Japan Ordiance Company

54m38a1 · Post by **54m38a1** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:53 pm

Hello this is my first post on this website but have been looking at the site for some time. I kinda own a 1954 m38a1, by that is that i have a rolling chasis, and the body went on a new fame with new engine and axles. So I was looking at my axles today and saw a tag that reads "Rebuilt by Japan Ordinance Company 1955." I looked on the internet and could not find a single thing about the company.

Post by **wesk** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:07 pm

The major overhaul and repair of US Army vehicle by the Ordnance Depot in Japan was accomplished at the The Japan Ordnance Depot from 1948 til present. The named changed several times over the years. This Army history site will help you understand: http://www.usarj.army.mil/history/depot_history.htm

54m38a1 · Post by **54m38a1** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:10 am

Thank you for the site it answered the questions i had.

davem201m38 · Post by **davem201m38** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:48 am

Hi therre,
Please can you post a picture, and dates, workshop numbers and the rare but sometimes stamped workshop location.
The reason, here in Europe we have a lot of JOC rebuilt jeeps and I'm trying to put the data together.
Thanks,
Dave
PS, also check very carefully, steering box, gear and transfer box. I've never found one on an engine...... odd that.
Also check the dash area or least ways measure between the rivet holes , centre to centre of the hole and then look for the coresponding holes in the dash.
Here in Europe they are often removed from earlier jeeps as the restorers think it detracts from its WWII authenticity ..blah.. blah... blah and then I've seen one altered to say 1944 to try and back up Far East involvement!
All the best,
Dave.

54m38a1 · Post by **54m38a1** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:22 am

I took a picture but cant get the info to come out on it so i wrote down what on on the tags.
Font axle
Rebuilt by Japan Ordinance Company
F O D Shop- AF-5
DATE- 20-5-56 JO#-3188-15

Rear axle
Rebuilt by Japan Ordinance Company
F O D Shop- AR-7
Date-22-3-56 JO#-8204-97

As for the dash i am not able to measure hole because of to many rust spots, and the vin plates were stolen when my grandpa owned the jeep.

usma41 · Post by **usma41** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:07 am

Rust spots in Tucson,Arizona?

54m38a1 · Post by **54m38a1** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:00 pm

Yea my grandpa has owned from 1981 to 1999 and he lived in Layton, Utah and moved to Colorado in 1992. I am trying to decide if i should get a new body or sell the parts because the rust has destroyed the body.

davem201m38 · Post by **davem201m38** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 1:03 am

Thanks for the shop numbers, I don't have those two but I'll add them to my list.

Eventually I'll find a rebuilt tag that also has the name of the shop and then I'l be able to tie that shop number up to a place.

And thanks to Wes for the link, which explained a very bizzar tag I saw some years ago and ignored.

So far it appears that there were a number of satellite shops all over the Far East that were either re-building complete vehicles or were rebuilding assemblies for shipping to other shops which were then incorporated into re-built vehicles.

This has led to a little confusion as people (me included) have taken a rebuild tag that corresponds to another rebuild tag on the same vehicle to mean that the vehicle itself was rebulit at that place when in fact it could mean that the assemblies were rebuilt at that facility and then shipped else where.

What is very strange at the moment (I need to do more checking) is that the supply of Military Aid Vehicles (based on recieved dates taken from paperwork that has been released in Europe) seems to have started before the facility was set up in the Far East to produce and ship those vehicles.
All the best,
Dave.