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How do you research vehicle history?
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:21 am
by GregL
I recently bought a 1952 M37 and am curious as to it's history. The only lead I've had so far is from the rebuild plate on the dash, and the serial number which this site helped decode. The rebuild plate says "TEAD 1972", which I believe is Tooele Army Base. I emailed them and was told that all old records were destroyed during Base Realignment And Closure in 1993.
Any other ideas of where to find info? Thanks.
GL
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:42 am
by Cal_Gary
Might be a stretch, but you might call Jack Tomlin in Tooele-he bought a bunch of the Tooele stuff and might be able to provide a lead if nothing else.
http://www.jtomlin.com
Gary
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:46 pm
by k8icu
Have you tried some light fine grit sandpaper 220-440 ish... and tryed sanding down the bumper and the bumperretts? You might find the unit markings if they weren't destroyed in rebuild and you might be able to find a little more detail such as what unit it belonged to and therefor where it spent it's life.
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:31 am
by pfrederi
It very possibly was shipped to Tooele for overhaul from almost any place. and it is unlikely any record about a specific overhaul exist.
In addition to sanding the bumpers check the side of the engine block under the carb to see if there is an engine rebuild plate...
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 6:19 am
by refit1701
The bumper sanding works sometimes, but for me, I appear to have an Army bumper on my AF body so I get to choose my AF unit markings....
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:09 am
by tmbrwolf
The army didn't keep records of where the trucks were assigned during their time in service by serial number, they may have been transferred several times, the only record we transferred was 2408-9 acceptance (birth record), when we transferred something in or out we did a -9 transfer as appropriate, we only kept the latest -9's. The transfer record only went to the local property book office not to DA, equipment is reported to DA by LIN (line item number) and quantity on hand, IE a unit is authorized 5, 2 1/2 tons M35 wo/w, LIN X40009 by TOE thats all that gets reported if they have that many on hand or not by that LIN (or if they have an authorized substitute), the local PBO keeps track by serial "only for accountalility", this is army only I don't know how the other services kept track but I suspect it's similar. That is why it's so hard to get a history on these things, as others have said lightly sanding the bumpers may turn up some info, might not