Early Willys MBT Serial number location on frame?

Hi,

I restoring a early Willys MBT, that still has the data plate.

I am unable to locate any serial number stamped on the frame. Was the serial number stamped on the early unit frames?

Regards,

Phillip.

 

It is on the bottom of the frame rail, but to find it you have to remove the front left spring hanger. I use a propane torch to remove the paint, along with some gentle help from a wire brush.

 

There will be an "ACM" number underneath the left front spring hangar. It is a number stamped by the manufacturer of the tub and not the trailer serial number. The only "serial number" on MBT (Willys) and T-3 (Bantam) trailers is on the original data plate.

 

Hi Again,

Thanks for the advise.

Sorry, maybe its because its late, but what does ACM stand for?

I did find a serial number under the spring hanger, but it does not match the one on the data plate. Both are in the 3000 range, but the frame serial number is higher and has a W, I assume for Willys, stamped above it.

So the number on the frame is from when he tub was manufactured. I would have assumed both serial numbers to match?

Regards,

Phillip.

 

American Central Manufacturing, the company that manufactured the tubs/frames for Willys and Bantam.

The ACM number will not match the number on the data plate. Data plates with serial numbers were affixed after manufacture. The "W" on your ACM number was intended to indicate that the tub was built for Willys, although as WWII progressed there apparently were Willys trailers with "B" ACM numbers and Bantam trailers with "W" ACM numbers.


Chuck Lutz, who frequents the www.G503.com 1/4 ton trailer forum, maintains a data base of serial numbers for WWII Bantam T-3 and Willys MBT trailers. Read his "sticky" post at the top of the forum for indicators of Willys and Bantam trailers. If you provide him with the ACM number and data plate serial number he may be able to provide you with an extrapolated date of manufacture.

 

Hi, thanks for the information and it is good to have the forum back on line.

Happy to add my trailers details to a data-base, but I have been unable to locate one as Chuck Lutz's site looks to only be interested in the civilian bantams and the G503.com only in 4 wheel devices.

Regards.

 

On the G503 forum, look in "towed accesories" then in "trailer 1/4 ton" the sticky should be the first posting. You will have to scroll down from the top of the forum page to find "towed accesories" they have trailers, artillery, airplanes, and motorcycles. most of which have less then four wheels!
I think that you will find some very usefull information there. Good luck, Matt W.










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