Posted by Mac from Texas on Friday, October 27, 2006 at 7:47PM :
In Reply to: Re: WWII serial numbers do not tell you the model number... posted by steve from maine on Friday, October 27, 2006 at 6:03PM :
My Wc 12 has matching Data plate and Frame # and the Brass tag on the bed has the same date as the manufacture. I even have a book I got somewhere that shows Info on lots that were built at the Factory. My Info leads me to believe that 1/2 T had 6" more frame if equipped with a winch and the only models were command cars and open cabs. But who knows the military is notorious for bringing trucks together and rebuilding them in groups freely mixing the parts and they still do their is a Depot level build shop 20 miles away. They also canabilize and modify as necesary from what little I have seen. These trucks went to various concerns after the war and a lot of them were modified again and a lot of open cabs becane closed cabs and a few closed cabs became winch models. There are some things that give them a way but I believe worring about serial#s is not to healthy you would be better served looking for traces on the hood numbers , and check the tailgate for same as they tended to stay the same through the trucks military life. and proably would indicate it stayed together through its later life and most of its military life. As the 1/2 t saw very little overseas service they were proably better maintained here than overseas and more likely to see a depot rebuild I would think and actual closed cabs were more than likely better maintained as they proably belonged to a senior NCO who did not want to be exposed to weather in a rag top. Some things that geive aweay its age is the size of the rear brakes, the style of the canvas tie down rings, the placement of the rear reflectors as it to where they were mounted and the type of dash. You might look for traces of origional unit markings especially on the rear of the beds and below the doors. But again I know that my book shows more than 1 type of T series closed cab being built at the same time. Just my .02 cents I will get in my flame suit.
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