Author Topic: Meet "Bertha"....My M2A1  (Read 28222 times)

spillmk1

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Meet "Bertha"....My M2A1
« on: October 26, 2018, 06:09:56 PM »
Hello!!
I've now started work on my new project named after my Great Aunt Bertha.
She was a tough old gal that didn't get electricity until the mid 80's
and never did have indoor plumbing.
My shop is in sight of her and Uncle Sampson's old farmhouse.

Here's the info:
A 1941 White M2 upgraded to a M2A1 by E.W. Wylie Inc.
She has a winch.
Hood # - USA 4012798 (was told it should have been 4012498)
Ord # - 2300
Serial # on the frame - W 231640

I was told she was first deployed at a military base in Colorado during WWII and used for training.
After that she was supposedly sold to a railroad company that used her to move around rail cars in the yard.
Kind of strange but plausible I guess??
Then on to "retirement" in Texas where she was purchased by the gentleman I bought her from back around 2000.

The frame/cab/suspension was sandblasted and painted back around 2005....
and they painted over a lot of issues!!
I've started rebuilding the bogie assemblies and all the brakes.
Having a GREAT time with a frozen crab but making progress.

It's going to be a fun project and thanks in advance for all the help I'm sure I'll be needing!!

Take care,
Keith

« Last Edit: April 05, 2020, 06:36:07 AM by spillmk1 »
1955 M38A1 Jeep
1952 M100 Trailer
1941 M2A1 Half Track
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8683jb

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2018, 07:13:14 PM »
You've got your fun cut out for you Keith! You're in the right place though - there's a lot of resourceful, talented half track owners here who will be glad to help you. Good luck with it and looking forward to lots of posts and pictures.
Jon
'42 Autocar M2A1

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yd328

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2018, 07:35:38 AM »
Welcome,
It looks like a nice project. Make sure to keep the pictures coming. My halftrack was used to pull grain cars on a farm in Texas after the war. Yours may have pulled cars around at the railroad.

Gary

coreyelliott

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2018, 02:25:24 PM »
Looks great Keith!  I love the history behind the reason you name it.  Where in Texas are you?  My brother and I are also restoring one here in Texas. 

Corey
1941 Autocar M2A1 (M2-13)

Cleprechaun

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2018, 09:05:03 PM »
My crabs were stuck bad. I tapped in a zert right in the middle, squirted in a little liquid wrench and put as much pressure as I could with a greas gun. Then I heated it up until I saw seeping. Then I put it in a jig I made and slid very thick, very long pipes over the spring mounts. Then I just pushed these poles back and forth with a jack.

emptyhead

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2018, 05:52:44 AM »
Very nice starting point good luck and keep the pics coming

spillmk1

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2018, 04:27:52 PM »
Hello Corey,
I'm a bit east of Texas in the foothills of North Carolina!!!

Keith
1955 M38A1 Jeep
1952 M100 Trailer
1941 M2A1 Half Track
MVPA Member

FrankUSMC

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2018, 04:41:21 PM »
Keith
if you make a run to the coast of North Carolina, I have a very complete, but unrestored, 1941 M2 half track that never went though a rebuild...even has the yellow stars on it.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET

coreyelliott

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #8 on: October 28, 2018, 11:31:52 PM »
Hello Corey,
I'm a bit east of Texas in the foothills of North Carolina!!!

Keith

Sorry Keith,  I saw your comment about retirement in Texas and I guess I thought you meant you.  Now I see you were obviously talking about you halftrack.  Good luck and keep posting pictures!

Corey
1941 Autocar M2A1 (M2-13)

spillmk1

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #9 on: November 18, 2018, 08:26:47 PM »
Was a bogie assembly kinda weekend.
Man...this is a LOT harder work than the M38A1 rebuild I did before the half track.
Makes for a great workout!!
Below are a few shoots of my work the past few weeks and progress this weekend.
Stay tuned!!!

Keith




« Last Edit: April 05, 2020, 06:49:57 AM by spillmk1 »
1955 M38A1 Jeep
1952 M100 Trailer
1941 M2A1 Half Track
MVPA Member

steve1973

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #10 on: November 18, 2018, 10:27:34 PM »
Looking great Keith!!

Steve A.

8683jb

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #11 on: November 18, 2018, 11:38:44 PM »
Wow...that looks great!
'42 Autocar M2A1

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spillmk1

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #12 on: January 06, 2019, 09:49:38 AM »
Hello from soggy NC!!!
Been busy on Bertha. A lot of work and some good progress.

But thought I'd post some shots from where she was found and the day I brought her home.

I'll post updates on recent work later this week.

She sat in a barn for about 18 years and the PO gathered parts but didn't do much work.
He had her cab/frame sandblasted and painted.
But very little mechanical work.

So plently of fun left for me!!!

Take care,
Keith
1955 M38A1 Jeep
1952 M100 Trailer
1941 M2A1 Half Track
MVPA Member

spillmk1

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2019, 09:54:48 AM »
A few more...
1955 M38A1 Jeep
1952 M100 Trailer
1941 M2A1 Half Track
MVPA Member

Outsider

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Re: Meet "Bertha"....
« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2019, 11:06:43 AM »
Looks like you have a very good place to start from. Keep the pictures coming.

Steve
Lots of green "junk" as my wife likes to call it.
Friends don't let friends buy Trailking Trailers!