Posted by Clint Dixon [108.162.216.103] on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 20:37:46 :
In Reply to: Poll for the forum - O/F tank posted by MichaelM in MI [162.158.74.36] on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 18:54:52 :
There was a parts list titled: "Advance List of Parts #D-11112 For New Dodge General Purpose Truck Model WDX" - dated December 17, 1945. It did not show an overflow tank. In fact, this advance list did not show a LOT of parts. The overflow tank was first shown in the parts list titled: "Dodge Power Wagon (Preliminary) Parts List Model WDX, #D-11091 - issued December 1945" (but not released to dealers until March 6, 1946). This preliminary list pictured the overflow tank with the oil can bracket attached.
The tank was indicated in this list as a previously unlisted number and was shown as such: Group Code 7-52-2, TANK, Radiator Overflow, Complete, Assembly, 927 191.
The bracket was shown as: Group Code 20-04-9. However, that group number did not actually show in the group 20 section. The parts in that section skip right from 20-03-3 to 20-06-3.
So we know that a tank and bracket assembly was installed on an early Power-Wagon and photographed for the yet to be released parts list. Both were flagged with group numbers so the reader could find the correct section to look up the part numbers. However, sometime after the picture was taken, and the photo in the list was flagged with the callout, the bracket was omitted from that particular section of the list.
Since your truck has such an early serial number, and since it is on record as having been built on January 28, 1946, a whole month before the fist official parts list was released to dealers, I would find a WWII tank with oil can bracket to install if the truck were mine. And if I were a concourse judge, I would give you extra points for having it in place.... ;^)
As a note of interest, I have on record that the name "Power-Wagon" was announced to the public in March of 1946 in the magazine titled: Power Wagon. The first record I have of the name actually being used in print was on the cover of that "Preliminary Parts List" issued in December of 1945.
So to sum up:
1) Here we have the name "Power Wagon" appearing in print in a document that was "issued" in December of 1945. When it actually rolled off the press is unknown, but it is a safe guess that it was well AFTER December of 1945.
2) It is now known that there were trucks being produced without the badges as late as January 28th of 1946.
3) I also have a letter from Chrysler showing that Dodge dealers were still receiving "Advance List Of Parts" updated insert sheets as of January 23, 1946.
4) And, I have a letter from Chrysler showing that the December 1945 issued "Preliminary Parts List" was finally delivered to dealers on March 6, 1946.
5) The "Power Wagon" badges did not appear in parts lists until 1948.
I think one can make some safe conclusions from all of this:
a) The name "Power-Wagon" may not actually have been settled upon at the time the first WDX rolled off the assembly line. But, it must have at least become official as early as December 1945.
b) It apparently took a while for designs to be completed, hood badges to be manufactured, and the parts to actually start appearing installed on the sides of the hoods.
c) The public may not have been officially informed of the name of the truck until March of 1946.
Junior
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