1953 M38A1 - MD 68312 - HOOD AND UNIT MARKINGS

bluewatersailor · Post by **bluewatersailor** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 1:26 am

The current owner, Beppe, has just finished a factory-level restoration and is anxious to complete the project by applying time-accurate hood and unit markings. In that light, he would really appreciate any guidance as to the form and content of said markings. As we stated in the database questionnaire, delivery was 12/53 and responsible agencies were Ordnance and Ordnance. The jeep has all of the early features (hinged grille, thumbscrews on battery cover, etc.). We are hoping that some members have jeeps delivered about the same time and can give us some leads. Since Beppe doesn't use internet, please communicate through his friend, the undersigned, by replying to this topic or via e-mail at dwmanning at alice.it. Thank you. David "bluewatersailor" Manning, Livorno, Italy

Post by **wesk** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 8:02 am

David,

In this hobby a factory level restoration would only have those markings applied at the factory. Essentially that would be only the hood registration number and U.S.A.

bluewatersailor · Post by **bluewatersailor** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:00 am

Good point. Any idea what the hood number applied at the factory would be? Also, wouldn't that hood number remain the same until & unless the jeep were transferred to another branch of service (e.g. USMC)? Thanks, David

Thunderbird712 · Post by **Thunderbird712** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 1:54 pm

Very common question regarding the hood #. The search function will usually find your answer.

http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php? ... ood+number

Post by **wesk** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:09 pm

If the 12/53 M38A1 was delivered from the factory to the US Army that hood number would have been U.S.A. over 2099XXXX. Since we have enough trouble with guys fudging a fictitious hood number causing a lot of confusion when we try to develop an accurate data base. We suggest you simply use the 209 plus the 5 digit serial or 2099 + the last 4 digits of the serial.

bluewatersailor · Post by **bluewatersailor** » Wed Aug 07, 2013 12:35 am

Thanks to all for the help. I think that a big part of this recurring problem is that there is no single document that lists the blocks of hood numbers and the dates they were available to the factory. If such a list exists, I would appreciate receiving the link. Finally, at the risk of beating a dead horse, I wonder if there is a preference between Beppe's 2 choices - "U.S.A. 20968312" or "U.S.A. 20998312". Again, GRAZIE. David

bluewatersailor · Post by **bluewatersailor** » Wed Aug 07, 2013 3:10 am

In view of the foregoing, is it safe to assume that a proper Hood Number for my M38A1 delivered 9/53 Serial No. MD58270 Contract N. DA33-019-ORD-630, Responsible Agency = Odrnance & Ordnance; Inspected by EPM would be either

U.S.A.
20958270
or
U.S.A.
20998270
Thanks again.
David

bluewatersailor · Post by **bluewatersailor** » Wed Aug 07, 2013 3:27 am

In looking at my last 2 or 3 posts regarding Beppe's MD68312 (12/53) and my MD58270 (9/53), I see a possible shortcoming in the use of the 2099XXX format. Imagine, if you will, that the owner of MD68270 (delivered in the fall/early winter of 1953) might some day decide to number his hood "U.S.A. 20998270" using the 2099XXXX format which would yield the same number as my jeep "U.S.A. 20998270" if I were to use the 2099XXXX format. So it would seem that the preferred format is 209XXXXX. Agreed?
For the record, I will mark my hood U.S.A. 20958270 and strongly reccomend to Beppe that he mark his U.S.A. 20968312.
David

Post by **wesk** » Wed Aug 07, 2013 7:19 am

The full serial use is my choice as well.

The WWII jeep guys were lucky to have found the factory documents supporting the issue of each block of hood numbers. They have never surfaced for the post WWII jeeps.

This is another reason I get aggravated by folks that pick a number close from a viewing of other jeeps close to their serial number. It skewers the data bases I am trying to build. As I gather data from surveys I ask owners to fill out and from period industry news pubs that announce contracts and their quantities and cost I try to work this info together to give us an approximation of hood numbers blocks that would have been issued at the time of each contract.

Thunderbird712 · Post by **Thunderbird712** » Wed Aug 07, 2013 8:46 am

Just my two cents if anyone cares. I have the opposite problem of you guys. My hood number was actual stamped on the frame "20999713" but I dont have the serial number of the jeep. I posted way back about this and Wes id that in the 12/53 range. Other factors helped support that time frame of the jeep.

I did however find two numbers stamped below the hood # after I sandblasted the frame. They were 62666 and 69248. 69248 falls in the possible range of 12/53. However I am not going to use either number as my serial number. Dont know the origin of the numbers, if they are a serial #, and I dont want to screw someone who might actually have an A1 with that serial #. I just chalked it up as an interesting find.