene generator for the lights. I will have to dig ours out and photograph it so we can compare it to yours. Strange that they seem to be so rare. Just rotted away through use i suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 (edited) Bob I have just posted some images of our Solar on the WW1 truck lamps thread which can be found here: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?15697-WW1-truck-lamps&p=196821#post196821 But for an easy comparisson here they are as well: Ours has a diameter of about 5 inches and a height of about 13 inches. Is that the same as yours? Tim Edited March 27, 2010 by Great War truck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted March 28, 2010 Author Share Posted March 28, 2010 Tim My generator is 5 in wide at the top 7 in wide lower section and 14 in tall (at the edge) not including the curvature of the top. Therefore close cousins of each other but slightly different in the mounting. bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 Hi Bob. Going back a little bit, I am very impressed with your vehicles. They both look super! May I ask how you decided what colour to paint them? Our own US Army FWD is painted a British khaki-brown colour as we were unable to trace any record of the US colour scheme. We may or may not be right but we have no evidence either way. As a British colour, it is spot on as we have a piece of lorry chassis with original paint but I would love to know what US records survive. Cheers! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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