Reflectors...Part Deux!

[Bill_Wolf]

After finding out from Joel that there is alot more to this than I ever knew...

I think this is a good subject for a web page....

A google search is non-responsive on the issue.

Who ever has good clear pictures of the lens with bezel only....send them in.

I will post them up on a page on the site with identification of what exactly they are as a reference to all.

Bill

[joel gopan]

I have NOS Guide A-2 With Stimsonite 12 (WWII) and NOS Guide A-2 with Korean Era Stimsonite 12A. Also Have NOS Round Arrow and CB with Grotelite 100 lens, the latter were found on some of the Ben Hur types, along with a dozen other combinations. I will send Pics of the Guide A2 in the AM if I have time. There are no books on this topic, just guys like me who were there and cared to notice this stuff back when. The ORD 9s will usually just reflect a generic part number that all brands used. Do not be in a hurry to get a complete set, I was years bumping into this stuff, and when I do have extras to sell, there is "sticker shock", I usually lose money as they cost a lot to acquire. Gotta tell ya tho, thare are a lot of guys who will claim that the obviously non original reflector on their truck just has to be original, as it has the same paint their truck had under 10 coats of paint. Stick to Oval Guide A-2 on the Steel Bed Cargo trucks, and the same with the majority of the Wood Bodied Cargo except for those that exhibited King Bee with the marble type lens. Many Special Purpose bodies used other brands as the bodies were not installed by General Motors.
Joel

[joel gopan]

Remember one thing, that the repro reflectors are not quite accurate, they are not 100% identical in marking and dimension, and that the Oval Guide A-2 is not available as repro, that all lenses that are included with them, are current commercially available ones and not the style available in WWII due to Federal regulations. All Repro available in USofA have the round type bezels. Do not get too distracted by availability, as good things show up over a period in time, I was 10 years before I started turning up originals,they are not just setting on shelves, and are scarce. The Army has been using the same Ordnance Stock Number (506101) on Red Reflectors for over 60 years, and have drawn on those stocks continuously. They did not wipe their shelves clean each time the DOT redesigned the lens, nor was there a requirement to ensure that a CCKW was issued Guides as a replacement. They were issued by generic Part Number only.
Joel

[Bill_Wolf]

The Beta Version of the Reflector page is up.

http://www.cckw.org/reflectors.htm

The pictures on the page are from some of my rigs

Left top....From my restored Ben Hur Steel body...it was on it when purchased.

Right top....From my unrestored Wood bodied Ben Hur. These could be original.

Left 2nd Row...From my WC-54. They were on it when restoration began.

All are different and I would like to know what they are.

Also if anyone has pictures of different reflectors please send them on and I will be glad to post them.

A personal impression....I find this somewhat fascinating that little things like a reflector can be so different. Also the first three pieces I looked at in my "motor pool" all were different.

Bill

[Ledog]

Hi!

can someone tell me what kind of reflectors I own, and if they are correct WWII era. These are pictures of the reflectors I own.


This is the reflector I will put on my CCKW, back and side (stop me if I'm gonna do a mistake). And I'm looking for amber reflectors for front of bed. It's a repro of Corcoran with a Grotelite lens.



This is the reflector that is mounted on my Dodge weapon carrier. I don't know if it's repro or NOS. No markings.

I love to take care of details and make my truck with less anachronism as possible.

Thanks for your answers.

Yves

[armydriver]

Thanks for the great photos of the reflectors. As usual, this is the site for the real information. I have one of the yellow lensed reflectors that Joel says is from the Korean war in my parts box and never knew what period of time it was from. Thanks for the great info. Now a question. If a CCKW was still in service during the Korean war, could the original reflectors have been changed?

[joel gopan]

Yves Reproduction Corcoran Brown Reflector is correct for the WWII?Korean timeperion, the lens is todays' available DOT Spec, over the years the lenses, with more brand names than I wish to get into, have been constantly updated to keep up with latest reflectivity specs. The lens in Yves, "C-B" is what some refer to as a "pizza pattern", it is made by STRATOLITE and is 60 years too new. The Guide A-2/Stimsonite12, which Bill has posted, is the common reflector for General Motors WWII(Guide is owned by GM) the King Bee with the "marble pattern", that protrues thru a metal shell, is the next most common to CCKW, and is found on many WWII Wood Cargo Bodies. Be atient, someone is bound to post a pic. The round Corcoran Brown is common to WWII Jeep, and Dodge WC, and will be found on many of the hundred types of miscellaneous WWII equipment. Next best for WWII is to purchase the NOS amber KD or Yankee oval reflectors, and replace the lenses with period style lenses. I can help, but it will be expensive. Fred Potter, at Adirondack Dodge has the KD or Yankee Amber reflectors. I have a few of the SR or SP lenses, and they are period correct. As for Jim's question on changing the reflectors during Korea, the trucks did not get updates to keep up with the times, but when a reflector was changed for whatever reason, a trip to the salvage yard was made, or the reflector was replaced by whatever was available thru the system. In reality, the reflectors suffered the ravages od time, and would get oversprayed during repainting, or during a "spot Painting" by persons who happened to be on duty at the motorpool. The Sun, weather, damage by solvents, and 60 years of bubba took a toll also. In plain English,there just ain't anyway to track the history of your truck to find out where the Guide A-2s went. For CCKW, Amber on the two forward facing reflectors, Red, on the two rear sides, and tailgate. At times you will see wartime evidence of Red reflectors on the rear mudflaps, and in some of Vintage Videos Training films. Do not get confused with the M-Series practice of four Amber reflectors at front and front sides.
Joel

[joel gopan]

I forgot, Yves, there are markings under all the paint on that old reflector, but the round C-B with Stimsonite 12 was common to the 3/4 Ton WC.
Joel

[armydriver]

Thanks for the info everyone. I did not realize that something as simple as the reflectors on the truck could get so complicated. That is something new to look for.

[Ledog]

Thanks Joel!

I don't see any markings on the oval reflectors, but they may be under the paint. I still wonder If oval is correct or if they should be round??

For my CCKW, I'm going to put the Corcoran - Brown on back and side and I'm looking for two round amber reflectors of same diameter to put on the front. I have bought some but the are all too big or too small. And they have 4 holes for fixation. I guess they are civilian models of 40's period.

Otherwise, if I find amber lenses to replace the red ones I could use the same frames.

[joel gopan]

Yves, the GI Specification Reflectors all use the same 2 Hole Pattern. I may still have the two WWII oval KD Amber( lens (SP or SR 14) oval l reflectors that I used on the front of my CCKW until I found the Guides, they were new and will look good. I am willing to trade you something for them.
Joel

[Ledog]

Thanks Joel!

There are a few parts that I'm looking for. I'll contact you by email.

Yves