Finding Your USA Numbers

[Jim Gilmore]

Finding Your USA Registration Numbers.....

For M-29 and M-29C vehicles:

If you want to locate the original Blue Drab numbers that your vehicle was delivered with ........measure 34 to 36 inches from the center line of the bolts on the front side of the vehicle towards the rear.

About 4 to 6 inches up from the top of the flairs on the sides........

This is where the USA number will be. It will start with 401.......

The original numbers will be in Blue Drab paint. Later repaints may have white numbers painted over the original Blue Drab ones.

If the numbers cannot be found then the hull was stripped or sand blasted when it was rebuilt.

 

It is important when sanding for original numbers that you follow a set pattern.....

First...start with #300 grit wet/dry sand paper. Use water.

Start sanding at the dimension I gave.

SLOWLY....sand 4" area and sand off the paint layer by layer.....first one layer until it is all gone....then the next and so on....until you see green....now STOP....

Repeat the process on the next 4" area.......and on for about three feet.

Now STOP.....get some #600 grit wet/dry sandpaper and , using water, s-l-o-w-l-y sand the first area until you start to see blue drab. If you sand through the blue drab in this area it is not a problem as the numbers will start with 401 or 402...it is the last five numbers that we want to find.

Again, slowly, take your time, have a brew......and sand until you see the rest of the numbers. As the outlines slowly come out sand around, not over, the numbers. After this is done slowly sand over the numbers until you can see them...then get a camera and take several photos. Many times the camera will "see" the numbers clearer than your eye can.

It is very important not to rush this....once the numbers have been sanded through they are gone forever!

I have used this procedure on many vehicles and almost always have been able to find the original numbers.

Good luck and please post or send me the numbers when you find them.

Jim Gilmore

jgilmore@ptd.net

Jim Thorpe, PA.

 

[Jim Gilmore]

Now.....

For Early Weasels ...here is where the numbers were located when delivered.

T-15..........Numbers were painted in dark gray or black on the rear bulkhead of the cargo compartment. Some vehicles had the USA number painted on the outside later in the war but not many.

T-24.......Numbers were painted on the front bulkhead behind the drivers seat and were painted Dark Gray.

T-15 and T-24 vehicles were painted Lusterless White with black camo paint so the USA numbers had to be painted inside the vehicle. Early M-29's were also painted white. Later when they were repainted OD most times the numbers were applied to the outside.

As an aside........many, if not most, T-15 and T24 vehicles that were painted white had the ORD/MFG number painted on the front of the unit in black paint.

Jim Gilmore

Jim Thorpe, PA.

[OZM29C]

Jim's advice is absolutely spot on, my photo shows the 'USA' uncovered on my weasel hull using the location dimensions provided by Jim 👍👍

[M29]

Thanks Jim for your expertise on this. In addition I am glad to see you on the site.

Dan