Derek put together a great multiple-article look at the Kaiser’s purchase of the Willys assets.

https://cj3b.info/History/KaiserWillys1953.html

Below you’ll find some added some additional info and research as well.

First, my only quibble with one article is that there is the implication that Willys-Overland was humming profitably along. Despite profits, it’s my understanding that the company was dealing with some cash issues, hence why they (especially Ward Canaday) might have been interested in selling. At the time, Canaday controlled Empire Securities, the single largest shareholder in Willys-Overland. For some background on Empire Securities, read this 1946 Fortune article.

In regards to some of the issues raised in the final article of Derek’s the post, Edgar Kaiser addresses some of them in this 1955 Congressional testimony, particularly one reason the company lost money during the first two years.

Here are a few more reports from 1953, organized by the University of Toledo:

And more from the University of Toledo:

And, here’s Leslie Gould’s take on Ward Canaday in a March 30, 1953, article:

The Duffield Intermediate School was featured in this January 29, 1944, photo in the Detroit Tribune after successfully enough war bonds and stamps to buy a jeep.

Just one update Sunday, next updates Monday.

This jeep was painted by Pfc. Joseph Chesley, who’s come up with some creative jeep names. This article appeared in the December 22, 1944, issue of the Arizona Blade-Tribune.

This photo and caption about boxing champ Joe Louis driving a jeep made the Detroit Tribune newspaper on October 02, 1943.

The biographical book Joe Lewis: The Life of a Heavyweight includes a short look (pages 193-196) at his time in the military during WWII. The book explains that he had a unique opportunity to advocate for black troops, due to his substantial connection inside the War Department. He took advantage of his connections to overcome discriminatory practices that he witnessed.

I am surprised that there was so much scrap on the ground. It sounds like this device could have paid for itself in tires alone. This was published in the August 20, 1943, issue of the Key West Citizen.

This July 25, 1945, article in the Dillon Examiner highlighted the newly released CJ-2A.

UPDATE: Barry explores this topic (future of the jeep) more on his Farmjeep site: https://www.farmjeep.com/2020/01/14/who-would-want-a-jeep-predictions-from-1943-and-1944/

This article on the future of the jeep was published in The Daily Illini on February 14, 1943.

This February 2, 1951, photo in the Sycamore Tribune was front page news and highlighted the effects of a train hitting a jeep. I wish the photo quality was better.

This article from the March 28, 1945, issue of the Farmers’ Weekly Review highlights the mobile welding capabilities of the wartime jeep. The article also notes that the Army tested the jeep on a 500-mile obstacle course before approving it.

Welding Shop on Wheels Is Big Help
Emergency Repairs Made on Field of Battle .

NEW YORK . — A highly mobile welding shop on wheels that can traverse ground which proved impassable to most previous maintenance vehicles has been developed by General Electric, in cooperation with army engineers, to enable emergency repairs of damaged war equipment to be made right on the field of battle, the company disclosed . Consisting of a standard army jeep bearing a specially perfected G-E arc welder, this mobile repair shop, according tc army reports , has proved invaluable in helping to keep front line equipment in fighting condition. In weight the G-E welder jeep is equivalent to a one-quarter ton truck, whereas the equipment it replaced consisted of a five-ton truck towing a one and one-half ton welding trailer. This weight reduction, plus the jeep s great maneuverability, enables the vehicle to readily negotiate rugged or muddy ground where larger and heavier trucks broke down. When desired for use in air borne operations it can also be loaded aboard a transport plane

Power to operate the welding unit is obtained by means of a V-belt which is connected to the engine of the jeep. As soon as the vehicle is brought to a stop the unit can be put in use. Proper engine speed is maintained by a governor, quickly disengaged to permit normal operation of the jeep. The welding unit is installed in place of the right front seat of the jeep, allowing the vehicle to carry a crew of three -men comfortably. Before accepting the welder jeep for service the army subjected it to rigid tests on a 500-mile obstacle course, the same course on which combat tanks are tested, and it came through with flying colors .”