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The Sears David Bradley Trailer

Discussion in 'Jeep Trailer Tech' started by maurywhurt, Mar 19, 2010.

  1. May 23, 2010
    hilliarn

    hilliarn New Member

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    I just stumbled across your post. Absolutely beautiful!! I have a Ben Hur 22.46 (ser #42-7204) that has been in my family since my grandfather bought it new. It has the two bolt hitch attachment, fully round axle, long strap hinges and 'BEN HUR' is still clear on the tailgate. I'll send pics as soon as I am able.
     
  2. May 24, 2010
    johnnyc

    johnnyc .

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  3. Jun 4, 2010
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Thanks for the kind words, Hilliarn. Looking forward to seeing those photos of your Ben-Hur whenever you can get them posted!

    Here's a very nice, if slightly modified David Bradley Model 231-417 trailer recently acquired by Gary Davis of California. Gary said it is pretty much rust free, having spent most or all of its life in Southern California.

    Judging from its serial number of 16350, it was probably manufactured in 1953. It also has the short-backstrap hinges, c-channel rear bed gussets, and c-channel axle that would correspond to that year. The wheels were replaced at some point, perhaps with 1960's-era jeep wheels (though it's hard to tell for sure):

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    Note that the cargo tie-down hooks have been replaced with welded-on homemade versions. The originals weren't all that strong, and apparently either broke off or were deemed inadequate by some PO:

    [​IMG]


    This trailer also has a pretty cool under-mounted spare tire bracket added by a PO. If I were going to add a spare tire mount to my trailer, I'd probably copy this one:

    [​IMG]


    Thanks for forwarding these photos, Gary!
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2017
  4. Jun 4, 2010
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I had the original wheels on my David Bradley trailer sandblasted and primed recently. I'd hoped to find a clear date that might allow me to confirm the year my trailer was manufactured. Unfortunately I didn't, but I did find something else very interesting.

    Before I show the photos of what I found, let me first say that the same 15" David Bradley tractor wheels used on the David Bradley Model 231-417 trailers were also used on the closely related International Harvester McCormick Farmall Cub Model 629 trailers. An example of this can be clearly seen here:

    [​IMG]


    I'd figured that David Bradley must therefore have supplied the wheels to Iinternational Harvester. What I found on my wheels, however, turns that theory on its head. It turns out that the David Bradley 15" tractor wheels on my trailer were actually manufactured by International Harvester! Check it out:

    [​IMG]


    Here's a close-up of the IH logo. I have no idea what the numbers 453767-R91 next to it might mean (but please let me know if you happen to!):

    [​IMG]


    Johnny C and I corresponded about it, and he checked his trailer's original wheels. Though he wasn't able to get a good picture of it, he found that the 15" wheels on his trailer have an F&H (French & Hecht) logo imprinted on them. F&H made a lot of tractor and implement wheels, and was a division of Kelsey-Hayes, which made wheels for civilian and military jeeps, among many other vehicles.

    So apparently, Sears / David Bradley utilized at least two different sources for their 15" DB trailer wheels. If anyone else discovers any other imprints on their wheels that would indicate additional manufacturer(s), please make a post about it here. Also, it would be interesting to find out whether the 16" wheels used on David Bradley trailers were made by the same manufacturers as the 15", or by different ones.


    .
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2017
  5. Jun 13, 2010
    farwest

    farwest New Member

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    The 6 digit number followed by the R91 is an IH part number. What I have seen is that IH contracts out parts, say a starter from AC delco or a Steering column from GM they then assign their own part number to it. Because the wheels have the IH on them also could mean IH actually built them. IH did outsource a lot of their parts, wheels would seem a good possibly.
     
  6. Jul 5, 2010
    farwest

    farwest New Member

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    I started sandblasting my Ben Hur trailer. I blasted the wheels and they are kelsey Hayes, made in america, 16x4.50 With a capital A. Everything was stamped on the inside.
    Greg
     
  7. Jul 6, 2010
    Bob W

    Bob W Member

    Monticello, NY
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    I have a couple wheels that look like the "David Bradley" wheels on the trailer on page 5. They are in rough condition and free to anyone who wants them. Must be picked up near Monticello, NY. Email 52cj3a@gmail.com

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Jul 27, 2010
    GeCJ7

    GeCJ7 New Member

    Spokane, WA
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    This is a great site!

    I too have been looking for some information about this type of trailer for the past six years. I too have inherited a Ben-Hur from my wife's deceased grandfather. It's a model no. 233 22-46 Serial Number 42-6565. It been sitting in a barn for the last 30 years so its in great shape with little rust. It still has the original green faded paint and stenciled BEN HUR letters on the back tailgate and reflectors. It's almost all original except for for the wheels, tow bar and single taillight with aluminum license plate holder attached to the tailgate. The wheel well covers are the curved ones like what's shown above. I still have the original wood side racks and attaching hardware and original ID plate. It's marked as a Sears and Roebuck manufacture but the ID plate does not look like the ones shown on this website. We use it all the time around the yard, but I need to get it painted because it starting to show signs of rust in the inside steel box seems.

    I will take some as is photos and attaché them ASAP.

    I just register to this forum so I don't know if I can attach photos.

    Grant
     
  9. Jul 27, 2010
    uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    Greeley CO
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    Go to the forum help & testing, (bottom of the main page) read the sticky about pics.
    If I figured it out, anybody should be able to.
     
  10. Jul 27, 2010
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Hi Grant!

    It sounds like you have one of the "missing links" in the story of this trailer's development. I wasn't aware that Ben-Hur trailers with Sears data plates even existed until I read your post!

    I very much look forward to seeing some photos of your trailer, especially one of the data plate.

    Maury
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2019
  11. Jul 27, 2010
    GeCJ7

    GeCJ7 New Member

    Spokane, WA
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    Hi Maury,

    I’m at my office and I found two photos of the trailer when I lived in San Diego, CA. that's were the trailer lived most of its life. I will e-mail you the photos taken in 2004 and will follow up later with current ID tag and detail photos this week. I need to document it anyway befor I re-paint it back to its original color and white stenciled Ben Hur lettering on back. Thanks!
     
  12. Aug 5, 2010
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    I picked up this 1951 Ben Hur today..
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  13. Aug 5, 2010
    GeCJ7

    GeCJ7 New Member

    Spokane, WA
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    That trailer looks like it’s in great shape with little rust. It seems that you can still see the original green paint under the white. I like your rounded wheel wells better than the roadster style that I have. Did you get the wood side fences? I still need to photograph mine once I dump the load of clippings that in currently in it this weekend. It’s an awesome trailer to have, especially on long hi-way trips due to its strong construction and weight.
     
  14. Aug 5, 2010
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Thank you for posting the pictures, and that's a very nice trailer indeed. Does it still have its original data plate? If so, please post a photo of it as well!

    There were several different parking leg designs used on these trailers, but I haven't seen one like yours before. I wonder if it's original?
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2010
  15. Aug 9, 2010
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Grant E. of Spokane, Washington was kind enough to send photos of the trailer he mentioned in his first post above. This is a fascinating find in several ways. First, it proves beyond any doubt that Ben-Hur did manufacture trailers for Sears early on. Second, it also proves that in addition to the round-fendered version, Ben-Hur made a roadster-style fendered version as well:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Also very interesting (and unusual, according to what I've read about Sears prohibiting manufacturers from including their own names on products made for Sears) is the fact that Ben-Hur sold these trailers through Sears with their own name painted on them.

    Here's the data plate on Grant's trailer, Sears Model No. 233.22-46:
    [​IMG]


    The three digit prefix, 233, indicates the manufacturer - in this case, Ben-Hur. Note that this prefix is different than the other Sears trailers that have surfaced to date (Model 231-417, which as we have established previously were built by Dunbar Kapple). The last digits of the model number, 22-46, are of course the same as the model number of the original "round-fender" civilian Ben-Hur trailers manufactured in 1946-1947. For purposes of comparison, here's a photo of the data plate on Joe DeYoung's Ben-Hur Model 22-46. Note the identical sideways numeral 1 used as a dash in the serial number:

    [​IMG]


    Below is a photo of the rear of Grant's trailer, showing its C-channel rear gussets and the wide, long-backstrap welded type hinges.

    [​IMG]


    And another showing the round axle typical of the early trailers:

    [​IMG]


    Based on the research to date, these characteristics would likely place its production date sometime in late 1946 or early 1947, shortly before the Ben-Hur Model 22-47 trailers went into production. This same time frame was apparently when Sears acquired the design rights from Ben-Hur, and began having the Model 231-417 trailers built for them by Dunbar-Kapple. The Fall 1947 Sears catalog, the earliest issue that the David Bradley-branded version of the trailer appeared in, indicated that they were made in Geneva, Illinois, where the Dunbar Kapple plant was located. I'm guessing that this confirmed Ben-Hur manufactured model probably predates that. If so, it would represent one of the very first of these trailers ever sold by Sears.

    Though the tongue, coupler, jack and wheels have been replaced, Grant's trailer still has its original wood rack. Here's a closeup of the rack hardware (note that it appears to be identical to the hardware on Randy Hagan's trailer, which appears earlier in this thread):

    [​IMG]


    Thanks for the excellent photos of your trailer, Grant - and for filling in another hole in the story of this trailer's development!
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2017
  16. Aug 14, 2010
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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  17. Aug 15, 2010
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Very cool, Patrick. Was the top on it when you bought it, or did you find it elsewhere?
     
  18. Aug 15, 2010
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    It wasn't on it, but the same guy had it.. Look for a build thread in the builds section soon.;)
     
  19. Aug 15, 2010
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    That top looks like it fits well and would be very functional.

    Does your trailer still have its data plate (or is it missing, like most of the round-fender variety seem to be)? From what I can see of the tailgate hinges in the one photo that shows them, it looks like they are the long-backstrap welded type. If so, it's probably a Ben-Hur Model 22-46 dating from 1947 or early 1948.
     
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2010
  20. Aug 16, 2010
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    Title says Ben Hur, 1951. Data plate is missing.
     
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