American Bantam didn't have capacity to build the number of Jeeps needed, Willys barely had enough capacity at time of initial first lot contract as Ford was sort of busy with other military contracts. Ford finished a contract for reduction gears for aircraft engines(?) and had some extra capacity then a year later. About that time a quick need for small trailers request for bids was made by army- some of officers that had worked with bantam in development of jeep. Trailer specs had must use jeep wheels, builder must have some hubs in stock for first batch, body sheet metal sizing for back no wider than Jeep for shipping, storage- and submit sample in about a week/10 days. Bantam seemed to have gotten paperwork on friday morning - other possible bidders didn't get their notice until monday afternoon or tuesday morning. Bantam had enough leftover bits and pieces to put together the sample trailer and assure 10 more by middle of week with a weekend assembly while others were checking parts availability- Bantam got contract to build modest number of utility trailers that took 80% of their capacity and got a early delivery bonus for the specs being met so fast( nobody else seemed to have the parts as specified on shelf) made enough money to last the war anyway with some other R&D work, minor projects. The implication that some Army officers thought that Bantam deserved something for all the help they'd provided army has been noted before- along with the rigged bid favoring one particular maker suggestions. The Utility trailer from Bantam was a very useful size- could be towed by Jeep while the larger trailers need dodge weapons Carrier of other truck-- and if other large truck was just a little short of cargo space, the small trailer was just right size for final box 1/4 tons worth of goods. Good for a Mortar or heavy machine gun, generator, various other small crew devices. Still a useful size- a Japanese pickup bed from a frontend crash or blown engine can be made into very handy sized trailer- after noon with a torch, cutting wheel and a trailer coupler, some 6011 rod and you don't need to buy a new vehicle for the dirty work- Toyota and some other Jap wheel with 6 bolts are very good for road-- wheel interchange of Bantam trailer with new Jeep was early carry spare for both vehicle and trailer. RN
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Today's Featured Article - History of the Nuffield Tractor - by Anthony West. The Nuffield tractor story started in early 1945. The British government still reeling from the effects of the war on the economy, approached the Nuffield organization to see if they would design and build an "ALL NEW" British built wheeled tractor, suitable for both British and world farming.
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