UPDATE: Another example of this photo was posted to eBay back in 2014 (see photos at bottom).
View all the information on eBay
“1957 Press Photo Edmond Kulanski checks a jeep-mounted mine detector in Virginia. This is an original press photo. Mine “Sweeper” Fort Belvoir, Va.: Developed by the Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratories at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, this jeep-mounted mine detector is checked by Specialist Edmond Kulanski, of Shaker Heights, Ohio. The device automatically stops the vehicle when it locates a buried mine. The movable search-head can be controlled by the driver of the innovations worked out by the military and civilian scientists engaged in vital research for the U.S. defense establishment, which offers unlimited opportunities for qualified applicants. Photo measures 7 x 9 inches. Photo is dated 03-14-1957.”
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UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
This is a cool pic. I think I’d ride on the far side if the Jeep though
Bill
The British defence organisation RARDE had 2 of these for evaluation way back. They were then used as range vehicles after the trial and one was broken for spares to keep the other going. They were sold off about 30 years ago but I inherited the body tub from one of them, plus a few fittings. It’s currently being finished to go on my ’53 M38A1 but I’d love to know what the extra fittings did.
Sorry, should have said that these were M38A1s, not M38s as shown.
Bruce,
Thanks for the info! I found this reference. Maybe this person has some more info about them.
I ran across this Feb 1957 PDF that is supposed to have a reference to a jeep mine sweeper. I can’t get it to load at the moment. Maybe you will have more luck? http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/archpdf/ah195702.pdf It might be something or might be nothing.
– Dave
I was thinking the exact same things as bill
I served in Vietnam 68-69 went to school in Saigon for mobile mind detection where we met us civilian and an new old stock Willy Jeep with fiberglass poles and a big search head . it eas shipped back to A company 299 engineers Dak to Central Highlands. I buried a bayonet about 15 inches in the ground drove over it several times it wouldn’t pick it up. The problem was the mines we were dealing with were Russian antitank mines totally non-metallic, except for the blasting cap. I heard later after I left that they stripped it down and used it for a normal jeep. It was a death trap at least in Vietnam.
I served in Vietnam 68-69 went to school in Saigon for mobile mind detection where we met us civilian and an new old stock Willy Jeep with fiberglass poles and a big search head . it eas shipped back to A company 299 engineers Dak to Central Highlands. I buried a bayonet about 15 inches in the ground drove over it several times it wouldn’t pick it up. The problem was the mines we were dealing with were Russian antitank mines totally non-metallic, except for the blasting cap. I heard later after I left that they stripped it down and used it for a normal jeep. It was a death trap at least in Vietnam.