Military-Vehicles: Re: [MV] Re: Electric 3-wheeled WWII "messenger cart" ??

Re: [MV] Re: Electric 3-wheeled WWII "messenger cart" ??

RobRatt@aol.com
Fri, 19 Sep 1997 20:36:59 -0400 (EDT)

In a message dated 97-09-19 17:07:34 EDT, mitymite@juno.com (Lida L.
Bensinger) writes:

<<
Hello listers,

Received this email via our homepage but Daryl has never heard of this
vehicle.
Can any of you provide information about it for this gentleman?
Thanks,
Lida
----------
> From: Kahler, Charlie <Charles.KahlerJr@PSS.Boeing.com>

>
> I am writing in need of any information you could provide about
> a vehicle I am considering restoring: It looks like an old
> wooden golf cart. It has 3 wheels, steers with a bar linked to
> the front wheel, and ran off of a number of auto batteries.
> I was told it was some sort of messenger cart used within
> camps, etc for relaying messages. Does this ring any bells?
> There was a oval shaped sticker on it that could only partially
> be read. It said: Specialty (company name?) on top.
> Dayton, Ohio on bottom.
> I would appreciate any information as to the history of this
> vehicle and/or company.
>
> -Thanks <in advance>
>
> Charlie Kahler
> Seattle, Washington
>
> III I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I III
> Charlie Kahler
> 767 Structures Engineering
> (206) 342-7150 M/S: 0J-TJ
> Charlie.Kahler@Boeing.com
> III I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I III
> (I'd rather be four wheelin')
>>
I looked it up, and this is what I was able to find out:

It was probably built by the Custer Specialty Company and tested by the Army
in 1943. It was a light delivery vehicle which weighed 400 pounds and could
carry a payload almost equal (380 lb. payload including the driver) to its
own weight. Powered by a Lauson 8.9 cubic inch engine (2.2 HP) with a mx
speed of approximately 22 MPH. A few may have been purchased. All this
information is from page 22 of Fred W. Crimson's book, U.S. MILITARY WHEELED
VEHICLES.

Hope this helps.

Robert Ratliff
Denton, Texas
RobRatt@aol.com

'43 WC-51
'44 M-24 Chaffee (crew-member)

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