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Not too long after Kaiser acquired Willys-Overland the company introduced a dealer news periodical. What I learned recently is that initially the periodical was called Kaiser Willys News. It wasn’t until March of 1955 that the Kaiser name was dropped and it was renamed Willys News. Apparently, it was felt that the jeep dealers needed different information and support from that of the auto dealers? I don’t know for sure, but it makes sense.
Here are examples of each periodical.
Is there a collection or archive of these anywhere?
Ebay when you can find them!
I have 18 of them. The earliest one i have is October 1954 and the latest is January of 1958. I think they started about Jan 1954, which would mean there are roughly
forty different issues printed through January of 1958 (sometimes they would do a jan/feb issue). There are several on eBay right now, only one of which I don’t have (this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/April-1957-Willys-Jeep-News-Factory-Magazine-Brochure-wu0341-/371018437715?hash=item56626c1453:g:6XsAAOxy4fVTGN~3 .. but I just can’t pay $30 for that issue). I have a 1960 issue, but by then it changed to a different format.
I am searching for information on when Willys stopped selling the Monroe Lift and started selling the Stratton Lift as the “Jeep Approved” 3-point hitch. Would those sorts announcements been made in the Willys News?
I doubt that those periodicals would have covered it. It was more focused on dealer information and jeep models, with very little about third party items. Outside the special equipment booklets, it’s not clear to me how third parties got the word out about their products, other than mailers or in-person visits to dealers.
Kaiser killed the f-head six — in favor of their archaic 6-226 — shame on HENRY J KAISER !!
1955 was the last desperate model year for Kaiser and Frazer automobiles. It appears to me that this marks that point in history when Henry and Joe threw in the towel and focused on only marketing the Willys Jeep vehicle line. The Kaiser-Frazer car’s were kaput after 1955. I like the body lines of a ’55 Kaiser the best of all 1948-1955 Kaisers.
**Steve E.**
I have seen letters from Willys sent to dealers about the Monroe lift being available. I think the lifts might have been an exception on the 3rd party products, but don’t know.
Thanks for the info on the Willys News. Narrows my search area.
Steve. That’s a great point that hadn’t occurred to me.
Barry. I’ll do some online vintage newspaper searches for the Stratton to see if I can find anything.